"I started my Japan journey in 1990 when I went to Japan to teach English. I ended up staying for eight years, getting my Masters degree from the University of Hawaii in Asian Studies, and becoming fluent in the language in the process. After returning to the States in 2001 I taught Japanese for two years at a public elementary school in South Carolina and have been teaching Japanese since 2003 at a private high school in Westchester. As a non native teacher of the language and as a high school teacher I know what to focus on to ensure the success of my students. I have taught Japanese to all age groups, and while in Japan I also taught English to children and adults. I have been teaching for over thirty years and am looking forward to sharing my passion for the language and culture of Japan with you! I am also active in professional development and have been incorporating technology into my teaching for some time. If you are interested in a highly effective teacher of Japanese please look no further." less...