Teaching in Japan

Seijou Gakuen Junior High School 

April, 2009 - December, 2014

My position was as one of two English Language teachers employed at the school.  The position required teaching 20 50-minute classes a week to class sizes ranging from 16 - 22 students across 3 year levels.  

My role was to compliment the teaching of grammar classes with language proficiency classes.  As part of the teaching unit, I co-constructed the syllabus, taught, evaluated and reported on up to 370 students a term.

Building strong relationships with students was key to getting the most out of learners, in what was a very different style of class from the traditional style in Japan.  It was both challenging and rewarding, and I take away many fond memories from my time at the school

The co-ed school is located in Setagaya Ward of Tokyo, and has an annual trip to St. Norbert College, Perth, Australia.

Japan Overseas Educational Services (JOES)

April, 2011 - December, 2014

This was a non-profit foundation founded with the approval of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education.  

Teaching at this school was outside of normal school hours, on Saturdays or on weeknights,  and all students had lived overseas for at least 1 year and had a high-level proficiency of English Language. Classes were co-ed and scaled and each class was 90 minutes.  

The classes involved literacy and inquiry and were based more on a westernised classroom than a Japanese style.  There was a greater level of communication with family members, which contributed towards a multi-layered approach to the student's education.

GEOS for Children

November, 2003 - February, 2009

I was recruited for this private English Conversation School from Christchurch, NZ.  I travelled to Japan and worked as a teacher in two different schools in Tokyo and Yokohama for just over 3 years. Classes were small and required teaching language to children from the age of 1 - 14.  It is where I found my love of teaching.

In April of 2007, a promotion to a teacher recruitment position meant I was in charge of recruitment for Western Japan and International Recruitment.  This consisted of approximately 100 teaching positions across Japan, and required organising advertisement, recruitment and logistics for recruitment of teachers in New Zealand, Australia, The United Kingdom, Canada, and United States. In 2008 responsibilities for teacher training and management of an area in West Japan was included in the position.

I left the position at the beginning of 2009 to return to teaching.