Welcome to Takako's Home Page

Personal History

• Birth Place
  I was born in a small city called "Nishio" in Aichi, Japan. For the information about traveling in Japan, click here.
• Up to Age 18
  I have one older brother, who now lives in Nagoya, Japan, with his family.
  My brother and I used to 'fight' when we were kids.
  But we've been always good friends and are still now.
  He is an architect, working for the company, Takenaka.
  I went to Nishio Kindergarten, Nishio Elementary School, Nishio Junior High, and Nishio Senior High....I am a pure 'Nishionian'.
  
• Takako's College Life
  I went to Tsuda College, which is one of the oldest woman's colleges in Japan. I met lots of very interesting and smart women there!
  My college life was full of fun and I would never forget that part of my life!
• After College
  After Tsuda, I went to Ohio State University for my master's degree, which I didn't intend to do originally. I wasn't so interested in graduate school but I somehow ended up getting there.
  Fortunately, I could get a TA scholarship (to teach Japanese language). I loved that and that's why I became a Japanese language instructor.
  
• My First Job in Japan
  After I finished my MA. in Japanese linguistics and pedagogy, I came back to Japan. My first job was to teach Japanese language to foreign students at Nanzan University. This was the time when I met my best friend, Charlene!
• From Nagoya to Michigan to Osaka
  Then, I came back to US, this time, to Michigan. I taught Japanese at University of Michigan for one year.
  Then, I went back to Japan, this time, Osaka. I got a teaching position at Kansai Gaidai!
  I enjoyed teaching at Kansai Gaidai and had a quite good life there!
  
• Student Again!
  I came back to Ohio State Univ. in 1989 again!....what was I thinking?
  At OSU, I started studying formal linguistics. I also took 2 years of Chinese language training, which was required for my degree. I loved learning Chinese and I was a good student!
  
• Takako's Life in Boston
  Then, I came to Massachusetts Institute of Technolog(MIT), MA.
  I enjoy working at MIT, learning lots of different things.
  Also, I LOVE Boston! here. Click here. You can take a quick tour of Boston!
  

Hobbies

Would you like to learn Japanese or know about the Japanese culture?

If your answer is 'yes', check this out.
Or, check this(JPNET) out.

Would you like to meet my Family and Friends (including Dogs)?

Click here for my Family.
And, click here for my friends!

Professional Stuff

• Vitae
  
• Takako's Self-Learning Japanese Materials
• Foreign Languages and Literatures at MIT
• Japanese Program at MIT
• JP-NET