Maki Nibayashi

Occupation:
Education consultant and journalist

Time in Japan:
10 years



Where are you from?
Southern California.

What brought you to Japan?
I began teaching ESL as a teacher' aide when I was in junior high school. I met several Japanese students and was intrigued by the culture, so I decided to spend a year teaching English and studying Japanese in Japan. At the beginning of my second year, I opened my first English school, which was the first of many institutions, including the Distance Learning Center, to be managed by my organization, The Academia Group.

What is the Distance Learning Center?
The Distance Learning Center currently represents nine institutions of higher learning from the US, UK and Australia offering distance learning degree and certificate programs to students residing in Japan. The DLC is involved in university recruitment and academic counseling, as well as the organization and administration of examinations, workshops, seminars, schooling sessions, educational fairs and award ceremonies. We also offer academic consulting.

How did you get involved with this organization?
The Distance Learning Center evolved out of an educational research institute staffed with a number of bilingual experts in the field of higher education. A number of us at the institute saw the need for educational opportunities for those working and living in Japan, and since we had long established relationships with universities around the world we began assisting them with the recruitment of students. This has resulted in an increase of over 100 university degree programs that can be completed through distance learning by students in Japan.

What is the DLC planning for this year?
Our largest event of the year will be Education Expo 2000. We are cooperating with the International Education Research Institute to organize this university fair, which will be held on October 8 and 9 in Shinjuku. The theme of this year's event is "Information Technology," and Dr Yoshiro Nakamatsu, the inventor of the floppy disk and holder of 16 IBM patents, has been invited to give the plenary speech.

How do you think the DLC can benefit people?
The DLC allows people the opportunity to go back to school and improve their qualifications in their free time while living and working in Japan, without having to leave their place of employment and study on-campus. How many working adults do you know who can afford to quit their job and study on-campus for two or more years?

What's the one thing a person should see or experience in Japan before leaving forever?
From my perspective as an American citizen, I would have to recommend visiting the Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima. Every visitor to Japan should have a first hand look at the horrific results of the atomic bomb.

What's your recipe for a happy life in Japan?
Realize that understanding is far more important than being understood. Mix this with a dose of karaoke, two cups of ice coffee, a sprinkle of Frisk and a shot of Dekavita. Don't forget a pinch of respect for our Japanese hosts. If the taste is not that of what you are used to, then savor the difference.

Contact the Distance Learning Center on 048-463-3077.

Dr Anthony Al-Jamie spoke to Maki Nibayashi

Do you know somepne who has an interesting life in Japan? Email us at maki@tokyoclassified.com