1.+About+Sensei

Name: Dan Carolin Location: Room 126 Kennedy High School Phone: 319-558-4173 Email: carolinsensei@gmail.com dcarolin@cr.k12.ia.us

I became a Japanese teacher by accident. I first went to Japan in 1989 to teach English as part of the [|Jet Program]. I spent an exciting and educational year in Ina City in Nagano Prefecture. After that I spent two years teaching in Funabashi City in Chiba Prefecture and met a beautiful woman who turned out to be the love of my life (Awwww). While in Japan I studied Japanese on my own and started learning aikido. I returned York to get an MA in English and, so I thought, continue my career as an English teacher. While in grad school I got an opportunity to start a Japanese program in Averill Park, NY, and later married Chisa. In 1998 we moved to Yokohama and lived there for six years. While living in Yokohama we had the first two of our three awesome sons, Nagisa and Hikaru. I also started working on an MA in Advanced Japanese studies through the University of Sheffield (UK) distance learning program. In 2004 Chisa and I decided it was time to return to the States, and I was fortunate enough to find my current position at Kennedy. Makoto joined the family a few months later. And so here we are.I only intended for Japan to be a year of my life, but it brought me on a whole new journey. What a long, strange trip it’s been.

 I look at teaching Japanese as more than just a job. For me it is a mission, an opportunity to help young people learn about and develop personal ties across two very different cultures. I consider myself extremely lucky to be able to work every day with students who are interested in the language and culture that has become such an important part of my life.

 This, by the way, is my first attempt at Wiki-ing. I am always open to suggestions.include component="comments" page="1. About Sensei" limit="10"