Will Marshall, who graduated from Ohio State this spring with a degree in Molecular Genetics and a minor in Philosophy, received an award from the Japanese Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) to be an Assistant Language Teacher in Tokyo, Japan this year. JET, the only teaching exchange program managed by the Japanese government, connects awardees from around to globe with work opportunities in Japan’s schools, boards of education, and government offices. Marshall gained teaching experience by volunteering at the Third Hand Bike Co-op helping bikers gain hands-on knowledge of bike repair. He also supported science learning at his high school visiting biology classes to give presentations on his research and science career paths. He’ll get a chance to put his teaching skills to use in Japan, combining his hands-on learning strategies with his presentation skills to craft an engaging English language learning curriculum.
As an Honors student at Ohio State, Marshall was the Outdoor Chair of the Ohio State Climbing Club and participated in the Mountaineers Club. His love of climbing and the outdoors has led him to a passion for sustainability that he plans to follow in his career path. Through his time in Japan, he is excited to learn more about Japan’s environmental policy and geography and explore National Parks.
Outside of his science major and environmental interests, Marshall has an interest in the arts and humanities. Taking an Asian Philosophies course at Ohio State sparked his interest in Asian religions such as Japan’s Buddhism and Shintoism. Additionally, Marshall was actively involved in dance communities in Columbus learning everything from West Coast Swing, to Brazilian Zouk to Latin dance as a way to connect to people across cultures and communities.
Looking forward to his travel to Japan, Marshall says “I am most excited to develop my teaching skills and to explore Japan and Asia during JET! With my assignment in Tokyo, I will be able to soak up the world’s largest city while also exploring the rest of Japan and central/southeast Asia. I can’t wait to dive into this new challenge!”