GATJ is starting a new program, GATJ Japanese Teacher of the Year (TOTY) to honor one K-12 and one college level Japanese teacher each year.
This award is supported by Georgia Dept. of Education and Japan-America Society of Georgia, and this year’s committee members are Seiko Onuki (GATJ President 2018-19), Mr. Patrick Wallace (GA DOE), and Mr. Yoshi Domoto (JASG). The nominations were reviewed by the committee members.
Congratulations to these two brilliant teachers on receiving the award!
K-12 TOTY: Ms. Tomoko Aeba Frayer (Georgia Virtual School)
College TOTY: Ms. Aya Nakanishi McDaniel (Georgia Institute of Technology)
Please let me introduce you Ms. Frayer and Ms. McDaniel with their bio and success stories.
Ms. Tomoko A. Frayer
This award is supported by Georgia Dept. of Education and Japan-America Society of Georgia, and this year’s committee members are Seiko Onuki (GATJ President 2018-19), Mr. Patrick Wallace (GA DOE), and Mr. Yoshi Domoto (JASG). The nominations were reviewed by the committee members.
Congratulations to these two brilliant teachers on receiving the award!
K-12 TOTY: Ms. Tomoko Aeba Frayer (Georgia Virtual School)
College TOTY: Ms. Aya Nakanishi McDaniel (Georgia Institute of Technology)
Please let me introduce you Ms. Frayer and Ms. McDaniel with their bio and success stories.
Ms. Tomoko A. Frayer
I taught Japanese language in Singapore Polytechnic for 10 years in charge of a Japanese Unit and developed the AI Computer Assisted Instruction System under a joint government project for 5 years. In the US, I worked as a Localization Specialist at Microsoft and as the Internet Technology Project Planner in Fujitsu.
After I moved from Silicon Valley to Georgia, I worked as the Distance Learning and Instructional Technology Coordinator at GPTV Irasshai Program. About 500 high school students all over the US studied Japanese through the program via TV/video lessons, via teleconference conversation practice, and multimedia materials.
Experience in the distance learning Japanese program expands to my various roles in Georgia Virtual School as mentor, content development specialist, department chair, and master teacher. I have been teaching Japanese for 10 years as a full-time instructor in GaVS and I was selected to be a teacher of the year finalist in 2011 and 2016 at GaVS. This year, I serve GATJ as a board member in charge of K-12 Japanese language education.
As a full-time instructor, I devote myself in promoting the Japanese program, not only within the school but to the entire community of Georgia. My students are from 54 districts in Georgia, studying Japanese online. It is exciting as well as challenging to open a new learning opportunity for students who are eager to study Japanese using new technology and tools.
I am passionate to provide individualized, differentiated instructions to large number of enthusiastic students with diverse backgrounds. By utilizing various learning data and predictive need analysis, I offer engaging instructions proactively and support students’ learning towards acquiring Japanese language skills. I also offer student-centered, fun learning environment including speaking events, online exchanges with students in Japan and live cultural events which motivate students’ learning. GaVS Japanese students participated in Speech Contest this March and they have received Gold and Silver medals in National Japanese Exam.
Ms. Aya Nakanishi McDaniel
After I moved from Silicon Valley to Georgia, I worked as the Distance Learning and Instructional Technology Coordinator at GPTV Irasshai Program. About 500 high school students all over the US studied Japanese through the program via TV/video lessons, via teleconference conversation practice, and multimedia materials.
Experience in the distance learning Japanese program expands to my various roles in Georgia Virtual School as mentor, content development specialist, department chair, and master teacher. I have been teaching Japanese for 10 years as a full-time instructor in GaVS and I was selected to be a teacher of the year finalist in 2011 and 2016 at GaVS. This year, I serve GATJ as a board member in charge of K-12 Japanese language education.
As a full-time instructor, I devote myself in promoting the Japanese program, not only within the school but to the entire community of Georgia. My students are from 54 districts in Georgia, studying Japanese online. It is exciting as well as challenging to open a new learning opportunity for students who are eager to study Japanese using new technology and tools.
I am passionate to provide individualized, differentiated instructions to large number of enthusiastic students with diverse backgrounds. By utilizing various learning data and predictive need analysis, I offer engaging instructions proactively and support students’ learning towards acquiring Japanese language skills. I also offer student-centered, fun learning environment including speaking events, online exchanges with students in Japan and live cultural events which motivate students’ learning. GaVS Japanese students participated in Speech Contest this March and they have received Gold and Silver medals in National Japanese Exam.
Ms. Aya Nakanishi McDaniel
Aya McDaniel (Nakanishi) joined the School of Modern Languages as a Japanese language instructor in 2014. She earned her M.A. in Foreign Language Education and Research from Kansai University, Osaka Japan. She started her teaching career as a fellow at Emory University, where she continued to teach as full-time instructor until she came to Georgia Institute of Technology. Her research interest is in the development classroom activities and materials. She has presented her papers at ACTFL Convention, AATJ Conference and others. She has made a kanji textbook and a workbook for Intermediate Japanese class with Dr. Masuda.
She is the Introductory Language Program Coordinator of Japanese language.
She teaches elementary and intermediate Japanese classes at Georgia Institute of Technology. She gets involved in organizing Japanese events and the Japanese Book Club on campus. She also organized Georgia region's Japanese Speech Contest in 2018 and 2019. In her free time, she enjoys making pottery and practicing Japanese tea ceremony. She has taken part in the tea ceremony demonstrations at Japan Fest as well as some schools.
Congratulations again!
She is the Introductory Language Program Coordinator of Japanese language.
She teaches elementary and intermediate Japanese classes at Georgia Institute of Technology. She gets involved in organizing Japanese events and the Japanese Book Club on campus. She also organized Georgia region's Japanese Speech Contest in 2018 and 2019. In her free time, she enjoys making pottery and practicing Japanese tea ceremony. She has taken part in the tea ceremony demonstrations at Japan Fest as well as some schools.
Congratulations again!