Personal Statement
I am working towards becoming a university lecturer in photography. In order to do this, I require a great amount of specialist knowledge, but also diverse practical teaching experience. I also think that it is critical for lecturers to have a strong knowledge of international customs and practices in order to bring a global perspective to the classroom. My interest in Japan stems from playing and teaching guitar. At college I became interested in experimental music, and discovered the artists Boris and Merzbow. Through them I developed a fascination with contemporary Japanese art; in particular, their photography and philosophy - both of which continue to influence my own photographic work. Building on my knowledge of Japanese culture and bringing it into the academic sphere would allow me to create many international connections between students, galleries and artists along with teaching the next generation of creative practitioners about Japanese culture. This will introduce a much-needed alternative to the often highly Eurocentric undergraduate curricula in Britain. The JET Programme’s focus on internationalisation, language tuition, and opportunity to have first-hand experience of Japanese life make it ideal for achieving these goals. Though I am only just …show more content…
Through creating practical exercises, such as having students speak with one another in English about their interests, their English speaking ability may grow more organically and give them the skills required for their future
I am working towards becoming a university lecturer in photography. In order to do this, I require a great amount of specialist knowledge, but also diverse practical teaching experience. I also think that it is critical for lecturers to have a strong knowledge of international customs and practices in order to bring a global perspective to the classroom. My interest in Japan stems from playing and teaching guitar. At college I became interested in experimental music, and discovered the artists Boris and Merzbow. Through them I developed a fascination with contemporary Japanese art; in particular, their photography and philosophy - both of which continue to influence my own photographic work. Building on my knowledge of Japanese culture and bringing it into the academic sphere would allow me to create many international connections between students, galleries and artists along with teaching the next generation of creative practitioners about Japanese culture. This will introduce a much-needed alternative to the often highly Eurocentric undergraduate curricula in Britain. The JET Programme’s focus on internationalisation, language tuition, and opportunity to have first-hand experience of Japanese life make it ideal for achieving these goals. Though I am only just …show more content…
Through creating practical exercises, such as having students speak with one another in English about their interests, their English speaking ability may grow more organically and give them the skills required for their future