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Yoshiko Himata
Program Director おめでとうございます(Omedetou-gozaimasu) / Congratulations! My name is Yoshiko Himata and I am excited to welcome all the participants to the Japanese Academy in Summer 2018. I am a native of Toyama prefecture and I am passionate about teaching the Japanese language. In my free time, I enjoy cooking Japanese cuisine and I engross myself in the art of the Japanese Tea Ceremony. Now, a little bit about my academic background. I taught English and Japanese at the Toyama University of International Studies (TUINS) High School, I studied Global and Intercultural Studies at Ferris University in Japan, and I earned a Teacher’s certificate at Nihon University. Presently, I teach intermediate Japanese class at Randolph-Macon College. As I have already expressed, I am passionate about the Japanese language and love to challenge my students every day. During this program, I will be a bridge between the participants and Japan, with the sincere hope for students to cultivate an educational journey that will allow them to grow more well-rounded and discover a passion for Japanese studies. I am looking forward to meeting all of you. See you on campus! |
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Dan Hill (ダン・ヒル)
Teacher ダンヒルです。よろしくお願いします。 日本語の生徒達へ My name is Dan Hill. I teach English and Japanese at Miami High School, in Miami, Arizona. I am so excited to come back for my third year teaching Japanese at the Virginia Governor’s Language Academy. I’ve been to Japan six times. In September, 2016, I fulfilled a dream of hiking to the top of Mt. Fuji. In September, 2017 I visited Nagasaki and hiked to the top of Mount Homan near Fukuoka. I love all things Japanese: The food, the amazing landscapes, the reverent and beautiful temples and shrines, the culture, but especially the people. Who will tell you how good your language skills are when you can barely say, “Hi, how are you?” Who will tell you how good your cooking is, when you left the oil out of the crust recipe, and you can barely cut through a piece of pie with a steak knife? Who will miss their own train to make sure you, the American tourist, gets on the correct train to wherever you’re going? A Japanese person will. I can’t wait to meet you at the Academy, help you study the language, and share with you my passion for all things Japanese! 楽しみにしています。ヒルより |
Yoko Eshita
Teacher
My name is Yoko Eshita (江下 葉子). This is my first time joining the Japanese Academy. I am excited to make wonderful memories with you this summer!
I am originally from Fukuoka, Japan. I earned a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Kyoto Women's University and a second bachelor's degree in International Relations from Linfield College in Oregon. I was trained as a Japanese teacher through the ALLEX (Alliance for Language Learning & Educational Exchange) program at Portland State University and have taught Japanese to high school students in Australia, adults in Kyoto, as well as high school students, college students, and diplomats in the US. I am currently pursuing a Master's degree in Second Language Acquisition at the University of Maryland as well as teaching at Japanese Plus, an after-school Japanese language and culture program offered to high school students in Washington, DC.
I am looking forward to meeting you at the Academy and to spreading the joy of learning Japanese!
Teacher
My name is Yoko Eshita (江下 葉子). This is my first time joining the Japanese Academy. I am excited to make wonderful memories with you this summer!
I am originally from Fukuoka, Japan. I earned a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Kyoto Women's University and a second bachelor's degree in International Relations from Linfield College in Oregon. I was trained as a Japanese teacher through the ALLEX (Alliance for Language Learning & Educational Exchange) program at Portland State University and have taught Japanese to high school students in Australia, adults in Kyoto, as well as high school students, college students, and diplomats in the US. I am currently pursuing a Master's degree in Second Language Acquisition at the University of Maryland as well as teaching at Japanese Plus, an after-school Japanese language and culture program offered to high school students in Washington, DC.
I am looking forward to meeting you at the Academy and to spreading the joy of learning Japanese!
Saki Gejo (下條紗季)
Teacher
日本語アカデミーへようこそ！
こんにちは、my name is Saki Gejo. I was born in Toyama prefecture, Japan where there are beautiful mountains and the ocean. I earned my BA at Portland State University in Portland, OR and MA TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) at the University of Findlay, OH. My Japanese teaching career began as soon as I started studying in the United States. I was a Japanese tutor, mentor, and instructor throughout my student life in the United States.
This is my first time joining the Japanese Academy and I am very excited to teach Japanese language and culture. I look forward to sharing the exciting and fun experience of communicating in a different language with people of various backgrounds as a second language speaker and teacher.
Teacher
日本語アカデミーへようこそ！
こんにちは、my name is Saki Gejo. I was born in Toyama prefecture, Japan where there are beautiful mountains and the ocean. I earned my BA at Portland State University in Portland, OR and MA TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) at the University of Findlay, OH. My Japanese teaching career began as soon as I started studying in the United States. I was a Japanese tutor, mentor, and instructor throughout my student life in the United States.
This is my first time joining the Japanese Academy and I am very excited to teach Japanese language and culture. I look forward to sharing the exciting and fun experience of communicating in a different language with people of various backgrounds as a second language speaker and teacher.
Kaitlin Hoagland
RA
My name is Kaitlin Hoagland. I am 22 years old and a rising senior at Randolph-Macon College. My hobbies include reading, drawing, playing with my cat, Luna, and watching anime. I have been interested in the Japanese culture and language ever since I was a kid and my brother introduced me to anime. Since then, my interests have evolved from just loving the tv shows and comic books to learning about the language, culture, and country of Japan itself. I attended the Japanese Academy as a student in the summer of 2013. It was a life changing experience. I made a lot of friends, learned more about the culture, and even discovered which college I wanted attend in the future. Last summer, I was an RA at the Japanese Academy, and I am returning this year as the lead RA. I am looking forward to meeting and working with all of you this summer! ありがとうございます！
RA
My name is Kaitlin Hoagland. I am 22 years old and a rising senior at Randolph-Macon College. My hobbies include reading, drawing, playing with my cat, Luna, and watching anime. I have been interested in the Japanese culture and language ever since I was a kid and my brother introduced me to anime. Since then, my interests have evolved from just loving the tv shows and comic books to learning about the language, culture, and country of Japan itself. I attended the Japanese Academy as a student in the summer of 2013. It was a life changing experience. I made a lot of friends, learned more about the culture, and even discovered which college I wanted attend in the future. Last summer, I was an RA at the Japanese Academy, and I am returning this year as the lead RA. I am looking forward to meeting and working with all of you this summer! ありがとうございます！
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Sarah Simpson (サラ・シンプソン)
RA 皆さん、 Hello! My name is Sarah Simpson, and this is my first time working with the Governor’s Academy. I am from Virginia Beach, and I am currently attending Old Dominion University. I will be graduating in spring, 2019 with a BA in Communication, Intercultural Communication and a minor in Japanese Studies. I have enjoyed my studies, but still am not sure what the future holds for me! I am studying abroad this fall in Osaka, Japan, so maybe I’ll have a better idea when I return. I was lucky to have been able to study Japanese during high school, and I am happy to continue throughout my college career and beyond. I am really excited to share my passion with others and learn along with everyone. I also enjoy taking care of my plants, going to thrift stores, and taking long naps. I look forward to meeting you! よろしくおねがいします！ |
Ken Marken
RA
こんにちは。
Hello, my name is Ken Marken. I am a student at Virginia Tech, with a planned major in Computer Science. I have never studied Japanese in a traditional classroom setting, but I regularly speak it with my family at home. I have visited Japan on several occasions in my childhood and have enjoyed each trip immensely, being able to be with my extended family, and also being able to experience all the unique cultural aspects that Japan has to offer, especially the delicious food. This is my first time taking part in the academy, but I look forward to working with everyone and hope it becomes a memorable part of everyone's lives.
どうぞよろしくお願いします。
RA
こんにちは。
Hello, my name is Ken Marken. I am a student at Virginia Tech, with a planned major in Computer Science. I have never studied Japanese in a traditional classroom setting, but I regularly speak it with my family at home. I have visited Japan on several occasions in my childhood and have enjoyed each trip immensely, being able to be with my extended family, and also being able to experience all the unique cultural aspects that Japan has to offer, especially the delicious food. This is my first time taking part in the academy, but I look forward to working with everyone and hope it becomes a memorable part of everyone's lives.
どうぞよろしくお願いします。