 |
 |
|
TeachersLarryDirector of Language Programs
For several years Larry was a reporter on international affairs for a Japanese television station, where he hosted his own series. He came to Honolulu to study at the University of Hawaii, but took leave to join the Economics Department of Shinshu University in order to conduct research on youth employment for a Ph.D. in political science. There, he was granted an audience with Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan to discuss the results of his research, which was subsequently published. Having been thoroughly immersed in the language and culture of another country, Larry is sensitive to the difficulties that students face in living in America and learning English. As director of English programs at Academia, he strives to continue developing courses that meet the varied interests of our diverse student body. BobInstructor
Bob has a B.A. degree from Illinois Benedictine University and M.A.’s from Northern Illinois University and the University of Connecticut. He is currently enrolled in a graduate program in Serious Game Design at Michigan State University. He taught English as a Second Language courses to international students at Michigan State University, the University of Connecticut, and Montana State University. He also held an instructor position in university English departments in China and Lebanon, as well as serving as training director for a German company. In the past, he has been fluent in German and Chinese. Bob has published in academic journals and is currently interested in how students learn in online 3D worlds. In his free time he enjoys photography, tennis, hiking, traveling, and eating Chinese cooking, cooked wonderfully by his wife. CaseyInstructor
Hailing from the Ozark hills of Missouri, Casey has come a long way to be at Academia. In 2007, Casey left his small town in Missouri and decided he should see the world. After a journey through East Asia, decided to put his love for languages into use. In 2009, he studied for one year at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan, the same place which his grandparents had called home 60 years before. He graduated with this B.A. in English as a Second Language from the University of Hawaii-Manoa in 2011. Casey speaks Japanese, German, and wants to learn Korean, Italian, and many more. In his downtime, he also enjoys writing and singing the blue son piano and guitar, travelling, and loves collecting records, vintage clothes, and other antiques. JohnInstructor
John is a Hawaiian language specialist with a lot of experience in translating, teaching and editing. He co-authored, along with Dr. Rubellite Johnson, Na Inoa Hoku which is a catalogue of the constellations that have been seen and named by Hawaiian and other Pacific Island peoples. He has done research in and worked on many important projects for cultural groups. His BA from the University of Hawaii is in Asian Studies and his MA is in Pacific Island Studies. He in the US Navy which included three tours in Vietnam. John speaks German, French, Hawaiian, Tagalog and Tahitian. John is known at Academia for his ukulele and guitar skills and has designed English courses with Hawaiian musical themes. KimberlyInstructor
As our longest tenured teacher, Kimberly has enjoyed meeting and mentoring hundreds of students who have passed through Academia. Now a new Mom, with two young sons, Kimberly teaches part time. Her experience and understanding of students clearly shows in the popularity of her classes. MagdaFounder and Instructor
Madga came to the Hawaiian Islands well trained for teaching French and Spanish. A native speaker of both, she is a graduate of schools in France with diplomas in French, Business and Spanish. She has a BA from Boston University in Education and has studied Spanish and English in continuing education programs at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. While living in Boston, she taught in language schools and worked in the French Department of the University of Massachusetts. In Hawaii she taught French for the Alliance Francaise of Hawaii and theYWCA of Honolulu before the founding of Academia. PaulInstructor
Paul became interested in teaching English as a second language while getting his degree in Asian studies at the University of Hawaii. As a student he worked in the University of Hawaii's New Intensive Course in English (NICE) program. Later he taught in Japan for 5 years at a subsidiary of Gakken in Ginza. Paul has trained with the Berlitz language program which, like Academia, focuses on interactive learning. QuintinInstructor
In Hawaii, Quintin has also taught ESL at the University of Hawaii NICE program and in the Adult Education Division of the Hawaii Board of Education. He has spent 11 years in Japan in various teaching capacities inclusive of private lessons for business executives. He taught classes at Toyo University and Yamawaki Junior College. in Tokyo . He had and an assistant professorship in the Liberal Arts faculty at Saitama National University. His BA is from Magdalene College in Cambridge, England where he majored in modern languages (French, German & Spanish). After receiving his degree he taught EFL at various language schools in Madrid, Spain. RobinInstructor
Robin has had an enriching experience teaching nearly everyone under the sun. He as been a preschool teacher, has taught Special Education as well as being a Title One teacher, and has taught ESL at McKinley and Kaimuki Community Schools for Adults. In Japan, he has taught English at various language schools in Hiroshima, Saitama, and Tokyo, which included teaching at businesses, kindergartens, intermediate schools, junior and seniour high schools. He has taught at the University of Tsukuba in Ibaraki and at many of the research institues in Tsukuba Science City. He has a BA in History from the University of Hawaii- Manoa and a Masters Degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Southern Queensland in Toowomba, Australia. SeanInstructor
Sean recently spent three years in Japan where he taught English to both adults and children in Chiba, Tokyo and Kawasaki. This was his second teaching trip to Japan. Prior to this he taught adults and children in Tokuyama. He has also been a sports instructor in Saipan. Sean is from Kansas where he received a BA in General Studies from the University of Kansas. Sean OInstructor
Sean O. was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He enjoys listening to music and playing video games. He looks forward to meeting you and helping you in your English journey. "Let's do our best together!" StaffRyanDirector
Ryan is the Director and Owner of Academia. He loves his “job” and believes strongly in Academia’s mission of contributing to the improvement of cross-cultural communication and understanding. Prior to joining Academia, Ryan worked in the fields of management advisory and finance. In various capacities, he has helped guide high-growth companies from start up through IPO. Ryan graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BS in Economics from the Wharton School of Business and a BS in Systems Engineering from the School of Engineering. He is conversant in Spanish, is learning Japanese, and always appreciates informal lessons in all world languages from Academia students and teachers! YumiDirector of Operations
Yumi has associate’s degrees from the Tokaigakuen Women’s College of Nagoya, Japan in Japanese literature and from the Grant McEwan Community College in Edmonton, Canada in Accounting. She studied at Grant McEwan as a recipient of an Aaron Michael Memorial Scholarship and graduated with First Class Standing. Yumi is fluent in English and Japanese and has done considerable translation work. She has taught both English and Japanese in public junior high schools and English at the Evergreen English School in Kochi-city Japan. In Hawaii, Yumi has worked for Academia Language School.
KarenOffice Manager
Karen graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with degrees in International Business & Finance from Shidler College of Business. During the Fall 2007 semester, she studied abroad at Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea. Karen is also bi-lingual in written and spoken Korean. She was born and raised on Oahu and on her spare time loves to listen to music, watch movies, and read. MikiFront Office Assistant
After graduating from JTB (Japan Travel Bureau) in Tokyo, Japan, where she majored in international travel and business, Miki worked in the Processing, Payment and Credit Monitoring Departments of the Citicorp Diners Club in Tokyo. In the US she served as an intern at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, learning routines of the reception desk, and the means of providing food, beverage and general hospitality for guests. Also in Honolulu, she received training as a land operator and learned to evaluate hotel service and quality at R & C Tours at the Pacific Beach Hotel. Miki is a graduate of Academia’s Travel and Tourism Program. CynthiaFront Office Assistant
Cynthia was born in Yokohama, Japan and lived there for 11 years before moving to Hawaii. She is a graduate from Moanalua High School and won several awards and scholarships for her filmmaking. Prior to working at Academia, she was a mentor and youth development specialist for the Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii teaching media to students from age 11-17. Cynthia has a great interest in world cultures and religions and enjoys meeting and conversating with people from all over the world. In her free time she enjoys art, music, films, reading, cultural events, and sightseeing. DavidFront Office Assistant
After travelling the world in search of personal insight – meditating with holy men in the temples of India, walking the Amazon jungle with traditional healers, frolicking with monkeys in the mountains of Japan, and traversing parts of the Swiss Alps, among other things - David has decided to settle down in Hawaii. Coming from New York City, he has been able to easily adjust his pace to fit the laid back style of the islands. He holds a B.A. in Japanese Language from the University of Hawaii and also speaks Spanish fluently. His hobbies include surfing, stand up paddle boarding, free diving, climbing trees, painting, yoga, meditation, gardening, and exploring. |
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |