I first came to Japan in 2005 while working on my undergraduate degrees in English Linguistics and Japanese Language and Culture. I worked as an intern and guide at the American pavilion at the Aichi World Expo in Nagoya. Afterward, I studied abroad at the Japanese Center for Michigan Universities (JCMU) in Hikone.

After graduation, I returned to Japan to work as a language instructor for a year before returning to America for my graduate studies in Linguistics and Language Technology. During that time, I interned at the Linguist List and performed various types of research including linguistic development of bilingual children and applying data mining techniques to linguistic research.

I started working as a language instructor at Benesse Corporation after I received a master’s degree in linguistics at University College London in 2011. I was responsible for making online education curricula for junior and senior high school students who planned to go abroad to study. As well as teaching English, I was in charge of training Filipino teachers who now teach online English lessons offered by Benesse Global Learning Center.

After three years at Benesse Corporation, I moved to Ochanomizu Seminar and worked as an intercultural liaison, collaborating with foreign teachers to improve the school’s English courses called Kaigai Heigan Course. I counseled a number of high school students and their parents, and I was able to send many young bright Japanese students to some of the top universities around the world. For two of the years I worked at the school, I was appointed to be a visiting lecturer and taught intensive English courses at Chiba University, Meiji University, Musashino University, and Chiba University of Commerce.

From 2017-2019, I worked as an international education coordinator in Okayama. I was responsible for facilitating Japan’s local English education. I was an assistant teacher at Wake Shizutani high school and devised a comprehensive plan to conduct the school’s international education program. I successfully made international relationships with foreign schools in China, Korea, Ukraine, India, and Nepal. I was also in charge of a public cram school where students studied foreign languages such as English, Mandarin Chinese, and Korean. Most students who studied at the school were successfully matriculated at some of the best universities in West Japan.

I went back to my hometown, Ichihara in 2019. As an executive assistant, I help ALPHA Frontiers send some of the best language teachers to local municipalities around Japan. It is time for Japan and its people to think about how international education should be conducted nationwide. I am always glad to help anyone who is eager to consider future international education.

Hello! My name is Ian, and I’m from Vancouver, Canada. I’ve also lived in Toronto, and a few places in Japan, including Tokyo, where I currently live. Growing up with many friends who spoke fluent English in public and another language at home sparked my interest in languages. I’ve studied French, Spanish, Latin, and Japanese. Currently, I’m also studying basic Sanskrit. As a student in Canada, I also had excellent English teachers that deepened my love of the English language.

I have been working in education for over two decades. Most of that time has been spent teaching English in Japan. I have taught thousands of students in various roles, such as an ALT in public junior high and elementary schools, a cram school instructor, an English conversation school instructor, a language instructor on-site for large companies, and more. I have also worked in management for the largest private provider of ALTs in Japan.

I really admire the enthusiasm and self-discipline that I’ve seen in so many students of English in Japan. ALPHA Frontiers teachers can take those excellent qualities and make them more fruitful for students. ALPHA Frontiers is made up of various amazing teachers who work well together and are dedicated to creating the best experience their students can have learning English. ALPHA Frontiers provides the atmosphere to help both its students and teachers reach their highest potential, so I am happy to be a part of this team.

Ten years ago, I came to Japan through the Ministry of Education and was placed at a rural junior-senior high school in northern Fukuoka. Once I moved to the big city, I worked with an international school, serving as a homeroom teacher for Japanese elementary students.

In addition to these, I have had the opportunity to work with agricultural schools, commercial schools, a school for the visually impaired, the Fukuoka Board of Education’s Compulsory Education Division, hundreds of elementary school students through summer camps, kindergartens through cultural events, and with senior citizens, university students, and everything in between at local community centers.

After spending a decade in Japan and working with students from age 3 to 93, I was overjoyed to find a program that not only encourages students to study overseas, but actually helps them make that dream a reality. Communicative English alone will not help a student to study at an overseas university, but academic English alone will not help a student integrate themselves into the cultures and lifestyles abroad. As an educator, it is a pleasure to work with ALPHA Frontiers because I am able to help the brightest minds in Japan develop both functional and academic English skills.

Hello, my name is Ninder and I am from Vancouver, Canada.

My educational background includes an undergraduate degree in English and mathematics and a masters degree in English. I tutored others throughout my school years, but it was during graduate school that I found my true passion for learning and education.

My love for traveling and experiencing new cultures has shown me the importance of communication in language.

So, alongside a strong foundation of a language, I think it is important to equip students with the tools to properly express themselves, especially if they want to go abroad.

In Canada, I taught English at the university where I got my masters degree, and afterwards I taught international students English and mathematics. Teaching in Japan has allowed me to see the difficulties faced by English language learners from students with basic skills to those who are fluent speakers. Although teaching all students is rewarding, I particularly enjoy teaching academic writing for students wanting to study English at a university level or study abroad.