Mrs. Erin Sullivan
UAIS Group 2 - Japanese / Mandarin

"Knowledge is Power." ~ Francis Bacon

My expectations for the UAIS are that we will build a small learning community that not only creates a rigorous academic learning environment but also a nurturing and humanistic one that celebrates difference and tolerance and where everyone in the community, including faculty, students, administrators, and parents has a voice and takes ownership in building an educational community we all can be proud of. 

The expectations for students in the Japanese and/or Mandarin Language B Program are that the students will work hard to achieve a high level of proficiency in all areas (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) of the language and will use their language skills not only in class but outside of class as well and will seek opportunities to do so.  I also expect that through the acquisition of language the students will also come to understand and respect the respective culture and history that make these societies deeply fascinating as they are complicated.  I expect students to come to class each day prepared with an open-mind and a positive attitude, but also with curiosity and intensity for language study. I expect students in this program to hold themselves to a very high standard and to act with integrity and respect.

The expectations for myself, or what students can expect of me, are that my role is not only to teach students to be proficient in the Japanese or Mandarin language and come to understand and respect the cultures that lay at the heart of these two unique and beautiful countries, but it is also to teach them to reflect on their own language and culture and to consider themselves and their place in the future global community. As an educator, I hold myself to a high standard in not only the subjects I teach, but also in preparing these students to be global citizens and to truly know what that means.  I have a responsibility to prepare them for the world waiting for them.  Additionally, students should expect that communication during and outside of class will almost exclusively take place in Japanese or Mandarin.  Students can expect that I will collaborate with other teachers across subject areas in order to create cross-curricular learning experiences that take learning out of a vacuum and put it into real contexts that become meaningful.  I expect to work hard, try out new activities and ideas, and to grow professionally as an educator from this new experience.  Lastly, I plan to enjoy everyday teaching and learning from the amazing individuals that I will have the fortune of calling my students.

Education
BA International Relations / East Asian Affaris

Post Bachelors Teacher Certification Japanese / Social Studies

MA Curriculum and Teaching
Michigan State University

Continuing Education

International Baccalaureate Awards Programme

Designated Public Relations Officer, Toyota City Board of Education, Japan

Japanese Language Education Endorsement, CLAIR/MInistry of Education, Japan

Phi Beta Delta International Scholar

Japanese Teachers Association of Michigan President 2006 - 2008

Japanese Teachers Association of Michigan Secretary 2004 - 2006

Michigan World Language Association Workshop Presenter

Brain Based Learning and Differentiated Instruction Workshops

NCA Writing Committee

Natural Learning Institute Lead Teacher for UAIS

Japanese Teachers Association of Michigan

National Council of Japanese Language Teachers