About Us: Shane Training Center

Shane Training Center (STC) has been providing English language teaching and training since 1977. STC has been providing the CertTESOL since 2006, and the TCL Diploma TESOL since 2009. It is the only Trinity accredited centre in Japan, dedicated to promoting and fostering teacher development.

Our goal is to provide focused training to ensure teachers are the best they can be and for continued professional development.

STC is part of Shane English School (SESJ) a well-established and respected chain of EFL schools in Japan established in 1977. SESJ is part of the local neighbourhood, providing a friendly, professional service to various learners of all ages and levels. A great emphasis is placed on providing a good quality, good value, caring service to learners.

As part of the Z- kai Group we are dedicated to the development of educators, future leaders who will contribute to social innovation and progress. Z-kai was established in 1931 (as “Jitsuryoku-Zoshin-kai”) developing correspondence courses. It has since expanded into cram schools, publishing, etc. Today the Z-kai Group now comprises 26 companies (over 3,000 employees) and has evolved into a comprehensive educational group offering an extensive variety of services aimed at a wide range of customers, from preschoolers to adults.

STC offers a new exciting personalised prospective to how to teach with schedules designed to meet individual needs. We aim to empower people to achieve their aims teaching English. We combine TESOL methodology with local knowledge to offer a variety of courses and teaching/learning insights, including bespoke courses designed to meet your exact needs.

Our Tutors

All our trainers hold a minimum of a level 7 (Ofqual) Post-graduate Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (DipTESOL) and have upwards of 6 years’ experience in the field of ESOL teaching and teacher training.

Sophia McMillan

Training Manager / TESOL Course Director

Sophia has been teaching English for many years, in a variety of setting including the UK, Egypt, Japan and Taiwan. Sophia has a great deal of experience teaching a variety of learner types from very young learners, young learners, teens, adults and exam preparation courses along with business and ESP in both the private and public sector. Sophia has been training for STC since 2009.

Gavin Addison

Teacher Trainer

Gavin brings more than 10 years of experience in various teaching and training roles. Gavin has extensive experience with children from the ages of 3 to 11, Junior High School and High School learners to the age of 18, and adults of all levels, from foundation to advanced, in both the private and public sector. Gavin has been instrumental in helping implement Japanese school curriculums. Gavin is also a qualified Cambridge speaking examiner.