Overseas adventure teacher's first assignment
Annie McInnis will begin her career by teaching English in Japan
By Earl Horlyk Journal staff writer | Posted: Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Annie McInnis, left, gets a gift from her former Morningside College roommate Judy Leinen during lunch at Graham’s Grill and Pub prior to her leaving for a two-year teaching assignment in Japan, a position she accepted in Sioux City’s sister city. (Staff photo by Jerry Mennenga)
SIOUX CITY - On Thursday, Annie McInnis will board a plane that she hopes will take her on the adventure of a lifetime.
For the next two years, McInnis, a May 2008 Morningside College graduate, will live in Japan, where she'll teach English to third- to fifth-graders and act as Sioux City's unofficial ambassador to its sister city of Yamanashi City.
"I'm taking every pair of shoes I own," McInnis said, noting the diminutive size of the Japanese. "I wear a size 10 shoe. Bet I won't be able to buy too many of those once I get to Japan."
McInnis, who graduated magna cum laude this spring, was hired by the Yamanashi School Board to teach English at three of the city's elementary schools.
"I'm very excited about this opportunity," McInnis said days before her departure. "After all, who wouldn't want to start their career halfway 'round the world?"
McInnis, who gained teaching experience as a student teacher at Sioux City's Washington, Whittier, Lincoln, Longfellow and Irving elementary schools, said this will mark the first time she's traveled overseas.
"My dad lived in Spain for a while," she said, "and my grandfather saw the world when he was in the Air Force. But, other than a trip to Mexico, this will be the first time I've been out of the country."
Plus, McInnis said she knows only a few words in Japanese.
"I picked the brains of some of the Japanese exchange students who went to Morningside with me," she said. "So far, the only things I know how to say are 'please,' 'thank you,' and 'This coffee is delicious.'"
"Hopefully, those phrases will come in handy," McInnis said, smiling.
McInnis said she'll work with teachers who are bilingual but hopes to pick up the language in time. She hopes to pick up the culture as well.
"That's gonna be a challenge," she said. "Everything I know about Japan, up until this point, has been secondhand. I'm sure it'll be much different once I get there."
McInnis knows Japanese students are very respectful of their teachers ("That's not always true of the kids in this country," she said kiddingly) and that the Japanese school systems place an emphasis on learning other languages.
"It is my understanding that some of the students I'll be teaching may be visiting Sioux City in the next few years," she added. "So I better teach them well."
McInnis said she isn't fearful of living in a new land and knows she'll be following in the footsteps of other young Sioux City teachers who have made the trip.
According to Angel Wallace, assistant to Sioux City City Manager Paul Eckert, then-Sioux City Mayor Craig Berenstein and Yamanashi City Mayor Teruhito Nakamura signed the official Sister City agreement in 2003.
"As part of the agreement, the two cities embarked upon an exchange program," Wallace said. "Sioux City would send business and civic leaders to Yamanashi City and Yamanashi City would fund a position for an elementary English school teacher to teach in its schools."
Wallace said Melissa Plueger of Sioux City was hired for the position in 2004, followed in 2006 by Sioux City native Jaime Holub.
"Both Melissa and Jaime regarded their tenures overseas as highlights of their teaching careers," she added.
As she prepared for her two-year tenure, McInnis was busy packing and saying goodbye to friends and family members she'll leave behind. She promised her parents, who live in Omaha, she'll stay in touch by e-mail and phone.
"I'm dealing with passports and work visas," she said with a sigh. "That's never fun. But the Yamanashi School District has arranged living accommodations for me. So that's one thing I don't have to worry about."
What about Japanese cuisine?
"I already know I love sushi!" McInnis exclaimed. "So that's a good sign, right?"
The tall, athletic McInnis said she's always been a risk taker.
"Even as a kid, I was inquisitive," she explained. "I was always asking questions and wanting to experience new things. So, hopefully, I'll be able to share that thirst for knowledge with my students."
For the next two years, McInnis, a May 2008 Morningside College graduate, will live in Japan, where she'll teach English to third- to fifth-graders and act as Sioux City's unofficial ambassador to its sister city of Yamanashi City.
"I'm taking every pair of shoes I own," McInnis said, noting the diminutive size of the Japanese. "I wear a size 10 shoe. Bet I won't be able to buy too many of those once I get to Japan."
McInnis, who graduated magna cum laude this spring, was hired by the Yamanashi School Board to teach English at three of the city's elementary schools.
"I'm very excited about this opportunity," McInnis said days before her departure. "After all, who wouldn't want to start their career halfway 'round the world?"
McInnis, who gained teaching experience as a student teacher at Sioux City's Washington, Whittier, Lincoln, Longfellow and Irving elementary schools, said this will mark the first time she's traveled overseas.
"My dad lived in Spain for a while," she said, "and my grandfather saw the world when he was in the Air Force. But, other than a trip to Mexico, this will be the first time I've been out of the country."
Plus, McInnis said she knows only a few words in Japanese.
"I picked the brains of some of the Japanese exchange students who went to Morningside with me," she said. "So far, the only things I know how to say are 'please,' 'thank you,' and 'This coffee is delicious.'"
"Hopefully, those phrases will come in handy," McInnis said, smiling.
McInnis said she'll work with teachers who are bilingual but hopes to pick up the language in time. She hopes to pick up the culture as well.
"That's gonna be a challenge," she said. "Everything I know about Japan, up until this point, has been secondhand. I'm sure it'll be much different once I get there."
McInnis knows Japanese students are very respectful of their teachers ("That's not always true of the kids in this country," she said kiddingly) and that the Japanese school systems place an emphasis on learning other languages.
"It is my understanding that some of the students I'll be teaching may be visiting Sioux City in the next few years," she added. "So I better teach them well."
McInnis said she isn't fearful of living in a new land and knows she'll be following in the footsteps of other young Sioux City teachers who have made the trip.
According to Angel Wallace, assistant to Sioux City City Manager Paul Eckert, then-Sioux City Mayor Craig Berenstein and Yamanashi City Mayor Teruhito Nakamura signed the official Sister City agreement in 2003.
"As part of the agreement, the two cities embarked upon an exchange program," Wallace said. "Sioux City would send business and civic leaders to Yamanashi City and Yamanashi City would fund a position for an elementary English school teacher to teach in its schools."
Wallace said Melissa Plueger of Sioux City was hired for the position in 2004, followed in 2006 by Sioux City native Jaime Holub.
"Both Melissa and Jaime regarded their tenures overseas as highlights of their teaching careers," she added.
As she prepared for her two-year tenure, McInnis was busy packing and saying goodbye to friends and family members she'll leave behind. She promised her parents, who live in Omaha, she'll stay in touch by e-mail and phone.
"I'm dealing with passports and work visas," she said with a sigh. "That's never fun. But the Yamanashi School District has arranged living accommodations for me. So that's one thing I don't have to worry about."
What about Japanese cuisine?
"I already know I love sushi!" McInnis exclaimed. "So that's a good sign, right?"
The tall, athletic McInnis said she's always been a risk taker.
"Even as a kid, I was inquisitive," she explained. "I was always asking questions and wanting to experience new things. So, hopefully, I'll be able to share that thirst for knowledge with my students."
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