Four Cities, One Unforgettable Summer: My Teaching Journey in Japan

Lamisa Chowdhury – Program Experience

Arrival and Training Week

After landing in Tokyo, we had two days to ourselves to settle in and explore Asakusa.
A stand-out event was the group scavenger hunt, which gave me the perfect chance to break the ice with my team while sightseeing! The hunt led us to iconic landmarks like Sensō-ji Temple and Tokyo Tower. We continued familiarising ourselves with Tokyo while attending orientation sessions at the Toshin Shinjuku building (and no, not even the YouTube reels I watched about Shinjuku Station could prepare me for how busy the place was)! I made a lot of mileage this week, including visiting Yokohama and Enoshima Island on my day off. My favourite memory was speedrunning all the claw machines in Akihabara with my team. My leader Sam was on a winning streak and managed to win seven prizes!

Week 1 – Okinawa

After orientation, we were ready to spread our wings and put our teaching skills to the test. And we truly were spreading our wings since we were flying from Tokyo to Okinawa for our first placement. My nervousness was quickly melted away by the laid-back, friendly vibe of the island – a welcome change from the rush and tumble of Tokyo. The locals were always ready to lend a helping hand, and the teachers and students were so kind, treating us like their own. Thanks to their recommendations, we explored the cultural Kokusai Street and tried local delicacies such as Gōyā Chanpurū (bitter melon stir-fry). We also toured a museum recounting Okinawa’s history as the sovereign nation of Ryukyu, and I learned some phrases of the native language (Uchinaaguchi) from my students. Mensoore (Hello)!

Week 2 – Osaka

Teaching in Osaka was truly a delight. The students had lots of interesting opinions about education reform and their vision for the future of Japan. They also loved sharing unique snacks with us, with the eel cheese stick being the most memorable for me. After teaching, there was no shortage of things to do. From visiting a British board game café to experiencing Bunraku (traditional puppet theatre), Osaka stands out to me as one of the trendiest cities in Japan. Due to its convenient location, I was also able to visit the bowing deer in Nara and the historical capital, Kyoto, on the weekend.

Week 3 – Fukuoka

In Fukuoka we were greeted by staff and university assistants, quickly making friends. We were lucky to be placed in a business hotel with large single rooms and personal ensuites (a welcome change of pace from shared sleeping arrangements). The cultural atmosphere of Fukuoka mixed with the natural scenery and busy areas felt like the perfect balance, and it was easy to imagine myself living here. On our first night, I went to a festival by the lake with a friend, where we watched a spectacular fireworks display. The best part of Fukuoka, however, was the people. I connected with my students by making a comedic skit for the new Demon Slayer movie. One of the students assumed the role of the hero Rengoku with a plastic bag for his cape, which was a riot for the audience! I celebrated the end of the week with a much-deserved dinner with our Toshin staff friends.

Week 4 – Kobe

Kobe was the best way to finish off the program. At this point, I was missing the South Asian and Middle Eastern flavours I grew up with. With a large immigrant population, the food scene did not disappoint. The Kobe-gyū was, of course, delicious, but the shawarma and fusion food were truly to die for! Having a full stomach, I was ready to greet my students with energy on day one. After breaking the ice with games like English Shiritori, Splat and Broken Telephone, I got to see the true personalities of the students. They taught me different ways to write my name in kanji, and I also learned some slang popular in Kobe. For example, hamatteru means to be hooked on something. Kōbe gyū ni hamatteru! With Kobe also being so close to Himeji, I later got to visit the famous Himeji Castle in my downtime.

Reaching the End

Teaching in Japan was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I was at the same time sad to leave the students at every venue, but also so proud of what they accomplished in terms of expressing their opinions in English. I was able to make life-long connections with staff and my fellow team members. This was a summer to remember!