"During the three and a half years I worked at Four Seasons, I could develop professionally as a teacher and thoroughly enjoy my time there.  I found that teaching small classes of students allowed me to get to know my students well and also learn interesting things from them and about the businesses they worked for. At the Four Seasons school, there was a good atmosphere among the teachers so that teaching ideas could be discussed both casually as well as at development meetings.  This helped me keep my lessons creative but still professional.

The owner and office staff were of great assistance, especially when I first arrived in Japan, since they were eager to help with things related to both the job and living in Japan.  Being able to travel to classes by car allowed me to discover more about the area and about Japan.  I also could learn a lot from the great community of teachers at the school and enjoy many activities with them."
--Andy Kean, 2005-2009 

"Four Seasons is a great place to work because of the balance between a professional and friendly, welcoming environment. There was never a dull day at Four Seasons because each day was different, teaching a variety of students from high end managers of large, prestigious companies, to close-knit community classes, and even an occassional children's class to give your corporate image a bit of a break. 

 Some classes are quick to form strong bonds with hardworking, friendly teachers and are proud share thier Japanese culture too. My Senior Ladies students taught me how to cook Japanese food, put on kimonos, and appreciate ancient Japanese art. Another group of students from a music instrument company taught me all about Japanese DJs in Tokyo. I even climbed Mt. Fuji with another class. I could have never fully experienced Japan without my faithful and generous students. 

However, these rewarding experiences don't come without hard work and dedication. Which is why the office and staff at Four Seasons are great, creating a nurtuting working environment. Teachers continuously come and go into the office library, and the ability to bounce ideas off of each other while preparing for lessons was invalubale. I never stopped appreciating the fact that my hardest working colleagues turned out to be my closest friends in Japan." 
 --Christine Fernades, 2005-2008"

"Four Seasons has been a very enjoyable place to work. It's given me a lot of experience to meet many new and interesting people. I've also been able to travel more around the area and learn more about Japan, as well as Japanese language. I have a lot of opportunities to explore Hamamatsu and the surrounding areas and take Japanese classes because I do have some free time. At my previous school, I had no free time, teaching about 40 or more classes a week. The teachers at Four Seasons are well-trained and interesting, not just some college graduates with no interest in English."

"I think the library at Four Seasons is the best I've seen at any school. We have the opportunity to try or use any book we like, which gives us a lot of freedom to teach in our own style, rather than having to conform to a school's narrow rules that the (often uninformed and money grubbing) owner has set up."
--Ryan Solot, 1999-2001

"Life in Hamamatsu is calm and safe, combining a thriving downtown area with a smallish town feel by Japanese standards.  Much of the crowdedness and bustle of major Japanese cities is missing there. I never lived any other place in Japan, but I met at least five ex-pats that had moved to Hamamatsu because of its great reputation.  The people are unfailingly polite and friendly and the city has enough foreign visitors and residents to mean that while you're still very much a novelty, staring in disbelief is rare."  

"Working at Four Seasons gave me the chance to teach a variety of different types of classes, which kept me on my toes. I taught in-company business classes, community classes and Junior High.  Four Seasons is a small school with a big heart.  It's like being part of a family, so if you want to work for a massive organization where nobody knows who you are, you won't like it; many of the students have been studying there for over ten years, a testament to the comfortable atmosphere of the place. I loved my time in Japan and miss it very much.  Working there is more than just a job, it's a Japanese experience, so if that's what you want, and you're prepared to work hard, you'll enjoy it."
--Russell Turner, Head Teacher, 1999 - 2001

"I taught at Four Season's for a little over two years.  Working at Four Season's was a rewarding experience.  The office staff is really helpful, the school has a wide variety of teaching materials, the teacher is given a free hand with class content and the other teachers provide friendship, advice and support. The Four Season's students are enthusiastic, creative and motivated to learn. After a year and a half away from Japan, I still maintain friendships with many of my students."
--Jill Doctoroff, 1998-2000

Last updated on 9月 8, 2010 by Joe Libby