What is your favorite travel memory?
I recently travelled to Himeji in Hyogo-ken to visit Himeji castle. I was fortunate to arrive during a festival as well. I spent the day at the castle checking out the World Heritage Site and the night enjoying the festival.
They had stalls with festival food and live music playing a mixture of traditional Japanese music and modern. It was fun.
They had stalls with festival food and live music playing a mixture of traditional Japanese music and modern. It was fun.
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
I've become more proactive and independent since joining the Fukuoka Branch. I'm able to notice problems and trends as they're beginning and address them before they become major.
I've become more confident at speaking with people in training situations but also in interviews. My level of professionalism in multiple languages across multiple cultures has improved drastically.
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
I recently had an ALT tell me about being invited to take part in the Yamakasa. He was invited to wear traditional attire and assist in carrying a giant float across the city with the other teachers at his school. He said it involved a lot of practice and organizing, but the experience was once in a lifetime so he was glad to join.
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
The Fukuoka branch has locations all over Kyushu and also in Okinawa. We have island positions and city positions and every one offers a different experience. Every area has it's own traditions and festivals that they welcome ALTs to join.
We've got warm weather that makes for good climate for outside activities if that is your style!
We've got warm weather that makes for good climate for outside activities if that is your style!
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
We've got BOEs in every prefecture in Kyushu plus Okinawa. We've seen a lot of our ALTs move on and succeed in higher positions within the company. We take a lot of care to help ALTs achieve their goals within the branch or beyond. We've developed voluntary trainings that allow ALTs to obtain extra training regarding ALT work and also other systems useful beyond.
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
Flexibility is the most important trait someone can have as either an ALT or an IM. Things change daily and even hourly at school. There are established routines, but the better one reacts to a unexpected challenges (like a class cancellation) the better. If you're able to adapt to that the schools and the students will react well to you.