What is your favorite travel memory?
My favorite travel memory is no doubt the day I first arrived in Japan. If you have seen Lost in Translation, you may be able to picture what that was like! Not only was it my first day in Japan, it was my first day outside of Australia, period.
I look back on this awkwardly but fondly. I remember that I wasn't able to ask the price of a sandwich in a convenience store. Even the sandwiches looked intimidating as they were full of weird and wonderful stuff like pork cutlets and yakisoba noodles. Coffee was no better as they sold them in cans.
However, I am in Japan 12 years later, and coping well with the whole convenience store situation.
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
I think the way I have grown the most is seeing newcomers to Japan and how they have adapted upon arriving. I remember many, many moons ago that I was that person.
I hope that by seeing their experiences and comparing them to what I went through when I was newbie, I not only can support them in my current role, but also deepen my appreciation for what it is like to be a foreigner in Japan.
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
Not to dodge the question, but stories may not be the right terminology to use when I talk about my experiences with returning students. I think the thing that I most like to see from returning students is that they are making the most of their Japanese skills and are coming back to YAMASA.
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
I would choose a very specific set of programs. Firstly, I would choose AJSP as I would love to immerse myself in the Japanese language in a situation outside work. I have always wanted to learn how to discuss politics and public affairs in a way that is culturally appropriate (trust me, it's not as easy as it sounds). I think that AJSP teamed up with a stream of private one to one lessons would help me achieve that goal.
YAMASA provides a set of supplementary courses to their long term courses like Shigoto no Nihongo (our Japanese in the workplace program), private lessons (as mentioned above) but also elective courses that make our long term courses able to offer that little bit extra.
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
The reason why I feel that YAMASA is unique is our longevity. We have been functioning as a Japanese language school here in Okazaki for more than 25 years. We know our stuff and this is reflected in the amount of high quality graduates we have churned out over that time.
I think the other reason we stand out is our location. If you want to hit the tourist trail and hang out with other gaijin exclusively, then I would say that Tokyo, Osaka and the major urban centers are probably for you.
However, if you really want to get a legitimate taste of what Japanese life is like and wish to really put your head down, bum up and get the most out of your time studying Japan, there is no higher recommendation than YAMASA.
You will be able to practice your Japanese in a fully immersive yet supportive environment thanks to our bilingual team of customer service staff members and committed and diligent Japanese teachers.
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
I believe the key to being successful in this market is the ability to move with the times. The world has changed remarkably in the last 25 years.
Skype style phone hook ups were only seen in Back to the Future movies then as were Chicago Cubs World Series victories. To cater to an ever increasing customer base, one needs to recognize these emerging trends and jump on them.
Also, I believe that every member of an organization needs to be on board in working towards the same goal. If there is second guessing, lack of trust or separate agendas at play in any organization then this will show in the results it produces. Unity and co-operation therefore is paramount.
