James G

James G Tutor Interview

Q.　Hi James, why don’t you start with a quick introduction!

A. My name is James, and I am from a place called Essex in England, which is just outside London. I have lived all over the UK, and recently I was in Scotland for ten months doing a Masters degree. Over the time I have been teaching on Cafetalk, I have become very interested in Japanese culture and Japanese cuisine, I would like to spend some time in Japan in the future.

Q. I heard you worked as a BBC news reporter! Could you please tell us about your previous job?

A. I worked at the BBC for nearly five years, but left to go back to university. For about six months I worked on a radio station called BBC Caribbean where I would read reports to millions of people in the Caribbean every morning. Unfortunately you could not hear these broadcasts in the UK, but in countries such as Jamaica, Trinidad, and Barbados people would hear me on the news!

Q. According to your profile, you have a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics! And now, you’re learning for a masters degree! What make you keep learning more?

A. My first degree was interesting and I enjoyed it, but in the UK everyone goes to university at eighteen and I don’t think people are old enough to know want they want to do with their lives. I am 27, but when I was 25 I decided I didn’t want to work at the BBC any more and decided to study Brewing and Distilling at university, which means beer and whisky making. Now I have qualified and will become a brewer and make beer in England.

Q. You wrote and posted many columns about Pop music. Please tell us about your recommended band or artist!

A. In the 1990s, when I was starting to first listen to pop music there was a type of music in the UK called “Britpop”! Lots and lots of British guitar bands became famous and everybody listened to them, and today my favourite music is from the Britpop bands. This included groups such as Blur, Pulp, and Suede, but my favourite was Oasis!

Q. I’m interested in your lesson, “The Beautiful Game!”. What can students learn in this lesson?

A. This is a fun lesson all about football. In England football is very popular, we say that it is like a religion! A lot of Japanese people I have met in the UK love football too, and this lesson teaches people all about the culture of the game in England, the things people sing and shout, and the phrases that are used on and off the pitch. For example, when you are playing football in England people will shout “man on”, “line it”, “inside”… which may be a mystery to non-native speakers!

Q. Do you have any advices to students who are learning non-native languages?

A. I have friends from all over Europe and a couple of friends from Japan. Some of them did not have very good English when they came to the UK, but over time it improved by talking to people. My advice is that the best way to learn English is to speak it. Keep speaking English to English speakers and you will improve considerably… and also do not give up! It takes time, but you will get there!

Q. Finally, would you like to leave a message for our students.

A.I would like to say how much I have enjoyed speaking to people on Cafetalk, and how nice everyone from Japan is. I feel I have learnt a lot about Japan too!

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James G

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