Yuki as a Language Teacher

 

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I was born in Tokyo and from the age of 15 I lived in Taiwan with my family for five years. It was the beginning of my journey to living with two languages. I studied at an American school for seven hours a day as an ESL (English as a Second Language) student for the first three years of high school. It was hard not having the skills to communicate clearly with teachers and peers, but what helped me overcome my language barriers was joining sports clubs and doing practical activities. The last two years were more fun, as I could speak English and make friends. After high school, I studied at a Japanese University in the law department and was heavily involved with the University Kendo (Japanese fencing) team. All of which did not have anything to do with English. It was a completely different reality. Then, another turn of events took me back to the English world. I moved to the Gold Coast in Australia and started teaching Japanese at Griffith University while studying for a Master of Arts in Cultural Studies. The turn of events didn’t finish there; as I later returned to Japan, in the countryside (Shiroko, Mie), where I started an English conversation school. There, I taught Japanese students English and created English textbooks. 

 

Up until my mid-30’s, I moved internationally almost every five years, and each time in each reality I immersed myself in the Japanese and English-speaking worlds.

 

After I had my daughter in Shiroko, I returned to Australia again in 2005 and continued teaching at language schools while working for different businesses. Since 2009, I have also been interpreting as a NAATI (National Authority of Accreditation for Translators and Interpreters) interpreter. It took me a few years to become a professional interpreter. As I have developed my language skills in different areas of study and lifestyles, the two worlds of language had to merge in an orderly way at all levels for me to become a professional interpreter.

 

What I can say about my background in Japanese and English is that I have been living a lifetime of learning these two languages in a variety of fields and environments. Language has always been a big deal in whatever I was involved in. 

 

 

I remember very clearly how frustrating not understanding and not knowing how to express what we want to say in a second language can be; however, the BRIGHT side is that if we keep at it, we can overcome hurdles and begin to comprehend, understand and speak clearly. When we have this skill set, our reality expands! When it is in your system you will find it extremely rewarding, liberating and fun!

 

In the last twenty-eight years of teaching languages, I have been passionate and curious about developing my teaching skills. In my teaching, finding what works for each learner is critical, as everyone has an individual learning style and speed. Since language is broad and diverse, the practical information needs to be introduced in an orderly manner that suits the individual. However, learning a language is more than just an academic study. It takes lots of creativity and practice to get it right, and this is where the guided practice comes into place. My approach to teaching focuses on practical speaking ability development, as actual communication is the most rewarding for many learners.

 

As I appreciate and respect people investing in themselves to grow, I want to provide the best lessons every time for my students to enjoy their journey with all the knowledge I have gained throughout my experiences. Learning a new language is a journey. And I am here to support you. We interpret for ourselves and communicate with others using language - back and forth.

 

Using this magical tool, we can have experiences beyond the world we know while learning more about our language and culture. Languages are like living tools we can use to expand our worlds! Let’s enjoy expanding our worlds togethe

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ありがとうございます。 arigatou gozaimasu  ❄️ゆき Yuki