"My approach is to learn together with the students."

Q: What made you decide to become a Japanese language teacher, or to work at a Japanese language school?

During my high school years, I went to Australia for language training. At that time, I taught Japanese to my host sister and felt a sense of joy in being accepted for my culture and language, which sparked my interest in the profession of a Japanese teacher. The reason I wanted to work at ISI was because of the "personalities of the teachers." Even though they must be very busy, they work with such vitality that I thought, "I want to work here with them," and I made my decision.

Q: What do you find appealing or rewarding about working at a Japanese language school?

I think one of the attractions is being able to learn about the cultures of various countries. While in Japan, you can gain multicultural perspectives and ways of thinking. I feel a sense of fulfillment when students I studied with from the beginning in hiragana come to talk to me in Japanese, or when they report that they were able to use Japanese in jobs such as part-time work.

Q: What moments bring you joy or make teaching Japanese feel fun?

I feel that teaching Japanese is enjoyable during class. I ask students questions and study using their answers, and when I see them with a look of 'I got it!' on their faces, actively using the sentence patterns, it becomes very enjoyable. It is also a joy to witness the accumulation of 'I did it' moments during class, as they become able to use new sentence structures.

Q: What do you value most in your classes?

"It is an attitude of learning together with students. In the role of a teacher, one might think that the job is solely about 'teaching,' but I make an effort to remember the importance of listening to students and learning alongside them."

Q: What's the atmosphere like in your class or workplace?

My class is a multicultural class. Students from various countries such as Nepal, China, the United States, Italy, Brazil, Russia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, and others come to study here. Therefore, in class, various cultures and opinions based on them are exchanged, allowing us to attend lessons with a fresh feeling every day. Also, because it is a multicultural class, many students are challenging themselves to converse in Japanese.
The workplace has a very good atmosphere. Not only my peers and teachers in the same group, but also teachers sitting nearby always help when someone is in trouble. I feel that it is a very reassuring workplace. Even as a new graduate, I feel that there is an environment where my opinions are respected, and where I can actively engage in exchanging ideas.

What aspects do you feel are appealing about the ISI Japanese Language School?

From the teacher's perspective, I believe it is the "goodness of people." The teachers are truly kind and will help no matter what happens. They are open to discussing any concerns about classes or questions regarding student support. While there may be many worries, the charm lies in the fact that there are wonderful teachers who will catch you when you take the leap.
From the student's perspective, I think the appeal is that students come from various countries. There are as many teaching methods as there are students, and there are various ways to respond. Being able to grow while absorbing that is the greatest charm. You also gain knowledge about other countries, and you gradually start to understand the languages. That is also one of the attractions.

Q: Please share a message for students who will be coming to study abroad in Japan.

First of all, thank you very much for choosing "Japan" from among many countries.
And thank you for choosing ISI from among many schools.
I believe you are feeling both excitement and anxiety about living in Japan away from your home country.
Enjoy all of it! Don't be afraid of what you can't do!
The teachers and students at ISI will help you.
We look forward to seeing you in Japan!