Explore
Series
Explore. Exchange. Experience
The Japan Bound Explore Series is an opportunity for our students to explore new worlds from the comfort of their home. The one-off sessions provided by our experienced and relatable mentors afford our students great insight into the different aspects of Japan and what it's like to visit. We hope these courses will serve as a foundation for our students to have meaningful interactions with their peers from across the globe.
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We're currently offering these courses on Outschool. You can find all of the links to our available courses below. If there's something in particular you were looking for and can't find, please be sure to shoot us an e-mail (japanbound@gpius.net) as we're creating new courses everyday and value input from the community!
Please click on the "Outschool" button to see all of our classes, sign up and request new courses and schedules. If you live in Japan, please click "People living in Japan" at the bottom of the page!
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Let's Talk Japan Club
Duration: 30 min
Schedule: Not currently offered
In this ongoing course, students will join Sam or Tyler in an after school club where we discuss all things Japan! Topics range from School Life to Vending Machines and everything in between. There's no prior knowledge necessary. You can join us every week or just drop in when you have time.
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See you after school!
$10/Session
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Exploring Through Food
Duration: 60 min
Schedule: Not currently offered
We’ll take a quick tour around Japan to sample their cuisine, learn about their ingredients and practice their cooking methods. This is the perfect place to start for those of you who have always been curious about Japanese food!
Students will leave with a better understanding of Japanese culture and a recipe to try at home!
$18/Session
Tokyo to Kagoshima
Duration: 45-55 min/session
Schedule: Multi-Day Course, Not currently offered
Can't go to Japan? Don't know where to Start? Over 10 weeks in this 10-day course, students will get exposure to the innovation and technology of a major city like Tokyo and what it's like to live next to a volcano in Kagoshima! We combine active reflection and discussion to make sure our students get the most out of each trip and are better prepare for their future travels
$150/Program
Kerry, W.
"Faith loved this class, she is fascinated by Japan. The class was engaging and the Teacher was great, he even provided additional information after the class. She will be signing up for Part 2."
Mali, N.
"My daughter says it was VERY informative and she learned so much more about Japan. She’s all in for more classes from Mr. Tyler!"
Andi, M.
"Fantastic class with a knowledgeable and patient teacher. My son was totally lit up and excited to explore more after class. A great class to really explore the day to day life in Tokyo"
Mr. Tyler Bartels
"Nothing is ever real until it is experienced"
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Hello! My name is Tyler. I have a Bachelor's in International Relations with a focus on East Asia and Japanese. I am also TEFL certified and hold the second highest Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) Certification (N2). Beyond the nitty gritty, what makes me qualified to teach your children?
I love to explore new cultures and learn about the different perspectives and identities that exist across the world. I’ve lived all over the United States, traveled across the world, and spent time in Japan as well. I’ve taught in classrooms both in the U.S. and Japan, and my students have ranged from ages 4 to 80! Some of my favorite experiences have been running volunteer English courses in rural Japan and coaching youth soccer and basketball. Much of my teaching has centered around the concepts of global citizenship, self-empowerment, leadership skills, and ESL. I also believe that mentorship is incredibly important, so I try to incorporate this into interactions with my students whenever possible.
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Lastly, I want to leave you with one of my favorite quotes by the Dalai Lama that I think embodies the idea of discovering new perspectives and understanding the world around us: “Be kind whenever possible, it is always possible.” See you in class!
Sam Yee
"Never underestimate your potential to change someone's life forever"
Hi everyone, it’s a pleasure to connect with you! My name is Sam and I’m from the San Francisco Bay Area.
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I went to University of California, Davis, where I studied psychology, communications and education.For the past 8 years, it has been my passion to empower youth while bridging the U.S.-Japan relationship. My passion sparked in 2012, where I volunteered for the Tomodachi Program at UC Berkeley to mentor Japanese students affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. I enjoyed the experience of being a youth mentor and cross-cultural educator, and I have continued to fill that role for kids both in Japan and the US. I also taught English on Awaji Island in Japan for 2 years with the JET Program, where I gained firsthand experience of Japan’s education system, culture, and social climate.
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I’d like to leave you with my favorite Japanese word, and that is “kikkake”. This is the idea that any moment, event, and meeting has the potential to spark positive change in someone’s life forever. The world is full of these sorts of opportunities, changing the course of our lives in ways we can never imagine. I’m a huge believer in this idea, and I hope I can be that “kikkake” for students here on Outschool. I look forward to seeing you in my class!
