Kiyo Roddis

Publication

• Date
• Type

Teaching

I currently teach Languages for All Japanese modules.

Biography

I was born and grew up in the Osaka region of Japan. I graduated from Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto with a BA in English and American Literature. After university, I worked for a major Japanese retail company for 8 years. Following this, I took part in an overseas voluntary scheme at schools in England and Wales, where I taught Japanese culture and language. This experience inspired me to pursue a career in education.

After the volunteering scheme, I briefly worked for an educational travel agency in Japan, before coming to Cardiff in 2004 to study for a Master’s degree in Education. My research explored the relationship between globalisation and the experience of international students at UK universities. Subsequently, I qualified as a Japanese language teacher and began my teaching career at Cardiff University.

Education and qualifications

• 2025: Fellowship of Advance HE (FHEA)
• 2007: Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language, IIEL, UK
• 2006: MSc in Education, Cardiff University (both taught modules and dissertation awarded distinction)
• 1993: BA in English and American Literature, Ritsumeikan University, Japan

Career overview

• 2014 - present: Teacher/Tutor in Japanese, School of Modern Languages, Cardiff University
• 2008 - 2012: Teacher/Teaching Associate in Japanese, Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University

Honours and awards

• 2023: Recognition Award, The Language Centre, University of Oxford
• 2017: Outstanding Contribution Award, Cardiff University
• 2012: Certificate of Excellence in Teaching, Cardiff University

Professional memberships

• 2025 - present: Associate Member of The Association of Japanese Language Teachers in Europe (AJE) 
• 2014 - present: Institutional Member of The Association of University Language Communities (AULC)
• 2011 - present: Member of The British Association for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language (BATJ)

Academic positions

• 2014 - present: Teacher/Tutor in Japanese, School of Modern Languages, Cardiff University
• 2024 - present: Departmental Tutor in Japanese, The Language Centre, Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford 
• 2022 - 2024: Japanese Tutor, The Language Centre, University of Oxford
• 2021 - 2022: Adjunct Lecturer in Japanese, Hochschule Bremen City University of Applied Sciences
• Jan - Jul 2019: Lecturer in Japanese, School of Modern Languages, Cardiff University
• 2008 - 2012: Teacher/Teaching Associate in Japanese, Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University

Speaking engagements

• Apr 2022: ‘Adapting an existing pedagogical approach to a digital context: taking ‘Personalised’ writing activities as an example’, The 23^rd AULC Annual Conference, Nottingham University (online presentation)
• Sep 2020: ‘The Benefits of class-based ‘Self-expressive Writing’ Activity in Beginners Language Courses: enhancing learning experience and outcomes’, The XVI CercleS International Conference, Masaryk University, Czech Republic (online presentation)
• Jan 2020: ‘Teaching and Learning Pronunciation and Prosody through Discovery and Kinaesthetic Modalities’. The 21^st AULC Annual Conference, Maynooth University, Ireland
• Oct 2019: ‘My Journey Through Cultures and Languages’. RICE Conference, UWC Atlantic College
• Jun 2019: ‘Teaching and Learning Grammar Implicitly and Effectively through Contextualisation and Personalisation: A case-study from UWLP Japanese courses’, The 6^th Colloquium on Innovation in Modern Languages Education, University of Exeter
• Jan 2019: ‘Character Teaching: A case-study of Mandarin & Japanese ab-initio classes: Supporting and enhancing language use beyond the classroom’ (co-presentation), The 20^th AULC Annual Conference, King’s College London
• Sep 2017: ‘Teaching Kana Skills Effectively from ab initio Stages: As part of support for learner-centred and comprehensive learning’, The 4^th Cardiff Symposium on Applied Linguistics and Japanese Pedagogy, Cardiff University
• Aug 2017: ‘An Experiment of Effective Pronunciation Training in Japanese Beginners Classes: Learning through discovery and kinaesthetic modalities’, The 20^th BATJ Annual Conference, York St John University
• Jun 2017: The 4^th Colloquium on Innovation in Modern Languages Education, Cardiff University, ‘The Benefits of Class-based ‘Self-expressive Writing Activity’: Practical Report from LfA Japanese Beginners Courses’ (co-presentation).
• Aug 2016: ‘The Benefits of ‘Writing Activity’ at a Japanese Beginners Class: An experiment of introducing self-expressive writing tasks in Kana’ (co-poster presentation), The 19^th BATJ Annual Conference, University of East Anglia
• Jun 2016: ‘To maximise language learners’ potential through a learners-oriented approach: a case from LfA Japanese courses’ (co-presentation), School of Modern Languages Showcasing Scholarship event, Cardiff University
• May 2016: ‘Rapport de la pratique de l’enseignement des kana en utilisant la méthode Silent Way aux apprenants de niveau débutant’ (Practical report regarding teaching Kana at beginner level), Association des Enseignants de Japonais en France (AEJF) Study Seminar, University of Nantes, France