Camilla Wickman
Profession: Student
Interests: I love music and poetry, especially stuff by Mitski, Patti Smith, and the medieval Japanese haiku poets. Currently very interested in environmental justice, and I hope one day to do something that combines art with activism. I am also a huge fan of She Ra, Steven Universe, and recently, Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Education: Pursuing a degree in Music and Creative Writing from Stanford University. I will be graduating in summer of 2022 if all goes smoothly!
Spoken Languages: English (Native: US / Canada), French (Conversational), Japanese (Basic)
Ani Cou
Profession: ESL Teacher
Interests: Reading, Writing, and Cooking
Education: Master's in Latin American History, ESL teacher, AP U.S. History instructor, writer, and social studies teacher
Spoken Languages: English (Native: US / Canada), Spanish (Conversational), Japanese (Basic)
Kaethys Tellar
Profession: Security officer, real estate leasing agent
Interests: I love learning about other cultures. I've had a deep interest in Japanese culture and history for most of my life. I am interested in knowing more about any other cultures as I find the world to be a very fascinating place.
I enjoy watching anime, reading manga and watching dramas. I've recently discovered Chinese dramas and I'm already a big fan. I've been an avid reader my entire life. I also like to do crafts. I sew, crochet and have recently begun making dolls for fun.
Education: Associate's Degree in Business Administration, focusing on Entrepreneurship from Heald College. 3rd year student of Japanese Language and Culture at Portland State University. I'm currently taking a break from formal Uni study and doing self study.
Spoken Languages: English (Native: US / Canada), Japanese (Basic)
Korellia
Profession: Graduate Student
Interests: My favorite color is grey. Mango is my favorite fruit. I love movies, cats, and traveling.
Education: TEFL Certificate; Bachelor of Arts in Asian Languages and Literature & Spanish Studies; Currently pursuing an M.A. in Peace and Conflict Studies
Spoken Languages: English (Native: US / Canada), Spanish (Fluent), Japanese (Conversational)
Babette
Profession: Student
Interests: -Big fan of art, and animation
-Taekwondo member at my university
-Big fan of learning about new information from various cultures and languages
Education: -Currently in my 3rd year of University: Double Majoring in Biology & Japanese Studies
-Native English, JLPT N5 Japanese, and DELF A2 French Certified
-Certified IB Diploma Graduate
Spoken Languages: English (Native: US / Canada), Japanese (Basic), French (Basic)
Hayles S
Profession: Clinical Educator and Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
Interests: I am very interested in Japanese culture and currently learning the language. I love travelling, good food, good wine, sitting in the sun on the rare occasion the UK has good weather or watching a film. I have two dogs, Copper and Elsie, who are my best friends. I enjoy going on long walks with them and going for a long run on the shore as I live close to the sea.
Education: Postgraduate Certificate in Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy from University College London (Pass - Pass/Fail Course).
Masters in Mental Health Studies from King's College London (Distinction)
Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from University of Leicester (2:1)
Spoken Languages: English (Native: UK), Spanish (Basic), Japanese (Basic)
Cathy J
Profession: English language teacher
Interests: I love languages, music and the outdoors. In my spare time I go hiking, go out to cafes, bars and restaurants with my friends. I like movies and reading too!
I lived in Japan for 6 years, in 4 different areas.
Education: Master of Arts (Linguistics) from University of Queensland, Australia
Diploma of Arts (Linguistics and Applied Linguistics) from University of Melbourne, Australia
Bachelor of Music (Performance: Improvisation) from University of Melbourne, Australia
Spoken Languages: English (Native: Australia / New Zealand), Japanese (Fluent), French (Conversational)
Genki Amanda
Profession: Teacher
Interests: Hiking, reading, current events, cooking, traveling
Education: I have a bachelors in Communication and English Literature. I have a Masters in Education. I have a current US teaching certification.
Spoken Languages: English (Native: US / Canada), Japanese (Basic), German (Basic)
Sarah Arr
Profession: Pizza chef
Interests: I have a lot of interests. Music, musical theatre, anime, drawing, nature, photography and art.
My favourite band is Earth, Wind and Fire.
My favourite anime is Sailor Moon.
My favourite musical is Legally Blonde: the musical.
Education: Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level 2 (2016)
CELTA (2014)
Bachelor of Arts - Japanese language (2011)
Certificate II in Musical Theatre (2008)
Certificate II in Business Administration (2006)
Spoken Languages: English (Native: Australia / New Zealand), Japanese (Conversational), French (Basic)
Jenn Cramer
Profession: Online English Teacher
Interests: I have many hobbies that always keep me busy. Most of all I love learning languages, traveling and reading books. I can speak German and am learning Japanese. I've been to South Africa, Ireland, Spain and Malta, to name a few countries. I delight in reading fictional books like Lord of the Rings, Hunger Games, and A Court of Thorns and Roses. I love meeting new people and learning about different cultures. I look forward to meeting you!
Education: I have a Bachelors in Healthcare Administration and enjoy working in the medical field as well. I have a B2+/C1- level German, A2 level Japanese (certified). I also have a 170 hour TEFL certificate as well as: Business English, IELTS/TOEIC Preparation and Young Learners English certificate.
Spoken Languages: English (Native: US / Canada), German (Conversational), Japanese (Basic)
Kelly KA
Profession: ESL tutor and Administrative Assistant
Interests: I am currently training to become an amateur boxer.
I like to go hiking in the mountains at least once a week.
I have my own wedding gown business. I like to design and sew.
I really enjoy cooking and baking in my spare time.
My goals are to continue my international travels. I have lived in Mexico, Austria, Japan, and Wales. I also like to learn languages, as I have learned German, Spanish, French and Japanese.
Education: I obtained a Bachelor's Degree in International Studies with a double minor in Psychology/Women's Studies.
I have both TESOL and TEFL certifications.
Spoken Languages: English (Native: US / Canada), German (Basic), Spanish (Basic), Japanese (Basic)
Claudia Bee
Profession: Freelance Runner & Writer
Interests: Hello, I'm Claudia! I love films (such as About Time, Parasite, Rear Window, and Spirited Away), literature (Norwegian Wood, The Book Thief, 1984, and Jane Eyre), music (BTS, Ariana Grande, and Harry Styles), dogs (I have a sprocker spaniel called Maizi), and yoga and meditation. I also love writing, learning Japanese, and travelling - some of my favourite places that I've visited have been South Africa, Amsterdam, and Bali.
Education: I have a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from UEA, a university known for the brilliant authors that have studied or taught there, such as Angela Carter, Ian McEwan, and Kuzuo Ishiguro. I have also received a certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from the International Open Academy.
Spoken Languages: English (Native: UK), Japanese (Basic)
Nique W
Profession: High School Teacher
Education
I taught high school biology (9-12 grade) and middle school science (7th grade).
Interests: I love video games, comic books, anime, Asian dramas, and reading! Some of my hobbies include nail art, cooking, and baking. I have 2 cats and 2 dogs that I love! I enjoy meeting new people and learning new things! I am friendly and outgoing and I would love to meet you!
Education: B.A. Biology and Education - Case Western Reserve University
Education, Research
Class of 2020
Spoken Languages: English (Native: US / Canada), Spanish (Basic), Japanese (Basic)
Ellie Layne
Profession: Waitress
Interests: In my free time, I enjoy studying Japanese and playing video games. I studied abroad in Hiroshima, Japan for one year and learned a lot about culture and WWII history. I can also play a few songs on the ocarina.
Education: Bachelor of Arts in International Studies at University of Tennesse - Martin, TESL Certification.
Spoken Languages: English (Native: US / Canada), Japanese (Conversational)
Sara Kris A
Profession: English Language Teacher
Interests: - Traveled to 16 countries
- Speak Japanese, learning Mandarin
- Have lived in 4 countries
- Play the violin, do yoga, learning languages
Education: -Bachelor of Arts in English from York College of Pennsylvania
- TEFL Certification Level 5
-MS in Applied Linguistics Texas A&M University (May 2021)
Spoken Languages: English (Native: US / Canada), Japanese (Conversational)
Kathleen Owens
Profession: Assisting Cook at Marble Slab Creamery
Interests: I am a huge geek. I love video games, tv shows, and anything to do with new technology! I'm a dog and cat person (but mostly cat)- I have one dog and three cats who I love to death. I love reading and writing, and if I'm not playing video games or studying, I'm probably writing a new fantasy story that popped into my head. I've traveled all over the world and lived in Saudi Arabia for most of my life, so I love getting to know and immersing myself in new cultures.
Education: Sophomore in Biochemistry at Texas Tech University.
Spoken Languages: English (Native: US / Canada), French (Conversational), Japanese (Basic), Arabic (Basic)
Erica Rose
Profession: Specialist liaison/office manager at an urgent care veterinary hospital
Interests: I love to hike, sing, play the piano, watch anime, and read.
Education: Bachelor of Arts in English from The University of Rhode Island; TESOL Certification from International Open Academy
Spoken Languages: English (Native: US / Canada), Japanese (Basic)
Azalea
Profession: student
Interests: I love baking, sports(especially soccer), and outdoors activities. I have visited over 8 countries!
Education: Currently studying Physical Therapy at Cedarville University; TESOL Certificate from International Open Academy
Spoken Languages: English (Native: US / Canada), Japanese (Conversational)
Dani
Profession: English Language Fellow in Da Nang, Vietnam
Interests: History, Fantasy Novels, Reading, Ukulele, Hiking, Nature, Cooking
Education: Masters in TESOL from Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
Bachelor of Arts in Humanities (Japanese Language and Studies) from New College of South Florida*
*Prior to switching majors in college I studied Biochemistry so I also have a background in Science which I've used throughout my english teaching career to help technology students.
Spoken Languages: English (Native: US / Canada), Japanese (Conversational), German (Basic)
Andrea Fernandez
Profession: 5th Grade Math Teacher
Interests: I love to dance especially to salsa and bachata latino music!
Education: Associate of Arts in Physical Education from Miami Dade College;
Bachelor of Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Spoken Languages: English (Native: US / Canada), Spanish (Native), Japanese (Basic)