New Teachers and staff
I am very happy to introduce to you the Dream Team of GKA of teaching and administrative staff. Here are the four new members: Maki, Hojo sensei, Haru and Marie.
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Posted by mika at 18:09
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New Faculty Members
I am very pleased to introduce two new teachers, Carl Crawley and Tomokazu Kaneko. Carl is from Washington, D.C. and has a B.A. from University of Pennsylvania and two M.S. degrees from Georgetown University. He is a linguistics specialist who has mastered Japanese, Korean and Chinese in addition to Latin and Spanish. He has been an English language instructor or 19 years. Carl enjoys tutoring children and young adults in many subjects: math and science, English vocabulary and grammar, Latin, SSAT and SAT preparation, and general homework help including improvement of study skills. Tomokazu is a candidate of a masters in education at Temple University. Tomokazu has been a soccer coach as well as a pre-school teacher. He attended an international school in Japan and is completely bilingual.
Our Teachers and Founder
Posted by mika at 17:53
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Summer 2007 Teachers and Counselors
Who are the teachers and counselors of the summer programs at GKA? The teachers of GKA are highly trained and are passionate about teaching. Each summer, we are also joined by counselors who are great role models for the children. In past summers, we have had counselors who are graduates and students from the following schools: Nishimachi International School, Phillips Academy Andover, St. Paul's School, Taft School, TASIS, ASIJ, ISSH, Brown University, Wellesley College, Claremont McKenna College, Smith College, Boston University, Indiana University, George Washington University, and many more. The Japanese teaching staff are students and graduates from Waseda University (M.A. in teaching Japanese), Meiji University, the University of the Sacred Heart, Sophia University and others. Together, we will provide the best summer experience for the children joining us this summer!
Posted by mika at 17:45
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New Japanese Classes
I am very pleased to announce that we will add more Japanese immersion classes and private lessons starting November.
We are very fortunate to have two highly experienced Japanese teachers, Eri Ogawa and Reiko Sakata.
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Posted by mika at 12:00
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Summer 2005 Teachers and Counselors
We are pleased to announce that Ogawa Eri Sensei will lead our Japanese Immersion Program. Ogawa Sensei started teaching Japanese at Nishimachi International School when I was a student in the 1970’s. Many of my non-Japanese classmates are fluent in Japanese and use their language skills in their professions, thanks to Ogawa Sensei. We are very fortunate to have someone with such wealth of experience join our faculty this summer.
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Posted by mika at 12:47
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The Founder
Global Kids Academy was founded by Mika Fukutomi, a mother who is, herself, bilingual. The concept of Global Kids Academy comes from Ms. Fukutomi's experiences, as a former student and as a mother of a bilingual child. Ms. Fukutomi grew up in Tokyo and attended Nishimachi International School and the American School in Japan (ASIJ). After graduating from high school, Ms. Fukutomi went to the United States to study at the School of Foreign Service of Georgetown University, with a concentration in International Economics. Upon graduating cum laude, with honors certificates in International Business Diplomacy and Asian Studies, she joined an investment bank as a financial analyst and worked in New York, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Later, she attended law school at the University of Hong Kong and was admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales and Hong Kong. After several years in private practice at leading international law firms, Ms. Fukutomi returned to investment banking where her last position was vice president and business manager in the CEO's office. Ms. Fukutomi founded Global Kids Academy because she felt that some educational and childcare needs of global-minded families are not fully met.
Ms. Fukutomi's son was born during the final exam season of her final year in law school. He is now attending an international school in Tokyo. Ms. Fukutomi understands the challenges of raising a bilingual child while working full time. Her interest and commitment to education has remained a constant in her life. She has served on the Board of Directors of Nishimachi International School for three years and is active in the alumni organizations of Nishimachi International School, ASIJ and Georgetown University.
グローバルキッズアカデミーの創立者、福富みかは東京に生まれ、幼いころから、インターナショナル・スクールで教育されました。小中学は西町インターナショナルスクールに通い、高校時代はアメリカンスクールインジャパン（ASIJ)で過ごしました。ワシントンDCにあるジョージタウン大学のスクール・オブ・フォーリン・サービスに進み、国際経済を専攻しながら、国際ビジネス外交プログラム (Honors Program in International Business Diplomacy)とアジア研究 (Asian Studies)にも参加しました。成績優秀(cum laude)で、学士号(Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service)を取得しました。卒業後はアメリカの大手投資銀行に入社し、ファイナンシャル・アナリストとして、ニューヨーク、東京、香港で働きました。その後、ロー・スクールに進み、英国法の弁護士 (solicitor admitted in England & Wales) の資格を取得しました。数年間、国際法律事務所で働いた後、投資銀行に戻り、ヴァイス・プレジデント、CEO補佐として勤めました。アメリカ、ヨーロッパ、アジア、そして日本のエグゼクティブたちと共に働き、コミュニケーションスキル、グローバルな視野、自分で考え、主張する力の大切さを感じてきました。
福富氏は、ロー・スクールの最終試験の時期に長男を出産しました。長男は現在、インターナショナル・スクールの生徒です。子育て、特にフルタイムで職場に出ながら、バイリンガルの子どもを育てるチャレンジ、そして喜びを経験してきました。バイリンガル環境に育つ際、必要とされる努力、その成果としての広い選択肢も理解しています。彼女にとって最大のテーマは教育といえます。また、西町インターナショナルスクールの理事を三年間勤めました。西町、アメリカンスクール、ジョージタウン大学のOB・OG活動に参加しており、Chanpon.orgのサポーターでもあります。
Posted by gka at 00:03
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Category:Our Teachers and Founder
