Issue No. 03 Year 2017

Long time no see... In this issue...

hanks for reading our third issue of the Yokkaichi YEF Spotlight English Fellows (YEF) Newsletter. The last year has Tbeen an exciting year for both the YEF Program and We shine a spotlight on the three hardworking YEFs who Yokkaichi. The Yokkaichi Board of Education hired an left us this summer. Pages 2-4 additional YEF increasing our total number to twelve. Having an additional YEF allows us to teach more classes in Yokkaichi’s junior high schools and visit smaller schools with greater frequency. All twelve YEFs visited eleven schools this summer with our YEF Coordinator, Ms. Sawai, to teach our internationally themed “Let’s Enjoy English!” lessons. In city news, Yokkaichi had an election this year where the citizens voted for Mr. Tomohiro Mori as the new mayor. On the first of August, the city celebrated the Christine Leung Victor Nguyen Lara Petersen 120th anniversary of its founding. This is the same day that the city’s mascot, Konyudou-kun, had his 20th birthday. As with every issue of this newsletter, we reflect back on the events of the past while contemplating the future of New YEF Profiles the program. This is an exciting time to teach English in Japan! As Japan looks to boost tourism and international Let’s get to know the newest members of the exchange ahead of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, the work of 2017 - 2018 YEF team. Pages 5-6 Japanese Teachers of English and the YEFs will become even more important. The collective contributions we make to English education in Japan have an impact on the students and greater community of Yokkaichi that lasts for years. We strive to continue educating, inspiring, and empowering Yokkaichi’s students so they can do great things in both their local communities and abroad. We hope that you enjoy learning more about the YEF program and the people who help make it work.

- David Hayter Jessica Corrales Sarah Davis Editor, YEF Co-leader Fourth Year YEF

YEF Spotlight Summertime Fun

Third year YEF talks about YEFs enjoy various his adventures in Japan. summertime activities. Andrew Ghim Sabrina Williams

Writers : YEFs Editor: David Hayter Copy editor: Monika Tayag Anthony Matthews Page 7 Additional Content Page 8 Design: Ana Lee

2017 1 YEF Spotlight Christine Leung

At the Pokemon Center in Hiroshima. Blueberry picking in Yokkaichi. Christine also helped create and update lessons for future teachers in the YEF share drive. She played a vital role in hristine Leung served as a YEF from the JET planning and teaching for the YEF program’s “Let’s En- Programme for three years, from 2014 until 2017. joy English” summer lessons. The lessons seek to promote COperating as one of the co-leaders of the YEF Program English education in Yokkaichi by sending all of the YEFs for the 2016-2017 year, she has guided it to reach new and to various junior high schools for a special one-day lesson in exciting heights. August.

Christine, like most YEFs, is from California. She grew up Outside of work, Christine led an eventful life while in in the Bay Area city of Millbrae, close to San Francisco. In Japan. She has made Yokkaichi’s famous banko pottery, Mills High School she took the plunge and began learning harvested rice with local farmers, and made her own washi Japanese. She studied for four years and passed the senior paper. During vacation, she has traveled to many places in year AP test. While studying she also found time to be and outside of Japan. In Japan, she has visited Okinawa, the president of the Japanese Culture Club and hosted Shikoku, Osaka, Tokyo, Yokohama, Fukui, Gifu, and Shiga. students from Japan in an exchange program. In her high Outside of Japan, she has travelled to Taiwan, South Korea, school days, Christine found her passion for teaching. and Denmark. She will also be visiting Indonesia after the program is over. After graduating from Mills High School, Christine traveled south to continue her Japanese language studies After returning home, Christine plans to attend San Fran- at UC San Diego. She studied hard to obtain her BA in cisco State University for her masters in Teaching English to Japanese Studies and a certificate for TEFL (Teaching Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). She hopes to apply English as a Foreign Language) in 2014. In her free time, the experience gained from the YEF program to her graduate she worked as a conversation leader for exchange students studies and help contribute to the TESOL community. We from all over the world at UCSD’s extension program. all wish Christine the best with her future endeavors!

In her final year at UCSD, Christine applied for the JET Programme which placed her in Yokkaichi to work as a YEF. She quickly demonstrated her capability in the workplace. She facilitated training sessions for incoming YEFs, developed elementary school curriculum for Japanese teachers in Yokkaichi, planned and presented English teaching seminars for Yokkaichi’s elementary school teachers, and also worked on YEF handbooks and promotional videos.

Snow day in Yokkaichi! Left to right: Monika Tayag, Alexander Smith, Christine Leung, and Victor Nguyen.

2017 2 YEF Spotlight Victor Nguyen

fter working for the City of Yokkaichi for four years (2013-2017), Victor Nguyen plans Ato return home to Westminster, CA. During his time in Yokkaichi, Victor used his skills in graphic design to create engaging activities for his English classes while working as the in-house designer for the YEF Program. You can see some of his work in this newsletter and in the YEF Handbooks.

Victor graduated from CSULB in 2013, earning a BA in International Studies with a focus on East Asian Culture and Identity. During his time in university, he joined the Japan Club and also shook it up on campus as the vice president of the Social Dance Club. In addition to his studies, Victor took part in a teaching abroad program at Dankook University in South Korea for the summer of 2012. His desire to live in Japan and improve his Japanese language skills motivated him to apply to the YEF Program during his senior year.

Victor had many responsibilities within the YEF Program. These included checking weekly teaching reports from fellow YEFs, planning and presenting English teaching seminars for elementary school teachers in Yokkaichi, designing the YEF Handbook Not being one to spend life standing still, Victor was and newsletters, helping the Trio Program participants involved in a variety of activities in the Yokkaichi area. from Yokkaichi, reviewing and critiquing other YEFs’ He studied martial arts like judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. lessons plans, and creating videos and posters for Victor danced in the Grand Yokkaichi Festival with the Yokkaichi and the YEF Program. “Fordiesta” yosakoi (Japanese festival dancing) team. He also participated in social dance events, went to classes at the Yokkaichi International Center (YIC), ran the Osaka marathon, climbed Mt. Fuji, and received a SCUBA diving certificate in Okinawa. Victor traveled to many other places in Japan as well, including Osaka, Tokyo, Fukuoka, Gifu, Kyoto, and Kyushu. Outside of Japan, he has visited Taiwan, Vietnam, Korea and Thailand. He also plans to visit Indonesia this summer before returning home.

After leaving Japan, Victor aims to study computer programming and engineering. He also wants to advance his studies in judo and Brazilian jiu-iitsu. As a final message, Victor stated he would like to help contribute to maintaining and strengthening the relationship between the cities of Yokkaichi and Long Beach.

Getting ready to be a judge for the Sanshi Speech and Composition Contest.

2017 3 YEF Spotlight Lara Petersen ara Petersen is taking the next step in her life’s journey after working as a YEF from the JET LProgramme for three years from 2014-2017. As a YEF, she aided the program by conducting research to write reports and guides for incoming YEFs in addition to looking for ways to improve our workplace practices.

Lara grew up in the Northern California city of Ukiah. This city, which is the largest city in Mendocino County, is known for its small town feel, historic downtown, and organic vineyards. During her time The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal in high school, she became interested in Japanese Studios Japan! culture and manga. She often visited a local sushi and okonomiyaki restaurant founded by a chef from Osaka. While working in Yokkaichi, Lara had many experiences Lara gained valuable teaching experience while studying both in and out of the workplace. At work, she oversaw the at Willits Charter School by taking part in a five month planning of lessons for Yokkaichi’s kindergartens, checked teaching English abroad program. She ventured to YEFs’ weekly teaching reports, translated documents India, Guatemala, and Uganda to experience life like the for the city of Yokkaichi, edited this newsletter, wrote locals, engage with the community, and teach students. informational guides for new YEFs, planned and led our “Let’s Enjoy English” summer lessons, and edited YEFs’ After high school, Lara’s enthusiasm for Japan led her to materials based on feedback from peer reviews. Outside of study at Soka University of America (SUA) in Aliso Viejo, work, Lara continued to study Japanese, enjoyed baking, CA. She earned a BA in International Studies in 2014 with and kept in touch with friends and family. She lent her a focus on Japanese culture, language and politics. Outside expertise to the Yokkaichi International Center (YIC) of class, she participated in the taiko, salsa dancing, by teaching a baking class. Lara traveled to many places and Bollywood Indian Dance clubs. Lara also studied in Japan, including Hiroshima, Gifu, Kyoto, Osaka, abroad for six months at Soka University’s Tokyo campus. Tokyo, and Kobe. Outside of Japan, she visited Korea After getting a taste of life in Japan, she decided to apply many times and got the opportunity to go to Canada. for the JET Programme with the goal of experiencing Japanese culture. This gave her the chance to live and work Although her time in the YEF Program has come to abroad in addition to saving money for graduate school. an end, Lara hopes she can continue working in English education in Japan to broaden her horizons, further improve her Japanese skills, and prepare for graduate school. She will surely be an asset to any organization that she works with after the YEF Program.

Great food with great company! Lara Petersen with former YEF Visiting the Giant Buddah at Todaiji Temple in Nara. Courtney Roe.

2017 4 New YEF Profiles Jessica Corrales Sarah Davis

his August the YEF program welcomed Jessica Corrales his August, we welcomed Sarah Davis to the YEF to the team. She is a 27 year old from Lake Elsinore, Program. Sarah is 26-year-old southern California TCalifornia. Jessica studied at California State University, Tnative and an alumna of California State University, Long Beach where she earned her BA in Linguistics. She Long Beach, where she completed a BA in Creative Writing also studied four semesters of Japanese while attending and Literature, and an MFA in Creative Writing and Poetry. CSULB. Jessica volunteered in the community as a member of the Circle K Club. Sarah’s academic and professional record attests to a long-standing interest in education. As a student, she Jessica had her first taste of Japanese culture while worked at the University’s Learning Center, where she attending Elsinore High School. In her senior year, she tutored international students and assisted engineering was a member of her school’s Culture Club that traveled students with the composition of their theses. She to Fukuoka, Japan during the summer of 2008 for a also taught a poetry class as a graduate student, and cultural exchange trip. Since that experience, Jessica worked as a volunteer in the Conversation Lab. has been interested in Japanese culture and language. Teaching led Sarah to her first intimate encounter with After graduating high school, Jessica worked as an Japanese culture. While working at the Learning Center, she AVID tutor for four years at a junior high school in taught English to many Japanese exchange students, and was her hometown. She later earned an AA in Languages, impressed by their enthusiasm and work ethic. In interactions Behavioral Sciences, and Communication at Riverside with these students, she experienced firsthand the respect Community College in the spring of 2015 before and courtesy characteristic of the Japanese, and subsequently transferring to CSULB in the fall. As a CSULB student, developed an interest in the history and traditions of Japan. she worked on campus at the American Language Institute She is excited to return to the classroom and share her passion as a conversation partner and homework lab tutor for for language with her students and colleagues in Yokkaichi. students studying abroad in Long Beach for two years. When away from work, Sarah devotes her time to Jessica is determined to make the most out of her life numerous pursuits. She uses her keen aesthetic sense to while working as a YEF and living in Yokkaichi. She aims paint portraits and compose poems. She is fond of nature, to continue her Japanese language studies, take traditional and often heads to the countryside to hike and collect insect Japanese Taiko drum lessons, learn to cook Japanese food, specimens. During her stay here, she hopes to travel and and explore the rest of Japan. Jessica is looking forward to try her hand at traditional art forms like suisaiga watercolor visiting Osaka and Kyoto. She hopes to make many new painting. friends and some great memories while living here. We wish Jessica the best in her future as a YEF.

2017 5 New YEF Profiles Andrew Ghim Sabrina Williams

ne of our new YEFs from the JET Programme, ast month, Sabrina Williams, a 22-year-old from Andrew Ghim, graduated from the University of Huntington Beach, arrived in Yokkaichi and joined OWashington in June 2015 at the age of 23. Andrew Lour team. Though officially a participant in the double majored in Anthropology and International Studies. JET Program, she, like many YEFs, attended California He focused on Asian Studies concentrating on Japan and State University, Long Beach, where she earned a BA in Korea. While attending university, he was a member of the Comparative Literature and a Minor in Japanese. Badminton Club and worked as a soccer and softball referee in the University of Washington Intramural Sports League. Sabrina’s interest in Japanese language and culture He joined cultural clubs like the Hong Kong Students’ developed early. As a high school student, she had a part- Association and Korean Students’ Association. Andrew time job as a waitress in a restaurant run by a Japanese also took Korean and German language classes. family. And on top of her high school curriculum, she took Japanese lessons on Saturdays at a local language center. During his college years, Andrew worked at his university’s In the intimate setting of these lessons, she was able to Far East Asian Library, helping with administrative work immerse herself in the language, and foster a passion she and organizing book events. He taught after school science has maintained to the present day. and computer programs at the YMCA for elementary and middle schoool children. Among other teaching lessons, While just a recent graduate, Sabrina has already amassed Andrew used the video game, Minecraft, to teach students a wealth of relevant work experience. She made great leadership and how to cooperate as a team while building contributions to the cultural life on campus as an editor intricate structures and systems. for the comparative literature journal and as a coordinator of a departmental conference on ‘Identity’. She also worked Andrew’s interest in Japan sparked when he toured Japan in the Writer’s Resource Lab, where she had extensive with his friend Julian from university in 2015. Andrew and contact with ESL students. In these sessions, she empowered Julian traveled to Hiroshima, Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo students and helped them to see that what they want to experience Japan’s culture and language while making to achieve is possible. Her interest in language, tact for connections with its people. organization, and ability to encourage students will make her a great resource in the classroom this year. Andrew is excited to work in Japan. Professionally, Andrew hopes to improve his teaching abilities while working in Sabrina is an avid reader and in her spare time can often the schools of Yokkaichi. While in Japan, he wants to study be found leafing through the pages of a good book. She the Japanese language and practice the Japanese traditional also loves music and has played the guitar since junior high martial art, Judo. Andrew wishes to continue practicing school. She is eager to explore the avenues open to her in badminton, and travel throughout Japan, as well as other Japan and see what is possible. Asian countries. He desires to be involved in local Japanese communities through cultural activities, such as Taiko drums and Yosakoi dancing.

2017 6 YEF Spotlight Anthony Matthews

ello everyone, my name is Anthony Keeping a vegetarian diet in Japan can be difficult Matthews. I currently live and at times, but if you know where to look you can Hwork in Yokkaichi, Japan as a always find a place willing to serve delicious Yokkaichi English Fellow (YEF). This is traditional foods. I love noodles, so Japan is the my second year in the YEF Program and right country for me. Whether it is hot udon I would like to share my experience so far. noodles in the winter or cold soba in the summer, Yokkaichi always has something new for me to try. Working as a YEF means that I have the exciting opportunity to teach and interact with Living in Japan has been, and continues to be, a variety of different students and teachers, at both a rewarding and challenging experience for many schools. For the past two years, I have me. There are more things I want to see and learn worked at five junior high schools within the while living here. There are more mountains to city of Yokkaichi. I have also visited various climb and islands to explore! I am excited to think kindergartens, elementary schools, and about what my next year will be like in Japan. special education classes. It is a rewarding experience to meet so many different kinds of students, not only from Japan, but from other countries like Brazil, Nepal, and the Philipines.

Outside of teaching, I am an active person. My hobbies include running, hiking, cycling, and swimming. It makes me glad that Yokkaichi is a city that allows me to continue my current hobbies and discover new ones. On the weekends, I usually take my bicycle out to the countryside, finding new mountains or roads I have never been down. In the summer, Yokkaichi’s beauty blossoms, filling it with fragrant green tea fields that smell delicious. All of the flowers are in bloom and plants are overgrown and full. The creeks flow with rain water from the mountains. Many insects and wildlife, such as the Joro Gumo spider and red faced monkeys, are easy to spot during this time. It is an amazing time to go out and explore nature.

One of the great places to see in Mie is Mt. Gozaisho. It is the tallest mountain in Mie Prefecture and luckily located next to Yokkaichi. I usually hike Gozaisho once a month because the scenery changes so often. Japan is a country dominated by four seasons. Gozaisho is the perfect place to see them in action. The spring season paints the landscape pink with magnificent cherry blossoms. The summer sun makes the mountain hot but the thick trees offer a comforting, shady hideaway. During autumn, the trees change their hues to beautiful shades ranging from bright reds to deep oranges. Winter covers the mountains with Yokkaichi throughout the seasons. snow, so it is the best time to visit a mountain hot spring and watch the snow fall all around you.

2017 7 Summertime Fun

The Grand Yokkaichi Fireworks Festival.

Returning and new YEFs take a picture with Onyudo at the Grand Yokkaichi Festival.

Fifth Year YEF Alexander Smith visits Bali, Indonesia. Second Year YEF Christarith Meas and Third Year YEF Monika Tayag visits Fourth Year YEF David Hayter pose for a Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, Japan. picture at the fireworks festival.

Former YEFs Christine Leung and Victor Nguyen and current YEFs Monika Tayag and Alexander Smith learn how to make ramen. YEFs at the Grand Yokkaichi Fireworks Festival.

2017 8