About Simon

G'day...

Where did you come from?

That’s a difficult question, um.... I was born in London and grew up in Australia.
(Although some people say that I never actually grew up! Haha)

So you went to school in Australia?

Yes. A private grammar school in Melbourne.

Your hometown is Melbourne?

Well it’s difficult to know where my hometown is now. I’ve been travelling for so long and my family has since left Melbourne.

When did you start travelling?

When I was 17 actually. I’ll never forget that trip. I was working in Melbourne as a car mechanic and a friend invited me up to Brisbane for my Christmas holiday. I didn’t have much money, so I hitchhiked. I only got about 400klm on the first day and stayed in a room above a pub in the countryside. I remember clearly waking up the next morning with an overwhelming feeling of total freedom! Nobody really expected me anywhere for weeks, I had enough money if I was careful, and could go anywhere! It was that bug that hit me which still remains with me today.

Where have you been since then?

I travelled all over Australia and lived in many different places. I eventually needed to go further and moved to Indonesia where I stayed for a couple of years. Then I went home for a short time, met my wife (ex-wife now) Lived in Hong Kong for a couple more years and lived in Japan since 1997.

And you started Senseisan there?

Yes, Senseisan started in Nagoya in 1997.

How was that?

It was fun! I started teaching mostly housewives and then started to specialize in corporate and testing preparation like IELTS and TOEIC. Somehow I ended up with a lot of research engineers, medical doctors and other high level people. I enjoyed teaching kids too!

What was your most memorable trip?

To answer that question, I think I will always answer... the last trip.

Where did you go?

I went to USA and rode a Harley Davidson from Orlando to New Orleans and went to Mexico and visited my cousins in New York for Christmas. It was all great, but I’d have to say the ride was the best part! I met sooooo many people! New Orleans is a blast too.

Have you always been a teacher?

No. I did many different jobs in Australia and had a business there, (a cataloguing company contracting mostly to the government.)I worked in purchasing for different companies in Australia specialising in industrial products including electronic componentry, robotics, CNC machines and many others.  I had a logistics consultancy in Indonesia for production planning. I Worked as assistant to the Project Manager at the new international airport site in Hong Kong. I have done, and still do Project Management for website design and consulting.

So you’re experienced in International business?

Oh yeah. I have lived in the international community for many years. Hong Kong was the most challenging. I worked for a joint venture of three companies; A British company, a Chinese company and a British company. This was at the construction of the new Hong Kong airport (Chek Lap Kok). I ended up working as assistant to one of the Project Managers, so communication was culturally sensitive, not only within the joint venture, but also to the empoyer company. (Airport Authority - AA.)

How did you become a teacher in Japan?

It was a decision that I made in Hong Kong with my wife. It seemed the thing to do in Japan. So when I finished my job in HK, I studied ESL English at Cambridge University and then came to Nagakute and opened Sensei San nine years ago.

What happened to your wife?

I killed her. She’s in the freezer now. Haha..... No, she lives in Canada now. We were divorced in 2000.

Do you enjoy teaching?

I love it! I get to meet lots of people and have a few laughs while I’m working and many of my students have become good friends.

How do you teach?

We have a catch phrase at Senseisan, "If it's not fun, it can't be done!). All students are different and have different requirements. Mostly, I try to get my students to open up more and teach them that communication is most important. I feel that this style fills the gap left by teachers in High schools here. After all, isn’t that what we all want to do through language?.... communicate! It’s a lot more complicated than that from the teachers point of view, but that’s what my students get in the end. Of course, some students need something more specific like TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS etc.

What range of students do you have?

Wow...a wide range.... From Junior High School kids to retirees to professionals like doctors, nurses, scientists, local English teachers...everybody and anybody!!

How many students do have?

Lots.. In our new location in Bangkok, we have eight classrooms.

Are you going to expand your school? I mean employ more teachers?

Oh, I'm always looking for good teachers!

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like to be outside..... walking, cycling, gym etc. I like cooking and of course, I spend a lot of time doing school stuff. I do some volunteer work too. I'm also interested in the philosophy of Buddhism, so I like to visit temples. You should ask my staff about 'Simonculture' - It's a lifestyle!