After
5 years of Japanese study at Auckland Grammar School, Don Wallis spent a
year in Japan at Yamate High School near Yokohama. Don subsequently
completed a Bachelor of Management Studies at the University of Waikato
majoring in Japanese and Marketing in the International Management
Programme. While at University he used his Japanese language skills
extensively in on-going part time employment. The following list includes
some of the ventures he was involved in. In New Zealand:
Tour guide - Travel Land South Pacific, Scenic Tours, JTB, Atlantic & Pacific Travel.
Translator - Power Beat International, Turners & Growers Exports
Interpreter -Waikato Agricultural Feilddays PR, Turners & Growers Exports
Recruitment - Arranged working holidays for Waikato University students wanting to work in Japan over their holidays (at a ski field in Nagano Prefecture, Japan and teaching English conversation)
Sessional Assistant - Japanese Department, University of Waikato
Marker - Japanese Department, University of Waikato
In Japan:
Porter - Shiba Park Hotel, Tokyo
English Conversation Tutor - Tempstaff Tokyo
Promote NZ Campaign - NZ Tourism Board and the NZ Embassy in Tokyo
Promotions & Planning Assistant - Shinshyuu Soogoo Kaihatsu Kankoo KK, Nagano
On graduation, Don had to choose between a career using Japanese extensively, or the financial rewards of other opportunities. For personal and family reasons, he chose to accept a position as a Marketing Analyst with Telecom and spent a total of five years in different roles within Telecom, culminating in the role of Market Manager responsible for industry segmented markets (Health, Education and Local Government). Don was headhunted for the position of Marketing Services Manager (Asia) for Watties Frozen Foods based in Auckland, but chose not to take this position, again for family reasons.
In 1995, Don and his wife left New Zealand for an OE in the UK. On the way they visited Japan and re-connected with their respective host families (Don’s wife had had time in Japan on a Lions Club exchange).
Returning to New Zealand in 1997, Don worked for a further five years in Hamilton as an account manager with TeamTalk NZ, then as a Sales Representative and Sales Manager for Combined Insurance Company of NZ Ltd. He then moved into a completely different area of employment as a tutor in Adult Literacy and Employment Skills at River City Training Academy. While working at RCTA, Don completed a Certificate in Adult Education at Wintec, Hamilton and it was at this point that he discovered a passion for helping people learn. After 3 years as an adult educator he decided to move to teaching at the secondary school level and so began the Graduate Diploma of Teaching at Waikato University in 2005 with Japanese as his main teaching subject. He will also be able to teach Social Studies, Business Studies, and English and Junior Maths. Don says:
“I am really enjoying full time study after 15 years of working. I hope to be teaching at a secondary school in Hamilton in 2006. I love to help people move towards their purpose in life. I believe that being a positive, encouraging voice for young people is a vital ingredient to life. I have particularly recognised this in my role as father to my own children.”
Don Wallis, 2005