Graduate Profiles

Japanese Graduate Profile: Dani Coplon

Dani Coplon

Japanese language education

Secondary:

Completed five years of Japanese at high school followed by a further year in school in Japan as a Rotary exchange student

 Tertiary -completed at Massey University

Bachelor of Arts in Japanese history, language and literature

Post Graduate Diploma of Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language

Master of Arts specialising in Japanese and Women's Studies. Thesis title: Comparative analysis of equal employment opportunities law and policy

 Motivation to learn Japanese

Dani's initial interest in Japanese was sparked when her older sister went to Japan on an exchange and she naively thought she would not be able to speak to her on her return. She was fascinated by Japanese culture and tradition and holds on to the principles of gimu and giri to centre her in her daily life.

 Employment

Dani's graduate study at university in particular has helped her to apply thorough research skills and analysis in her work in strategic procurement and operations at the Ministry of Education. Dani's Japanese studies exposed her to information about law, policy and strategy and she learnt to source information from multiple places. Dani can see herself continuing to work for the government in education.

 Time spent in Japan

As well as the year spent on the as a Rotary International scholar, Dani has visited Japan on numerous short trips during university holidays to maintain her Japanese language skills.

 Contact details

Dani completed her studies in 2000 and can be contacted on dani.coplon@polehouse.co.nz