Hi! My name’s Janina Ueda Tubby and I’m owner/principal at KOBILS. I have always wanted to teach, since I was a small child, and I started this school because there was nothing like it in Kobe, and maybe nothing like it in Japan! I wanted a place where children could learn English in English and learn to love learning, where they could meet other English speaking children, and really have fun, communicate and enjoy academic success in English. KOBILS is this place!

I came to Japan almost 20 years ago after graduating from Keele University and then taking a post-graduate University of Cambridge/Royal Society of Arts teaching certificate. I came here to teach English, and planned to stay two years, but I felt at home as soon as I stepped off the shinkansen in Osaka!

At first I taught in Osaka and Kobe at language schools, and then kid's schools, in company, online, and at university. So I had quite a varied experience before I took the plunge and realized my life-long dream by opening my own small school seven years ago.

I love teaching – it’s a passion - and I like learning too! So that’s what KOBILS is built on – a love of teaching and learning. I am also co-coordinator of ETJ (English Teachers in Japan) Kobe and an active member of the Japan Association of Language Teachers. I am a volunteer leader of an English speaking blind group, which I have been doing for more than 15 years! And I teach 5th and 6th grade as a volunteer at our local shougakko. I also present regularly at conferences and as a guest lecturer at universities. Since coming to Japan I have taken the University of Cambridge diploma in Teaching and later became a local trainer for the course. I have also taken several courses at master’s degree level.

I live locally with my Japanese husband and two bilingual children. On the weekends, while each member of the family has their own interests, we all enjoy cycling, hiking, reading and movies. Oh, and in the summer we love to swim!