Paul Huggins’ initial contact with the Japanese people was at the age of eight (8) when he met some Japanese visitors to Auckland. They taught him how to count in Japanese and this experience cemented in him a desire to learn the language and study the culture.
At high school he had the opportunity to study Japanese or Latin and because of the interest birthed in him at the age of 8, he chose Japanese. He loved the language, frustrated only by the knowledge that his teachers were only a few months ahead of the class. He studied Japanese as one of his university entrance subjects and continued his studies at Auckland University where he gained a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Japanese.
At the end of his third year at university Paul had the opportunity to study in Japan as a Monbusho scholar at the Japanese Language School attached to the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. After this year in Japan, Paul returned to NZ to study at Auckland Teacher’s Training College.
Paul’s study and knowledge of Japan’s cultural history, its language and its people, has equipped him with valuable skills as well as given him various job opportunities. He has been able to enjoy working as a high school teacher of the Japanese language in several schools in Christchurch. He has organized and escorted three trips to Japan from schools here in New Zealand and his enthusiasm has influenced a number of his pupils to follow career paths in Japan. He taught English in the international program
of a private high school in Japan for 6 years and brought a large number of students to New Zealand during his time there as a teacher. His own experience of a foreign culture has been the motivating factor behind him facilitating these exchanges.
Paul has also been able to use his knowledge of Japanese in part-time commitment as guardian and counselor for Japanese students living in Christchurch.
Paul puts to good use his knowledge of Japanese and the people skills he has learned as a result of living in Japan as he works as the Director and Dean of International Students at Lincoln High School. His experiences have given him valuable tools in dealing in the Japanese market particularly.
profiled by Cristina Huggins 2004
