Hiroo Aridome is a senior lecturer and the Japanese language coordinator at 第一吃瓜 College.
He received his M.A. in Japanese linguistics from the University of Minnesota and his B.A. in economics from Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. Before becoming a Japanese language educator he worked in the semiconductor industry in Japan. He has almost 20 years of experience teaching all levels of Japanese language and has taught at the University of Minnesota, Cornell University’s FALCON program, and Washington University in St. Louis. Prior to 第一吃瓜 he taught Japanese as part of a multi-language program in a training academy for government workers in Doha, Qatar. He is interested in teaching Japanese language through participatory learning and the creation of communities. He came to 第一吃瓜 in 2013.
QIASS (Qatar International Academy for Security Studies)
Doha, Qatar
August 2010—May 2013
Lecturer in Japanese, Language Program Coordinator
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, MO
August 2002–June 2010
Senior Lecturer in Japanese, Study Abroad Advisor
Portland State University (ALLEX/PSU Program)
Portland, OR
July 2007
Visiting Instructor
International Christian University
Tokyo, Japan
July–August 2005, July–August 2004
Lecturer in Japanese
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
June–August 2003
Japanese Instructor
The International Conference on Japanese Language Education (ICJLE)
August 2024
University of Wisconsin, Madison |Madison, WI
presented 継承話者に特化した上級クラス−クラスの枠をはみ出してしまう者たちにあえてクラスを提供する試み (A Specialized Course for Advanced Heritage Learners: Providing Instruction for Atypical Japanese Language Learners)
The 28th Princeton Japanese Pedagogy Forum
April 2022
Zoom | Princeton, NJ
presented "Inclusivity in Japanese Language Programs: Making Space for Advanced Heritage Learners and Japanese International Students"
Japan Center for Michigan Universities Program Summer Intensive Japanese Language Program
July 2019
Japan Center for Michigan Universities Program | Hikone, Japan
presented “Student as Teacher: Finding Oneself Through Teaching Japanese”
American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ) Conference
March 2019
Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel | Denver, CO
presented "Student as Teacher: Finding Oneself Through Teaching Japanese" Panel Title: "Considering Learners’ Diversity: Japanese Language Instruction Focusing on Individuality"
Japanese Language Teachers Association of New England (JLTANE) Conference
August 2018
Dartmouth College | Hanover, NH
presented “The Power of Process: An Analysis of One Class and Six Skits Over Three Years”
Japanese Language Teachers Association of New England (JLTANE) Conference
August 2015
Tufts University | Medford, MA
presented “Teaching Japanese: When the Student Becomes the Teacher”
Japanese Language Teachers Association of New England (JLTANE) Conference
June 2014
Brown University | Providence, RI
presented "Learning from Contests: The Transformative Power of Studying Japanese"
Central Association of Teachers of Japanese (CATJ) Conference
April 2009
Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI
presented "Mock Interviews as a Transition Tool for Advanced Language Learners" with Shino Hayashi
Japanese Language Teachers Association of New England (JLTANE) Conference
June 2008
Connecticut College | New London, CT
presented "Using Manga with Advanced Level Japanese Learners"
Association of Teachers of Japanese (ATJ) Conference
April 2008
Atlanta, GA
presented "The Unforeseen Effects of Blogging on the Classroom Dynamic"
Midwest Conference on Asian Affairs (MCAA)
October 2007
Washington University in St. Louis | St. Louis, MO
presented on the use of blogs with advanced-level Japanese learners
Council on Language Instruction (CLI) Conference
April 2007
University of Chicago | Chicago, IL
presented "The Positive Effects of Blogging on the Classroom Dynamic" addressing the topic "The Place of Multimedia in the Language Curriculum"
Aridome, Hiroo. Journal for Children Crossing Borders (2024).
I am happy to write recommendation letters for students who have taken a class with me. Please follow the guidelines below:
• Please email me at least 3 weeks in advance with a brief description of the program that you are applying for and to set up a meeting with me regarding your application.
• Send me your completed essay or statement of purpose and any other application materials (forms to be signed, stamped addressed envelope, etc.) ahead of the meeting or to the meeting.
• Please send me a follow-up email and let me know the result of your application without fail!
