I am Masato YABE. Currently, I am a part-time Japanese language instructor at Osaka University, Japan. I applied to this two-day session hoping to learn current trend in language education in the U.K., as well as the concept of inclusiveness in a society. 

   A bit of my background - I have two masters degrees: the first M.A. is in Communication Studies from Univ. North Carolina at Greensboro (in the U.S.); I was a Ph. D. student in my North Carolina days, but only for a year. Due to a visa problem (and statements from univ. officials - a university lawyer is to protect the university, not you!! This isn’t your country, etc. - made me simply run away, so), I decided to leave there. The other M.A. is in Japanese linguistics and pedagogy from University of Arizona (also in the U.S.). 

   Previously, I taught Japanese language and culture courses at universities in North Carolina, and in Texas (U.S.). I had a chance to teach a summer class at New York Univ. in 2007 as well. I came back to Japan the following year. For four years, I was a study-abroad adviser at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, and the other university for two years before moving to Osaka. 

   I took research methods courses in Ethnography and Communication (or, interpretation of sub-culture focusing on symbolic interaction); and Conversation Analysis (or, discourse and grammar, as well as interactional pattern using language). I was thinking any ways to combine these two. A couple of years ago, I came across a journal article on CuDA (Cultural Discourse Analysis); and I am in a process of writing a preliminary research paper on interactional patterns among international students who study in Japan. I want to prove that the international students are actively creating their own cultures while in Japan. 

   As a side note, when I moved to Osaka, I was looking for a part-time job (since I was/am a part-time language instructor). For 3, 4 years, I was a sword fighting instructor (and a Ninja performer on stage) for in-bound tourists to Osaka, Japan. Unfortunately, due to restriction of international tourism this past three years, I had to quit the job. I live peacefully now ?!?!  

   Aside from teaching Japanese language classes, I designed a CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) course on Mobility (i.e., transportation system); and I am teaching the class as Advanced Japanese class. I am not sure about the situation in U.K., but Japan faces serious declining of population; and shortage of labor forces, we need to develop autonomous automobiles. 

Look forward to meeting with y’all. 

Masato YABE