Introduction of teachers

Yoko Kamo
加茂　葉子（かも　ようこ）
米国セントマイケル大学院卒　MATESL

My name is Yoko Kamo. I am from Gunma. I have been teaching at Gunma Language Center since 1992. I earned my master’s degree in MATESL program at St. Michael’s College in 1996.
My teaching interests are teaching children and English education in a public elementary school in Japan.
My hobbies are spending time with my sons and playing the piano.

Yoko Oyama
大山　謡子(おおやま　ようこ)
武蔵野女子大学卒　英米文学B．A．

My name is Yoko Oyama. I grew up in Maebashi, lived in Tokyo, and enjoyed a year abroad in Wales, U.K. My hobbies are watching English films, listening to English music, e-mail exchange with native speakers. This is a good way to improve my listening ability and to learn about other cultures. I also like snowboarding in the winter. I graduated from Musashino Women’s University and my major was English and American literature. It has been about over 5 years since I started working for Gunma Language Center. I really enjoy working here very much. I teach English to students from elementary school to high school. All the students here are very energetic, motivated and they each have unique personalities. I’m really impressed by their enthusiasm in taking English proficiency exams at such early ages, their independence in study, and so on. They help motivate me, as well. And every day I discover new things that I had never learned while I was a student. I would like to continue to grow with my students and make use

Heidi Heringer
カナダ、ブリティッシュコロンビア大学卒ドイツ語B．A．, TESL

    Heidi comes to Gunmamachi, Gunmaken from Vancouver, British Columbia. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in German from the University of British Columbia. She received her TESOL certification from the Canadian Global TESOL Training Institute in Calgary, Alberta.
    She has six years of German-English translation experience. In 2001, she received credit for her research and translation work on the documentary film, Leo’s Journey: The Story of the Mengele Twins (Infinity Films Entertainment Group, Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia).
    She currently teaches English as a Foreign Language to children, adolescents, and adults at Gunma Language Center and Language Academy.

Leomante R. Tamaray
フィリピン、フィリピン工科大学卒　機械工学B.T

Mabuhay!
    I’m Leomante Tamaray, I come from Laguna, Philippines. It’s just one hour south of Manila. I graduated from the Technological University of the Philippines. After college, I was assigned as an assistant supervisor of Directric Coil Industries, an air conditioning company which specializes in manufacturing air handling units ( AHU ).
    I’ve been here in Japan for 14 years. I first came as a trainee of Gunma-Machi Chamber of Commerce and have worked in various companies like NSK Needle Bearings. In August 2007, I worked as an office manager of Every Nation Ministries in Nishi-Waseda, Shinjuku, near Waseda University. Our goal is to reach students to become future godly leaders.
    I teach English and Tagalog at Gunma Language Center and Language Academy. It’s a privilege for me to be a part of the teaching force of this school. The Takasaki Schools Division Office of the Ministry of Education has also given me the opportunity to teach Filipino elementary students with basic Nihongo and interpret their lessons in Tagalog or English.
    I now live in a house on top of a hill of Kannon Yama, Takasaki. I am enjoying a beautiful overlooking view of Gunma where I can have peace and feel relaxed after hours of work.
I also serve as a team leader of Couples for Christ, which can be found in 169 countries.

God bless you!

Khristian Punzalan
フィリピン、フィリピン女子大学卒、心理学B.A.

Hello. My name is Khristian Punzalan and I come from Manila, Philippines. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the Philippine Women’s University. I have worked as a teacher for 3 years while getting a Professional Teaching Certification from the University of the Philippines. I am eager and energetic with regards to teaching children and my experiences have confirmed my desire to teach. I came here in Japan in March 2008 as a student of nippon Language Academy in Maebashi and at the same time I have worked as a part time teacher in different English schools.
I am currently a full time English teacher at Gunma Language Center and Language Academy. I have loved the experience of being here in Japan and I ‘m looking forward to meeting people and trying new things. Photography, studying Japanese, listening to music and reading books are the things that keep me busy during my free time.

Sarah Wadsworth

Hello, my name is Sarah Wadsworth and I’m from the U.K. I graduated from Leeds University in 2006 with a BA Honours Degree in Tourism Management. In 2008 I completed a CELTA course at the York Language School. My husband and I are very keen on experiencing different cultures and we both love teaching. I have had over 2 years teaching experience in Thailand and Taiwan and in August we moved to Japan, which brings us to Gunma Language Centre. I thoroughly enjoy teaching all age groups and have learnt a lot from all the different cultures I have experienced. My hobbies include cooking, jogging and exploring new places.

Tom Wadsworth

Eee by gum!
My name is Tom and I am from York in the North of England, where we eat Yorkshire pudding EVERY day.

Together with my wife, see above, I have been teaching English for two and half years in Thailand and Taiwan. I have learnt a lot from my time in these countries and look forward to learning about the culture in Gunma, teaching experience from my work colleagues and stories from my students.
I graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2006 with Tourism Management and studied for my CELTA at York Language School.

My hobbies include football, eating Yorkshire pudding, photography and going on day trips with my wife!

Blessings!

Douglas

I remember being an MATESL student in a Jesuit college, the School of Education at the University of San Francisco, when I turned to look at what seemed to catch my attention?on one side of its walls were words that stood out: “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve.” We enter the academic arena to learn, to arm ourselves with helpful “tools,” and when we leave, we help individuals no matter what the cost.

As a serious educator, this is what it’s all about?to serve each student with every fiber of my being; that is, impart vital knowledge in assisting them master the English language in an effective, engaging, fun, student-centered, and communicative way.

It’s been a great honor to be invited by Mr. and Mrs. Horiguchi to work as a full-time, permanent English teacher at their schools. They have been very kind and generous. Mrs. Horiguchi has years of experience teaching, years of volunteer service in her community. Her daughter, Yoko Kamo, who teaches at GLC, as well as herself are MATESL degree holders as I. So far, my experience working alongside them has been lovely, fulfilling, and enjoyable. Truly, it is a great asset to have TESOL professionals as colleagues.

In terms of my education, I possess a Bachelor’s degree in English, emphasis in writing, Cum Laude, a Master’s of Fine Arts degree in Writing, Honors, and a Master’s of Teaching English as a Second Language degree (MATESL), Honors. My degrees have all been obtained in California, my place of residence before I came to Gunma.

I possess 11 years teaching experience, the bulk of it towards second language learners of all ages, of all cultures and socioeconomic levels. However, I have also taught Native English speakers as well, such as prose, poetry, the essay?MLA and APA format, speech and debate.

In spite of my credentials and experience, I have always remained humble because in this profession, learning never ends, and a true TESOL professional understands the intricate aspects of second language acquisition, both negative and positive, which requires constant vigilance on behalf of the teacher. It is a profession of sensibilities?understanding the dimensions of being human as it pertains to students, such as their culture, their learning styles, aims and goals and knowing how to balance that act.

This is what keeps me going?the hunger to serve my students, the hunger to serve my colleagues in a way where I can learn from them. It’s neither far-fetched nor a romantic notion, but a reality that I live everyday when I come to work and see my students with great mystery in their eyes. And yes, those words, which I had seen while in graduate school, will forever burn in my eyes because I want them there?“Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve.”