Kyoko Omi

"What I love about Japanese language schools is being able to learn and have fun alongside students from so many different countries."

Through classes and small everyday conversations, I naturally encounter the cultures and ways of thinking of the world, and my own world keeps expanding more and more.
But more than anything, what makes me truly happy is being able to watch, up close, as students grow little by little. Seeing them working hard always gives me energy too.

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

I experienced living abroad through an exchange program during high school, which sparked my desire to have a job that connects me with the world. After graduating from university, I worked at a travel agency specializing in Europe, but most of my work involved email communication, and I felt the need to engage more directly with people from overseas.
When I participated in a volunteer program for Japanese language education, I realized the joy of interacting with people from abroad in Japanese, and that experience led me to choose the path of becoming a Japanese language teacher.

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

When I see a student who started studying from hiragana happily talking in Japanese with their classmates, I silently applaud them in my heart, saying, 'Yay!' Additionally, it truly makes me happy when they tell me after class, 'That was fun' or 'I understood it well.'

Q: Do you have any memorable episodes involving students?

A student who graduated and advanced to their desired university came back to the ISI Career EXPO as a senior. They were happily giving advice about further education to the juniors, and I felt a sense of growth.
Even though some time has passed since graduation, I was truly happy that they returned to ISI like this and said, "I’m glad I studied at ISI."

Q: What do you value most in your classes?

In class, we strive to create an atmosphere where students can speak actively without worrying about making mistakes. I believe that it's okay to make mistakes, and that by speaking a lot, conversational skills will improve significantly.

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

I am in charge of beginner and advanced classes.
The beginner class is always filled with laughter and smiles during lessons, creating a bright atmosphere. Everyone uses the grammar they have learned to conduct interviews and give speeches.
In the advanced class, we have lively discussions in Japanese on various topics, from social issues to dramas, anime, and job hunting. There are many topics where the students are more knowledgeable, making it a fun class where we can all gain new insights and inspiration.

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

I think the biggest attraction is that there are students from various nationalities. Students from different countries and backgrounds come together, sharing their cultures while learning in a fun way. Even during classes, there are discoveries unique to a multinational setting, and the classroom is always bright and lively.

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

I am very happy that everyone is interested in Japan. You might find Japanese difficult because it uses three scripts: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. But that's okay. Let's study together, one step at a time. I will also do my best to help you achieve what you want to do in Japan.
I look forward to meeting everyone in Japan.