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JUST UPDATED: Worked in Korea for 2.5 years teaching and teacher training, now back home at university, need help to get hold of a government approved textbook for my dissertation.

I lived in Japan for 3 and a half years (beginning in 2009) and worked with Shane English School the majority of this time. This was my first teaching job.

When I first started I felt like I shouldn't be there, it took a while for me to build up my own style of teaching. I originally had only done a week long course through Shane in London prior to coming to Japan. Like a lot of things the only way to get good at something is just to learn on the job. I eventually became comfortable teaching and it became the first job I had that I actually enjoyed. In the summer of 2011, I decided to do the Trinity TESOL course, which was a month long course that would improve my skills and standing in the teaching world. I did this in Tokyo.

In 2011, I started to get itchy travel feet and decided to apply to be a volunteer teacher aboard the Peaceboat (a Japanese NGO). In October 2011 I passed the interview stage. I was attracted to this position because being at sea for a long time was something I had never done before. I went on the Peaceboat from January 2012 until May 2012.

Throughout my work with Shane Japan, I have gained experience teaching both kids and adults, in both private classes and group classes at a whole range of levels. It was very good experience as I was able to understand my students, their needs and how I could improve their English ability.

I had very little experience with children before hand so they took a bit longer to get comfortable teaching, but most of them were good kids, and I feel I've developed both as a teacher and person having taught them.

Teaching on the Peaceboat was different in a lot of respects. I had classes, but also there were a number of English events to organise on-board and workshops to run. This was something I wasn't used to but it was an enjoyable challenge to take on.

English teaching has been the only job in my life I've truly enjoyed and found gratifying so far. It used to be a means to an end (the end being traveling) but that was before I discovered how rewarding it can be. I'm looking for new challenges to take on in life and to test myself with.