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Faculty Feature: Paul Embleton

A Colorado native who grew up skiing in Winter Park, Mr. Embleton has quickly become a fixture of Richardson Hall. His students know him for his relaxed and friendly presence, his skilfull use of technology in the classroom, and for the slang with which he peppers lectures on literary devices or geometric tesselations. Many know him for his kindness, enthusiasm and pedagogical curiosity, but fewer know about a particularly rich educational experience that informs his work at DA: his two years teaching with the JET program in Kyoto, Japan.  

Since 1978, the JET (Japan Exchange in Teaching) Program has placed exceptional young educators from the U.S., Canada, and over thirty other countries in Japanese public schools with that aim of offering Japanese students the best possible opportunity to learn English.  

From 2011 to 2013, Mr. Embleton worked in a Kyoto high school with a science-based English curriculum. He says that working with ESL students challenged him every day to think of new ways to communicate content, and to refine and adapt his in-class vocabulary. While it wasn’t always easy teaching across a language divide, the educational flexibility Mr. Embleton developed in Japan certainly continues to benefit him in his role at DA, where he strives to differentiate instruction for his students each and every day.  

Beyond the classroom learning experiences, Mr. Embleton also had the opportunity to work closely with an experienced Japanese homeroom teacher on curriculum design, to learn from the inside how Japan approaches education, and to gain the multicultural perspective and appreciation that comes with spending an extended period in a foreign country.  

“Sometimes I’d find myself riding home at night on my bicycle, passing these centuries-old Buddhist temples, and I’d think to myself, this is where I live! One of the most beautiful cities in the world!” Mr. Embleton recalls.  

Indeed, Kyoto, with its Cherry Blossom trees and over four-thousand temples, is often considered the “cultural capital” of Japan.

His wife also taught in the JET program, and when they weren’t busy planning lessons and working with the students, they explored Japan and surrounding Asian countries together. During their two years overseas they visited Tokyo, Osaka, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Thailand.  

But the best part about living in Japan, besides its rich history and opportunities for travel throughout Asia? That’s easy: the food! Specifically, tonkotsu ramen, prepared with a pork-bone broth and topped with an onsen egg. It’s a dish that Mr. Embleton now seeks out at Japanese restaurants throughout the Denver area, and it will always serve him as a reminder of his days in Kyoto.  

We are pleased to have brought Mr. Embleton into our ranks here at DA, and are thankful for his creative, energetic, and culturally-aware teaching.
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