Teaching in Japan

I have always loved traveling and learning about new cultures. I decided to complete the TESOL certification program at Western so I could go oversees and teach for a year- it was the perfect opportunity for traveling and earning money at the same time. I knew I was interested in becoming a teacher, but before going through the whole teaching program, I wanted to know if I would enjoy being in front of a classroom 5 days a week.  I finished the TESOL program in June and left that August for a year-long teaching post in Japan.  I got a job with a private English school and lived in a small town an hour outside of Osaka.  My students ranged in age from 4 to 45.  I taught classes of 3,4, and 5 year olds at a kindergarden Monday, Wednsday and Friday in the mornings, and had classes of Middle School and High School students in the evenings. I occasionally had 'reading groups' or 'conversation groups' of stay-at-home or retired moms in the afternoons as well.  I got plenty of practice in creating lesson plans, assisting the program director with curriculum development, and planning school functions.  My TESOL classes came in handy for all of these tasks, and I ended up helping out other teachers who did not have any TESOL experience to draw on.  After my experience in Japan I knew that I would like to continue in the teaching profession and I am now preparing to earn my Masters in Teaching degree.  I plan on teaching History/Social Studies and ESL at the High School and possibly Community College level.  My TESOL classes gave me the chance to experience new cultures and bring those experiences back home and into my classrooms. 

Lindsey Richards