Teaching in Japan

Adam Waters and a student featured in the Osaka University of Commerce High School promotional yearbook in 2007.

Adam Waters English Teaching Experience

I have eight years experience teaching English as a second language (TESL) in Japan. My teaching experience can be broadly broken down into three categories: franchise schools (Nova); corporate (OTC) and high schools (DaiShouDai).

Nova Schools (2000-2001)

I taught English at two Nova schools, Ikoma and Guakeunmae in Osaka, (https://nova-holdings.jp/teachinjapan/) for the first 12 months in Japan from June 2000 to June 2001.

I taught varying age groups and abilities from “Nova Kids” (ages 1-9), teenagers and adults in a “live” in-classroom setting. Regular duties included lesson prep, group kids lessons, adult lessons with 1-4 students and “voice room” lessons with up to ten students.

Adam Waters teaching “Nova Kids” at Ikoma (Osaka) in 2000.
Adam Waters “Sayonara” party at Nova Gakuenmae in 2001.
Adam Waters with two “Private Lesson” students in Osaka in 2002.

Business English (2002-2006)

Six years’ experience teaching “Business English” through OTC (https://www.otc-otc.co.jp/registration/) at Japanese corporations throughout Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and Nara, Fukuoka, Hiroshima and Okayama.

I ran 12 week conversational English courses for company employees on site at Mitsubishi Electric; Sumitomo; Nestle; Fujitsu; Sharp; Sanyo and Nintendo. I also conducted multi-day freshman seminars; TOEIC courses, ITOP (interview Test for Oral Proficiency); OTC Writing and Listening Comprehension tests; Eiken tests and interview grading tests at said companies.

Adam Waters with Nintendo “freshman” students at Kyoto in 2008.

High School Head Teacher(2006-2008)

I was empoyed as an ALT (Assistant Language Trainer) at Daishoudai (https://ouc.daishodai.ac.jp/english/) between 2005 and 2008.
My role at the school was to help and support students develop their English communications skills and cultural literacy. During my final two years I also managed and lead five other foreign English teachers as the “Head Teacher.”
As a team we designed a year long curriculum and exams for 160 students. I also regularly conducted special events, e.g. “Open Days” and “Speech Contests.”
Adam Waters with Grade 12 students at Daishoudai in 2008.
Adam Waters with Japanese teachers and the foreign teachers I managed at Osaka High School.

Professional Reference From Japanese Principal

To whom it may concern,

Adam Waters worked at Osaka University of Commerce High School (Daishoudai) from April 2005 to March 2008 as a regular teacher for the first 2 years, and as Head Teacher/Co-leader for the final year. I was the principal during that time, and am now a director of Tanioka Educational Institution and principal at Osaka Women’s Junior College High School.

During Adam’s three years at Daishoudai he was always positive, friendly and hospitable. Adam’s duties included teaching English conversation classes, attending school functions, designing the curriculum and conducting tests. Along with other native English speakers Adam taught English conversation classes under the school concept of “Let’s experience English with native speakers.”

He not only taught students during lesson periods, but also communicated with students during recess and after-school activities. Adam always communicated effectively with students and displayed a high level of cultural awareness when communicating with other Japanese teachers and staff members. He taught lower level students with enthusiasm, encouraging them to study English. He also cooperated positively with the Japanese English teacher coordinator and prepared lesson outlines and yearly curriculum.

When Daishoudai planned to send teachers to junior high schools for school promotions, Adam was always the first to offer his cooperation. Though the conditions during the promotion were poor ( high temperature, no air-conditioner, etc. ), he still gave great lessons to the junior high school students, which positively reflected on our school. It was always clear to me that Adam wanted every student to succeed at English communication through his lessons.

As Adam had this as his primary goal and basis of his teaching, he had never-ending energy toward students. When Adam finished his contract and returned to Australia in 2008, I had hoped that he would one day come back to Japan and teach, as he excels at understanding people’s needs and providing lessons to meet those needs. Upon hearing that Adam is once again returning to Japan, I am very happy to write a reference for him and have every confidence that he will be an asset to any future employer

Sincerely,

Toukichi Amako,
Director of Tanioka Educational Institution
Website: http://www.tanigaku.ac.jp
Address : 3-8-1 Kasugaoka Fujiidera-shi, Osaka 583-8558
Phone: +81 (072) 955 0718