About MeMy name is Andrew Ramirez and this is my website which displays the work I have done at California State University Monterey Bay. Here you can view the classes I have taken, as well as various assignments I completed to satisfy the Major Learning Outcome (MLO) graduation requirements. Please scroll down to see further information about myself and my major.
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Statement of Purpose
While studying at CSUMB, I was fortunate enough to take part in a study abroad program and went to University of Shiga Prefecture (USP) for a year in order to broaden my horizons. During my time at USP, I was able to deepen my understanding of teaching and culture by volunteering at a local high school. Starting in May, every Friday morning I would go to assist at Shiga Gakuen. Inside the classroom, the students were a bit unruly and that required me to learn how to immediately establish control of the classroom. By my second visit, I was able to quickly take command and lead discussions, as well as provide individual attention to those who needed it. Outside of the classroom, the students showed immense interest in American sports. To help satisfy their curiosity, I taught them the basics of American football after class, which eventually inspired me to help form a football circle back at USP. Before I left, I made sure to leave a few footballs behind so that the circle would be able to continue without me.
When I returned to CSUMB, I immediately enrolled in a service learning class where I was able to teach Japanese language and culture to elementary school students. At that time, I was able to teach the students about various forms of gratifying Japanese art, such as origami and calligraphy. I greatly appreciate the honor to have taught this class because it allowed me to take a foreign concept and connect it to familiar principles that the children can easily relate to. Having such an opportunity has enabled me to lead activities that not only deepen their understanding of foreign cultures, but also help raise self-confidence via participating in hands-on activities.
Thus far I have pushed myself to do my best with the help of my instructors, and I know that I can achieve greater heights through the JET program. I believe that only by expanding our understanding of different cultures can we improve upon our educational abilities. I am ready to share my teaching experience that I was able to gain both in Shiga and CSUMB, but also add to that experience through the JET program. JET has a tight knit community that I am eager to be a part of because it gives me an avenue to interact with more individuals from diverse backgrounds in addition to the students I will be teaching. I firmly believe that becoming an Assistant Language Teacher is the perfect opportunity to be able to apply my experience with teaching children in a dynamic, enjoyable environment.
After completing the JET program, I expect to further my education by returning to the U.S. and enroll in a Master’s program in order to better help me benefit the students I strive to assist. I have been particularly interested in San Jose State University’s M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). This program puts a great emphasis on language instruction, and I believe it strongly compliments my life goals. Ultimately, I intend to return to Japan with the aim of obtaining a teaching position at an institution of higher education. This would allow me to have a direct hand in serving Japanese college students and others from various cultures, promote what I have learned in Japan, and what I will have gained through the JET program.
Every day since kindergarten, I have spent a majority of my time with my best friend, Grant Hashimoto, whose family is Japanese-American. Like a second family, many of my cherished memories are with the Hashimotos. My activities with them laid the foundation on which my interest in Japanese language and culture was built upon. With them I was able to learn and live a basic Japanese lifestyle. As I grew up, I was able to learn a great deal about Japanese culture, but I quickly found myself longing for more. My desire to acquire more knowledge is what drove me to study Japanese Language and Culture at California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB).