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William
James Hofius (a.k.a. Bill-sensei)
The Blake School, 511 Kenwood Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(952) 988-3796
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Welcome to my Homepage!
My name is Bill Hofius. Hajimemashite. Dozou yorushiku!
For over six years, I lived in Japan and taught English. Just about anyone with a college degree can be hired to teach English in Japan. However, unlike many English teachers in Japan, I was a licensed teacher. (I hold certification from the State of Minnesota in secondary social studies and secondary speech communication.)
During my first two years in Japan, I worked as a English conversation school teacher. (In Japanese, 英会話の先生, "Eikaiwa no sensei.") Eikaiwas are private, for profit institutions. Students come to an eikaiwa to practice their speaking skills. In a nut shell, these students pay money to chat with an English speaking foreigner for an hour or so. How much actual learning that takes place is debatable.
During my last four years in Japan, I was employed by Osaka-fu Public Schools as an NET (Native English Teacher). NETs teach English at public high schools in Osaka Prefecture. Typically NETs teach at a "base school" 2 to 4 days a week and then teach at different "visit schools" the other days. During my tenure, my base schools were Shinoda High School and Izumitottori High School.
On March 31, 2001, my tenure as an NET ended. Despite an ever-increasing emphasis on English education in Japan, budgetary realities have forced Osaka-fu to reduce the number of NETs every year. I was one of the casualities for the 2001-2002 school year.
From September 2001 I began working at The Blake School. Working at the Upper School Campus in Minneapolis, I began my Blake career as a part-time employee in charge of the Classroom Computer Lab who also dabbled as a substitute teacher and assistant speech coach. Fortune smiled upon me and I was offered a full-time position for the 2002-2003 school year. This position involves doing a little bit of this, and a little bit of that which you can see below.
This homepage is a work in progress. While you are here, why not check out one of the current features playing at Bill's Bondi-Vision Theater? Of course, you are welcome to browse the pictures in one of the (many) photo albums.
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The School:
The Blake School, Upper School Campus
511 Kenwood Parkway
Minneapolis, MN 55403
The Position:
-Assistant Technology Specialist
-Pyschology of Communications Instructor
-Assistant Debate Coach, Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Assistant Speech Coach
Education:
Bachelor of Science (Teaching),
Social Studies: History
Mankato State University, December 1993
Bachelor of Science (Teaching)
Speech Communication
Mankato State University, December 1993
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Assembly Speeches This Week:
Tests
Subject, Date and Time Subject, Date and Time
Special Projects
Special project name, Date
Special Event Field Trips
Location, Date, Time, Details
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