My name is Grey, and I use he/him or they/them pronouns. I graduated in May 2021 from University of Vermont majoring in Human Development and Family Studies and a minor in Japanese Language. I have studied Japanese for two years in high school and throughout college as well.
I currently teach at Fusion Academy Burlington in Massachusetts since August 2021. I found the job through LinkedIn.
I filled out an application online through LinkedIn, including a personal profile, resume, and cover letter. I received a call back asking for an in-person interview. In the interview, I met with their Head of School and discussed my application. I told them about previous teaching experience, my own academic background, and what drew me to apply to the job. The second part consisted of creating a 20 minute lesson plan in a one-on-one environment as if I was teaching a Japanese lesson. Another teacher at the school was the “student” and I introduced him to Japanese language and culture.
I did not have to pay since I moved in with my family for a bit before finding my own apartment.
The one-to-one learning model at Fusion Academy is likely very different from a traditional school and is more similar to tutoring. It makes it nice to teach Japanese here in that I have a strong sense of what concepts my student is understanding and needs to work on. Teaching Japanese means often I am going back to foundational vocabulary, skills, and helping students become more culturally knowledgeable as well. I really enjoy teaching Japanese because it gives me a chance to share what I have been taught, and also gives students a chance to learn about different cultures and societies and how that shapes the language.
LinkedIn was a great resource for me. One tip I have is thinking about what kind of environment you would like to be in. If you are looking to teach, private schools will take Japanese teachers after undergraduate while some public schools require graduate studies. For Japan-related jobs, there are many resources. If you are looking to go to Japan, there are websites like Workaway that have language exchanges and job postings for foreigners to travel and work in Japan. Due to COVID-19, tourists are not allowed to enter Japan, meaning taking a job is the best way to get there.
I think keeping options open and having a variety of opportunities to learn about Japan and the language is important, which I saw supported through learning about JET through the UVM Japanese Language Program. My teachers were very encouraging and there were many students who traveled to Japan during their time in school.
Reach out to other students and alumni to discuss their experiences! Especially if you know someone or can get in touch with someone who is in a similar field, let them know about what you are thinking about doing for a career. Hearing another’s experiences can also help raise questions for yourself about what is important to you for an occupation and lifestyle.
