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About Global Language and Culture

Global Language and Culture (GLAC) was established in 2002 as a bridge between Australia and Japan.
We started as an international family with a love for both nations but soon realised that through teaching about Japan,
we could open a bigger world to the Australian society around us.

Not only was GLAC created to teach Japanese language, but to provide a cultural learning context that would give life to words, script and expressions learned.
We are eager to see humans communicating effectively with each other as culturally sensitive and flexible people. We want to produce world citizens.
It is also important for us to show the chain of connectedness of the myriad diverse cultures and languages of earth – starting with Japan.

Although the traditional core focus of GLAC has been Japanese language and culture education,
martial arts and homestay organisation for the Australian-Japanese market, we hope to connect with a larger world.
With your patronage and support, we will steadily become more global.

EDUCATORS






Stephen Grant   


Stephen has over 20 years language teaching experience, ranging from K-12 (public and private in Australia and Japan) to TAFE, WEA and university level on NSW.
He was Head of Japanese at St Philip's Christian College (Port Stephens Campus) from 2011 to 2016.

Stephen lived in Japan with his wife and children for ten years until 2002. During that time, he received black belts in two martial arts,
studied calligraphy and was a respected member of the teaching team at the elite Tōkō Gakuen High School in Kawasaki City.
He was EFL Coordinator at Tōkō Gakuen, where he taught English to Middle School and Senior School, ran English Club
and taught homestay English in preparation for annual school trips to the USA.
Stephen was responsible for the living English curriculum for Years 7 through 12.

Since returning to Australia, he developed a martial arts system that engages a wide range of young people.
The syllabus requires not only martial arts skill but also an increasing level of Japanese language, Asian cultural awareness, social development and mentoring responsibilities.
Stephen was awarded the 2016 Outstanding Educator Award from the NSW Modern Language Teachers Association and was a Committee member throughout 2016.

He established the Japanese Cultural Society, based on the above system and its benefits were first recognised by the New South Wales Department of Education in 2005.
Stephen then headed all Japanese programmes successfully at SPCC.

Stephen connected PDHPE with language through martial arts and worked aggressively to see healthy house spirit.
He was Housemaster of Zenith (sporting) House of St Philip’s Christian College until December 2016 and constantly promoted creativity in order to encourage the house at school events.

He enjoys eating out, art, design and language. Stephen listens to Folk Metal, late 80s and early 90s music.

He loves teaching and is intrinsically motivated. His passion drives his work and vice versa.
Accolades are nice but concrete support of his work from colleagues and community is the better.






Mika Grant   


A native of Tōkyō, Mika has over 12 years of experience as a Japanese chef in Australia.
She holds a 2nd Dan in Shodō (brush calligraphy) and a teacher’s license in Sadō (Japanese tea ceremony).
She is the architect of Global Language and Culture programmes relating to Japanese food preparation, Shodō, Sadō and origami.
She has conducted cultural incursions into schools and has also taught Japanese in the Australian school system.
Mika enjoys eating out, loves animals and plants, and is interested in nutrition and home design.
She has an easy-going personality with a caring concern for all people.
She is committed to helping Australians appreciate Japanese culture and loves connecting Australia with Japan.