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| Tadashi Sugita |
STAFF INTERVIEW: Tadashi Sugita (OCJS Program Coordinator)
Sugita sensei was working with Kato Erina sensei in the OCJS office on the second floor of
Aoi Hall when I approached him
about doing this weeks interview...................
Sugita sensei: Ah! Jon san da!
Jon: Sugita sensei, I was wondering if you would like to feature in this week's newsletter?.
S: Yabai!!
J: Great! I knew you wouldn't say no.
S: Eh!?
J: It won't take more than a few minutes......
S: Un!?
J: Now then; I'll go straight into the questions. You started working at Yamasa fairly recently?
S: Yes, I came for interviews in the Spring, but I had to finish my thesis so I couldn't start teaching until October last year.
J: So you started at Yamasa straight after gradschool. And you've settled in okay? Its a big change isn't it?
S: Yes but I adjusted fine. No problems at all. Everyone has been very friendly and helpful.
J: You are working on the Online School for Japanese Studies (OCJS) with Kato Erina
at the moment?
S: That's right, we are both working full-time on OCJS development but I'm also teaching a few private lessons
per week as well.
J: What part of the Online School are you working on?
S: Umm right now I'm concentrating on the grammar lessons, and the on-demand sections that students will use to learn or review.
J: Are you from the Okazaki area, or did you move from further away to work here?
S: I'm from Toyota and I live there at the moment, but I know Okazaki fairly well because it's only about 30 minutes away.
J: So whats your life history??? Who is Sugita sensei?
S: (laughing...)
J: You studied at Aichi University first right?
S: Yes I read economics there and then gained a teaching qualification and went to Korea to teach Japanese.
J: Where were you teaching Japanese in Korea?
S: A school called YBM. I was in Taegu for 3 years.
J: Not in Seoul?
S: I lived in Seoul later. After Taegu I came back to Japan and did an MA in comparative culture at Nagoya University,
and after that I went to Seoul.
J: So how long did you live in Korea altogether?
S: Taegu for 3 years and in Seoul for one and a half years.
J: So your Korean language ability is good then!? pera pera
S: ummmmmm everyday conversation is no problem but it could be better.
J: I'm sure you're just being modest.........
S: Not at all! But my Korean is much better than my Chinese or English!
J: After spending so much time in Korea, why did you come back to Japan?
S: A couple of reasons. The main one being that my girlfriend lives in Japan and I
thought that it would be best to move back and live with her. Also, I was just tired!
J: OK. So what came next in the "Sugita monogatari"
S: (laughing...) I went back to Nagoya University and then of course joined the faculty of Yamasa's OCJS.
J: Yes yes but what about the big news?
S: The wedding?
J: Thats right - I hear you are getting married next month.
S: Yes, on February 23rd in Kobe. I'll then move to Okazaki with my wife.
J: You have an unusual fondess for English music from the 1980's don't you!?
S: Oh yeah. I love The Smiths, New Order, The Cure, Duran Duran, and other bands that were around at that time.
I try to go to rock concerts as often as I can. I used to play the guitar and keyboard and write music.
J: Electric or acoustic guitar?
S: I kind of preferred the electric. Depended on how loud I could play really.
J: And do you still write music now?
S: I had more spare time when I was younger, so now it's not so much of a priority.
J: So is there a released by Sugita single or album out there somewhere?
S: (laughing...) no no unfortunately not.
pause
S: Are we finished?
J: Um yes. yes I think so.
pause
J: I'm dying to ask you. Just how tall are you? You're a giant!
S: 191 centimeters.
J: My God! OK well I better let you get back to work and all that. Many thanks for the interview.
S: Thank you.
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