Please click on each header to view that section.
EXPERIENCE
- 4/11 to 3/14: Waseda Saga Gakuen, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture. ALT.
Taught three types of classes per week: Advanced English (10 to 12 hours), team teaching (4 to 7 hours) and ESS Club (9 hours minimum). I also did student requested teaching time (varied).
My students won first place in prefectural speech contests all years, and some went to national level contests.
All students in a survey of my Advanced Placement English (AP English) Class claimed to have learned special things in the class and enjoyed it.
Taught English as a Foreign Language (EFL) to junior high school and senior high school students.
Taught English and English as a Second Language (ESL) to returnees and advanced English learners in AP English.
Designed AP lessons and curriculum for advanced learners. This included: Critical Thinking, Poetry, Literature, Literary Elements, Mistake Analysis, Essay Writing, TOEFL iBT strategies, teaching vocabulary and grammar through film and literature, Philosophy, English History and Typing.
Did seminars in English Teaching for English Teachers of Japan.
Trained students in speech and debate.
Helped English Teachers with high-level English Grammar questions.
Was responsible for the English club and design of their activities. Trained students in taking standardized tests such as TOEIC, TOEFL, and Eiken. Taught yoga in English, dance, drama, teamwork, video editing, Basic Spanish, English conversation and how to learn English from books and movies. Organized pen pal letter correspondence.
Mentored students and helped in the school nurse’s room as part of the Health and Mentorship Committee. This included nursing students, making judgements on health and emergencies, contacting coworkers, filling in basic paperwork in Japanese, and counseling students.
Took part in the English Teachers’ Weekly Meeting and offered up ideas. Helped to select textbooks, standardized tests, items, schedules, and to decide general procedures.
Managed several groups of students at once for tasks such as cleaning. Organized and directed three groups of energetic teenagers in cleaning various areas around the campus for each day of the school year. - 8/10 to 03/11: KBS Inc., Saga City, Saga Prefecture. ALT.
Taught English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in elementary and junior high schools.
Worked with teachers to teach using the textbook with regard to all five learning styles.
Was commended on creativity and energy of lessons in elementary schools. - 4/09 to 7/10: Interac Company, Miyazaki Prefecture. ALT.
Taught EFL in preschool, elementary and junior high schools. Used games, multimedia, student creativity, deep thought and realia in lessons. - 01/09 to 04/09: Kid's Dream, Sasaguri, Fukuoka Prefecture. Preschool Teacher.
Taught English to babies as a preschool teacher. Coaxed babies into eating and sleeping through gentle guidance, chants and songs. Taught older children through flashcards, games, activities and realia. - 10/07 to 10/08: Sofia's Language School, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Owner/Teacher.
Taught English, Spanish and beginning Japanese to various members of the community and Spanish to business people from abroad. - 08/04 to 07/07: JET Programme, Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture. ALT.
Taught English As a Foreign Language (TEFL) in Junior High Schools and Elementary Schools.
Designed Junior High School lesson plans, with regard to the text, grammar points and current learning level.
Team taught, communicating smoothly and teaching effectively, with Junior High School teachers (weekly regular schools).
Designed and provided handmade materials for all English lessons at Elementary Schools, including games, phonics, language pattern learning and comparison, etc.
Volunteer participation in making fun lessons for ALTs at Seminars and monthly meetings in various subjects, including TEFL.
Taught night classes to groups of various ability level adult language learners.
Sometimes taught Spanish. - 10/03 to 01/04: El Togoroz Restaurant, Petaluma, CA. Mural Painter.
Negotiated, planned, and painted a mural the entire length of the restaurant in the national symbols of El Salvador, a volcano and the Turquise-Browed Motmot (bird). - 07/02 to 05/03: County of Monterey Environmental Health Department, Monterey, CA. Environmental Health Inspection.
Worked with the planning department in reviewing building plans to make sure that new buildings or building alterations met environmental requirements.
Inspected various businesses for proper compliance to Environmental Health laws.
Inspected homes and land with regard to septic and well water safety issues.
Tested wastewater at treatment plant for possible secondary use in agriculture as part of a research team. - 03/02 to 07/02: Sustainable Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz, CA. Green Building Design.
Designed 4 to 40 unit apartment complexes for a non-profit organization.
Some parameters included lofts, wet core incorporation, community areas, space limitations and green roofs. - 01/02 to 04/02: Mann Packing Company, Salinas, CA. Quality Assurance Supervisor.
Designed new forms for technician use with regard to personal safety, compliance with rules, Quality Control, food safety (temperature, handling, defects and appearance) and other Good Manufacturing Practices.
Used Word, Excel, and biliterate (Spanish / English) proficiencies.
Observation and documentation of procedures used in the plant.
Provided guidance to team members and factory workers with regard to actions and improvement. - 05/01 to 02/02: City of Gilroy Chemical Control, Gilroy, CA. Chemical Control Intern.
Wrote the Injury and Illness Prevention Program to OSHA compliance and specific to the City’s needs.
Studied environmental impact and investigated into responsible parties by analyzing possibilities such as groundwater or sewage flow on parcel and topographical maps.
Assistance and observation of various regulatory program inspections.
Customer service and conflict resolution between business owners.
Designed new inspection records and brochures, a user’s handbook, and did data entry for it.
Translated during regulatory inspections from Spanish to English and vice versa.
When necessary, translated forms, documents, and conversations to Spanish.
Wrote reports, letters, and permit conditions using accounting, data management, and regulations research and analysis. - 06/00 to 05/01: ATC, Environmental Consulting, Monterey, CA. Environmental Specialist.
Sampled air, soil, and building materials and sent samples to the lab in a timely manner.
Wrote environmental reports based on environmental analysis and remediation requirements.
Advised good business practices with regard to tanks and containers of toxic materials.
Analysed geothermal heating, wells and septic systems based on distances and land topography. - 09/99 to 11/99: Papa’s Tavern, Petaluma, CA. Waitress.
Served large groups of 20 to 40 people in a busy Greek tavern, amidst boisterous music and dancing. - 03/99 to 06/99: Client: Scott Whittaker, Rohnert Park, CA. Private Spanish Tutor.
Taught Spanish and Cuban music styles to a professional musician for the purpose of his Spanish singing in a Salsa Band. - 08/98 to 12/98: Yao Kiku, Santa Rosa, CA. Sushi Chef and Waitress.
Welcomed customers and entertained them while making elegant Japanese foods. - 01/98 to 11/98: Liberty Elementary School District, Petaluma, CA. ESL Aid.
Taught English, math, and science to ESL students, 4th grade on one-on-one and group basis.
Taught Spanish to 4th grade class.
Translated documents and performed oral translation during Open House meetings and small group parent / teacher meetings from English to Spanish and vice-versa. - 05/98 to 08/98: SSALI At Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA. English Teacher, ESL Tutor.
Instructed Sonoma State American Language Institute international students in English pronunciation, grammar, reading and communication.
Invited international students as a volunteer on outings, and aided them in learning English.
EDUCATION
1997 to 2000: Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA.
B.A., Biological Sciences. Minor, Linguistics.
Certification: Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL).
Yearlong series, 24 units.
Engineering Drafting and Design course, Cabrillo College, Santa Cruz, CA.
INTERESTS
Fine Art, birds, mushrooms, Green Architecture, ethnobotany, ancient medical systems, languages, environmental balance, naturalist philosophy, philosophy, culture, psychology, how people learn, yoga, dance, singing.
VOLUNTEER WORK
Speaker - Textbook Realia, 2013 ETJ Kyushu ELT Expo;
Speaker - Teaching Cross-Cultural Differences Through the Internet, 2012 ETJ Kyushu ELT Expo;
Pastel Artist - I Madonnari Chalk Festival, Puerto Vallarta, 11/2007;
Seminar Speaker on TEFL - JET Programme, Fukuoka, 2005 - 2006;
Green Building Designs - Sustainable Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz, CA, 2002;
ESL Aid - Sonoma State University SAALI Program, Rohnert Park, CA, 1998;
Gardener - Miwuk Native Plant Garden, Tuolumne, CA, 1996.
CONFERENCES
2013 ETJ Kyushu ELT Expo (Speaker);
2012 ETJ Kyushu ELT Expo (Speaker);
JET Conferences, Fukuoka 2005, 2006 (Speaker);
San Francisco Green Conference, 2003 (Attendee);
CWEA and WRPPN Pollution Prevention Conference, 2001 (Attendee);
Society for Science Within Consciousness, Berkeley, CA., 1995 (Attendee).
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PRIZES
Saga Prefectural High School Original Speech Contest and Recitation Contest. Two students, 1st Place and 2nd Place, 2013;
Saga Prefectural High School Original Speech Contest and Recitation Contest. Two students, 1st Place and 2nd Place. 2012;
Asia University National Speech Contest. 1 student, Finalist. 2012;
Saga Prefectural Junior High School Recitation Contest. 1st Grade, 1st Place. 2012;
Saga Prefectural Original Speech Contest. Two students, 1st Place and 2nd place. 2011;
Asahi Exhibit - publicly displayed 80 of my own paintings and did a live painting show, Galerias Vallarta Mall, Puerto Vallarta. June, 2008;
Tuolumne County Garden Club Scholarship, Sonora, CA, 1995;
Voice Of Democracy Speech Contest, Mariposa, CA. 1st Place, 1991;
Citywide Environmental Poetry Contest, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, 1st Place Prize, 1989.
TEACHING SKILLS
Communicative teaching methods, evaluation, directing small groups, educational game design, use of the text, drawing and illustrating points, training students to edit, speech and debate, standardized test training, internet and library research, creative writing, report writing student centered learning.
ART SKILLS
Education: Study of Art principles in private classes since childhood; College Art classes; personal studies in Architectural design from the age of 16; Japanese watercolor study, three years, Japan. Skills: Some CAD, Adobe Photoshop; the use of Acrylics, Pastels, Watercolors, Oil, Clay Sculpture, Stoneworking.
OTHER SKILLS
Bilingual and biliterate (English/Spanish), intermediate (JLPT N3) Japanese Language, advanced spoken Japanese Language for daily conversation, typing (30 wpm), translation and interpretation. Teamwork, customer service, public relations, scheduling, some administration, creative theory, seminar speaking, basic web page design.