Michael Clemens

Kia ora! My name is Michael. I grew up in the South Canterbury countryside and now call Ōtautahi home.

The study of Japanese has been an adventure spanning two decades for me, and I’m excited to be sharing that passion at Risingholme. I lived in Tokyo and Sapporo for 5 years during which time I immersed myself in the language and culture of Japan. I explored as much as I could, seeking out hot springs and traditional architecture whilst there. I experienced jobs as varied as a facial recognition software model, a rice planter and a cafe server, but the main work that I did was teaching English to students of all ages.

I love both teaching and learning. It enriches our lives, challenges us and opens unexpected doors.

In my spare time I like to hike, ride my bicycle, read books and attempt to garden.