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27GSICCS | Career PathsCareer PathsTake an inside look at the GSICCS experience.ITO, Yurika from JapanMaster’s Program Directed Research: Teaching English As a Second LanguageI graduated from GSICCS in September 2018 and am currently working as an English teacher at a Japanese private high school. Although I did not have much teaching experience, GSICCS de nitely helped me prepare for my current job. I belonged to the Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) seminar which focused mainly on second language learning and teaching. Since I took various classes related to this eld of study at GSICCS, I was able to deepen my understanding of the theoretical aspects of second language learning and teaching, which is essential knowledge for an English teacher. At GSICCS, there are so many wonderful professors, students, and of ce staff, which I think is one of the best features of this graduate school. Dr. Stockwell, the supervisor of my seminar, is one of the most brilliant educators and researchers that I have ever encountered. He has not only given me guidance and support in my academic studies but also in other aspects of my life. He has inspired me to be an English teacher as well as pursue a Ph.D. at GSICCS and my current goal is to be an educator and researcher like him. The other professors teaching at GSICCS have also taught me so much about each of their areas of expertise, including linguistics, applied linguistics, and cultural studies. Studying in a diverse and intellectually-stimulating environment where I was surrounded by people who were from various countries has shown me the importance of intercultural communication. What I want to teach my students is the importance of learning English so that they will be able to communicate with people outside of Japan. I can con dently say that my time at GSICCS would not have been half as great if it were not for these wonderful people.LAVELLE, Isabelle from FranceDoctoral program Directed Research: Japan StudiesGSICCS can offer you the optimal conditions to thrive as a young researcher. Doing a Ph.D. can be a long and harrowing process and should be about much more than acquiring knowledge. The people you meet along the way and share your research with are crucial to helping you reach the level of understanding needed for completing a thesis you can be proud of. The Ph.D. candidates I met at GSICCS had a true commitment to academic excellence and intellectual curiosity. The professors had a very strong vision for their future doctors. They helped me navigate the many challenges of academic research, supported me in scholarship and job applications, but above all, they taught me independence. This is invaluable because, as Ph.D. candidates and aspiring academics, we navigate a delicate balance between self-doubts and self-con dence. Attending international symposiums and workshops, we are expected to present research that is personal and original; we need to convince the world and mostly ourselves that we are accomplished researchers. And yet, we desperately need guidance in order to hone our very own academic voice. I found at GSICCS professors and staff who were passionate about creating the kind of protected freedom that gave me the tools to become an independent researcher with my distinctive voice. Doing research in English is part of this process. Beyond easing communication and opening up a wealth of knowledge from different cultures and languages, nding our voices in English from the very beginning of our lives as researchers allows us to be part from the start of this international academic space where the very best research happens. Today, I am Assistant Professor with publications in three languages and I teach undergraduate students from all over the world.