My Objectives for Japan

During my placement in Japan I hope to teach the children as much as possible about the United States and about Wisconsin. I look forward to working in the English classes and creating fun activities for the students to learn. I am prepared to teach some mathematics as well, and hope to apply my recently gained knowledge of Japanese numbers in a math classroom. I want to start working right when I arrive in Japan; the situation will be challenging, but I love opportunities which require me to perform outside of my comfort zone. If I never push myself beyond my comfort zone, then I will never develop as a teacher and a person. I look forward to sharing some of America with the school and showing them that we are good people with our own unique culture.
As much as I hope to teach the students of Notre Dame Elementary, I am sure that they will be teaching me a great deal. I am looking to open my eyes and heart to other cultures and lifestyles so as to improve my cultural sensitivity. During my placement, I hope to continually make comparisons between Japanese schools and the American schools I am more familiar with. Japan is a very modern country and it's people's work ethic fascinates me. I want to see what drives the Japanese people and what the schools do to prepare the children, especially in math and science.