Kevin McClure
(1984-87)
I was a teacher (9/84-9/85), then academic supervisor (9/85-9/87) at LIOJ. I was in the residential Business Program, although we all taught one class in Community. I loved my time at LIOJ and I will always have fond memories of Kaoru, Terumi, and Nobu helping us. My wife and I made a lot of friends among the teachers and I still see some alumni from time to time. I did contract work with Andy Blasky at DynEd a few years ago and I have recently talked with Ruth Sasaki.
Probably my strongest memory of LIOJ was going to Tenzan, the rotemburo up in Hakone-Yumoto with my Business classes. We'd finish a long day and then get three taxis and drive up there and soak in the hot water and eat teppan yaki. It was in those kinds of settings that we really practiced English and talked about Japanese culture and American culture.
I am now a Development Editor at GlobalEnglish Corporation in South San Francisco. I was a writer here for two and a half years, but I recently made the transition to editor. The primary way in which my experience from LIOJ is reflected in what I do now is in my work on the curriculum. I was at LIOJ when we were using a notional-functional syllabus, and I'm a strong advocate of that approach to syllabus design. I participate in all of the syllabus/curriculum projects here. That background was especially important when we created the GlobalEnglish Kids site.
I hope that all is well at LIOJ. If you see Kaoru, Terumi or Nobu, please give them my best regards.
May 2002
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