An Interview with Mari L: A Japanese to English Tutor

You work with Japanese children and adults who come directly from Japan with their families while they are stationed here for work. Since they are thrown into a totally new cultural environment, where their native language is not spoken, they have to learn, at least to a certain degree, how to communicate and function in English.

What does your particular job entail when working with these students? What do they expect to learn in their sessions with you?

The children begin with the ESL program. English as a second language, They are taught basic English from colours to alphabet, names of things like animals, basic nouns and basic verbs and so forth. They are taught the same things regardless of their age. It used to be they get out of ESL after they passed the test but now they are only allocated one year to stay in ESL, unless they are really behind or have certain handicaps like ADD. I help them in their learning beyond what ESL teaches them and give them one on one instruction.

I also help prepare them for the test, so they can enter into regular school. Because they combine the grades together in one class, they need one on one instruction too. I help them once they enter the regular school system too.

What ages of children do you work with and how long is each session?

I teach Kindergarten through high school. The sessions are 1 to 1 ½ hours long each visit.

How many students do you work with at each session?

I work one on one, unless it is an adult group.

How does working with the children differ from working with the adults?

The children, even when they are in regular school, they are behind in their grades. Once they pass their test, the parents not only ask to help them improve their grades but help them later on in regular classes, children's school assignments, homework. Fill the gaps they missed out on or are missing in their studies.

The adults are learning conversational or essential English for day to day shopping, casual socializing, and I do counseling when it comes to the matter of cultures and different customs.