Taiga Takahashi

As you will see in my attached resume, I was a teaching assistant (TA) at Oberlin University in Tokyo, Japan for two semesters and spent six months as a Japanese language teacher at Gobun gakuin in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. During my time as a teaching assistant, I was involved in teaching and maintaining a class of 30 students and assisted a professor in her duties. At Gobun gakuin, I was the head instructor for two classes of 15 adult students and my duties included the instruction of Japanese, creating daily lesson plans, and grading assignments.

With a year and a half of experience teaching Japanese, I am confident in my instruction of Japanese and my ability to manage college-level classes. In both university and Japanese language school classes, I was able to work with students from a variety of backgrounds students, including those from Uzbekistan, Vietnam and China. I believe my experience will translate to working with a diverse group of students in colleges in Southern California. I also actively created a learning environment where students were highly motivated to participate. I had the opportunity to create various class interactions, including role playing situations. For example, when students are learning about “prices,” I emphasize the role playing of clerk and customer, where students practice expressions such as “how much is this?” and “please give me this.” Students have told me they have seen their practical conversational skills improve through such practice sessions. Additionally, I do my best to incorporate culture into my lessons. For instance, I mediate discussions where students compare their culture and the perceptions of “daily life” in Japan. I believe I am able to create an environment where students not only improve their speaking skills, but also see improvements in their cultural-pragmatic understanding. 

I have provided a picture of myself and how I am ready to instruct a Japanese course. If you have any questions, I would be pleased to discuss my experience with you. My contact information is above and you may contact my references at your discretion. 

Work History:

Tokyo Gobungakuin in Ikebukuro

December 2023- June 2024

• Teaching beginner Japanese to international students as a second language. Creating lesson plans to cater to student language levels and correcting tests and assignments for them to review.

Campagne, Kanagawa, Japan 

September 2020-January 2024 

• Assemble roll cakes, baking sponge cakes, wrapping a variety of desserts, and packaging for trucks to deliver to stores. 

Japanese Language Teaching Assistant, J.F. Oberlin University, Tokyo, Japan 

May 2023-July 2023

September2023 -November 2023

• Assisted students in multiple Japanese language classes as well as leading 1-on-1 speaking, writing, and reading sessions as well as homework corrections.

McDonalds, Kanagawa, Japan 

September 2020-April 2021

• Served as a cook by making burgers, hashbrowns, nuggets, and other morning menu foods. 

American Eagle Outfitters, Kanagawa, Japan

May 2019-January 2020

• Selling clothes as a cashier, giving advice to customers about clothing options and training new hires 

Volunteer Work: 

Japanese Language Assistant and Embedded Tutor, Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, CA

March 2025- Present

• Assisted Students during and after class who need help understanding course materials. 

Japanese Language Teaching Assistant, Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, CA

February 2023-March 2023

• Assisted students in multiple Japanese language classes as well as leading 1-on-1 speaking, writing, and reading sessions.

Japanese Language Teaching Assistant, California State University, Monterey Bay, Seaside 

January 2020-March 2020

• Assisted in JAPN 350 (World Culture & Language: Japanese) during language practice with students during pair and group work and helped correct student homework assignments. 

Education:

• J.F. Oberlin University, Tokyo, Japan (March 2025)
  • M.A. in Global Communications (Linguistics and Language Education)
  • Concentration: Japanese Education 
• J.F. Oberlin University, Tokyo, Japan Graduate (March 2023)
  • B.A. in Global Communications
  • Concentration: English 
• Tachibana High School, Kanagawa, Japan Graduate (March 2019)

Achievements: 

• Japanese Language Teacher Training Program- given by J.F. Oberlin University, Japan on September 26, 2023 after completing requirements for the 26 credit program. 
• TOEIC score of 810 (Testing of English for International Communication)