Mark McCracken
Mark McCracken
日本語

9-18-101 Tachibana Chou, Leopalace Arufu 101, Higashi Osaka 579-8023
Cell Phone 070-1065-9237 (Japan cell)
mark@markmccracken.com (primary)
markmccracken65@gmail.com (back up)
markmccracken@gmail.com (back up)
facebook - linkedin



Education
  • Master of Arts in Education (M.Ed.) in Adult Education and Distance Learning, University of Phoenix. GPA 3.89/4.00
  • Bachelor of Arts, Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois, USA.
  • TEFL Certificate and Certificate in Teaching Business English (170-hour) ITTT - International TEFL and TESOL Training.
  • Japanese Language Program, YWCA Senmon Gakko, Osaka, Japan.
Select Work Experience

  • TOEFL and SAT Test Preparation Instructor
    TOFL Seminar
    Aug 2012 - Present
    Osaka, Japan
    Responsible for quickly raising TOEFL scores especially in Speaking and Independent and Integrated Writing classes. Worked primarily with Japanese students in the 80 to 110 TOEFL range. Taught SAT Preparation Reading classes. Dispatched to private and public high schools to teach in regular and extracurricular classes. Dispatched weekly for five years to outside school to teach 80-student classes of Chinese students. Taught both online and face-to-face classes.

  • Corporate ESL Trainer
    Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Apr 2007 - Present
    Osaka, Japan
    Mostly taught new hire intensives. Also taught pre-departure intensives for individual managers in both online and face-to-face classes.

  • Corporate ESL Trainer
    ALC Education Inc.
    Apr 1997 - Dec 2015
    Osaka, Japan
    Taught Business English in intensive and ongoing programs. Dispatched to Procter and Gamble Far East Inc., as a Finance Trainer. Taught financial concepts including the time value of money, annuities, perpetuities, kinds of interest rates, future value of an uneven cash flow, probability distribution, standard deviation, the capital asset pricing model, the security market line, bond valuation, stock valuation, the cost of capital, the balance sheet, and capital balancing.

  • Trainer
    Procter & Gamble
    Sep 2009 - Aug 2010
    Akashi, Japan
    Made strategic changes to training program aligning local training goals and measurements with corporate training goals - numerically measuring student improvement, relevance and application of training to each employee's job. Assessed business-based educational needs, created instructional material, organized training dates and facilities, conducted training in both physical and virtual classrooms, created interactive HTML-based tutorial programs, edited technical manufacturing and managerial documents, assisted in preparing immigration documents for intra-company transferees, created and delivered specialized courses for medical staff, warehouse management, and line workers.

  • Corporate ESL Trainer
    Excel International
    Apr 2006 - Mar 2008
    Osaka, Japan

  • Mortgage Broker
    Wall Street Mortgage
    Sep 1995 - Jun 1996
    Phoenix, Arizona

  • Corporate ESL Trainer
    Sumikin-Intercom, Inc.
    Jan 1992 - Sep 1995
    Osaka, Japan
    Developed new training materials including a four-week intensive English program.

  • English Teacher
    AEON Corporation
    Dec 1990 - Nov 1991
    Nishnomiya, Japan

  • Retail Manager
    Sears and Roebuck
    Jan 1990 - Jul 1990 · 7 mos
    Odessa, Texas Accountable for gross profit, sales volume, and motivation, evaluation, training and management of 15 salespeople. Managed reconstruction of sales area resulting in 10% sales increase. Won cash award for first place in district sales contest. Annual area sales volume - $3.8 million.

  • Retail Management Trainee
    Sears and Roebuck
    Jul 1988 - Jan 1990 · 1 yr 7 mos
    Phoenix, Arizona Area

Japanese English Translation and Rewriting
  • Rewriting - Able to take poorly constructed and unclear sentences written by native Japanese translators and rewrite them into clear, concise, understandable English. Material included annual reports, operation manuals, maintenance manuals, sales brochures, and business letters. Vendors include Business Associates Co., Ltd., in Tokyo, PROV in Tokyo, Crossroads in Osaka, and Intergroup in Osaka.
  • Translator - Able to translate digital text from Japanese to English.
Japanese Language Ability 2-Kyu
  • Speaking - Able to give 20-minute prepared speeches and answer commonly asked questions on a specialized topic at a native Japanese speaker speed. Able to discuss any topic with occasional use of a dictionary. Able to translate simple instructions into English or Japanese at a fast pace.
  • Listening - Able to understand and participate in most day-to-day office conversations. Able to understand conversations on any specialized topic if given time to study vocabulary.
  • Reading - Able to read and understand Japanese digital text.
  • Writing - Able to write understandable, though non-native Japanese using a computer.
Japanese Hospitality Industry

(1500 hours of part-time employment, 2000 to 2007). Speaking only in Japanese, able to meet with high profile clients, confirm details, lead groups of up to 70 guests in activites. Able to confer with and direct hotel staff as necessary to ensure high levels of customer satisfaction. Clients included Hilton Hotel Osaka, Hankyu International Osaka, and Himeji Royal Classic.

Media
  • Books
  • Magazines
    • "ATR Innovates," J@pan Inc. Magazine (January, 2004)
    • "Too Dangerous to Document?," J@pan Inc. Magazine (December, 2003)
    • "Young Japanese Men Pay Big Bucks for Vanity," J@pan Inc. Magazine (September, 2003)
    • "Robots That Can Follow the Bouncing Ball," J@pan Inc. Magazine (July, 2003)
    • "The Low Cost of Living in Japan," J@pan Inc. Magazine (May, 2003)
    • "日本語.com," J@pan Inc. Magazine (April, 2003)
    • "Feeding that Foreign TV Habit," J@pan Inc. Magazine (January, 2003)
    • "Drowning in Support?," J@pan Inc. Magazine (July, 2001)
    • "Besides Bit Valley," J@pan Inc. Magazine (September, 2000)
  • Movies
  • Television
    • 2014 Image, Charlie, Massan, NHK, Osaka
    • 2014 Extra, U.S. Soldier, Gochisousan, NHK, Osaka
    • 2013 Voiceover, Core Kyoto, (2 episodes) NHK, Osaka.
    • 2012 Image, Missing Scientist, Takajin No Money, TVOsaka.
    • 2010 Lip Syncing, Legends of Business (1 episode), NHK, Osaka
    • 2009 Lip Syncing, Legends of Business (5 episodes), NHK, Osaka
    • 2008 Lip Syncing, Netchu Jikan (2 episodes), NHK, Osaka
    • 2008 Extra, Lieutenant Colonel, Shirasu Jiro, NHK, Osaka
    • 2008 Extra, US Military Police Sergeant, Nikutai no Mon, TV Asahi, Kyoto.
    • 2005 Extra,40-year old man, NHK Documentary - Sawamura Eiji. Nara, Japan.
  • Radio
    • 2006 Voice, "Arigato Hamamura Jun Desu", MBS, Osaka
    • 1996 to 2007 Voice, FM802, Osaka Japan, Occasional transitional voices and characters. Sample 1 2 3 4 5
    • 1995-1997 FM802 News Announcer, Osaka, Japan. Read English headline news live on-air. sample
    • 1996 Producer, Host, Arizona Home Watch, Radio Station KXAM, Phoenix, Arizona. sample
    • 1982 to 1984 Radio Announcer, Radio Station WDGC, Downers Grove Illinois.
  • Commercial, Industrial and Promotional Videos
    • 2018 Voice, Takara Shuzo Promotional Video, Osaka
    • 2018 Voice, Koshin Promotional Video, Kyoto
    • 2018 Voice, Shimadzu Promotional Video, Osaka
    • 2018 Voice, Nagoya University School of Informatics Promotional Video, Osaka.
    • 2017 Voice, Yanmar Bio Innovation Center Kurashiki Laboratory Promotional Video, Osaka.
    • 2016 Voice, Oribest Promotional Video, Osaka.
    • 2016 Voice, H2O Retailing Corporation Promotional Video, Osaka
    • 2015 Voice, Nichia Coporation Promotional Video, Osaka
    • 2015 Voice, Obayashi Corporation Promotional Video, Okayama
    • 2015 Voice, K-MIX+ Promotional Video, Takamatsu
    • 2014 Voice, Kyocera Document Solutions Promotional Video, Osaka
    • 2014 Voice, Iwatani Corporation Promotional Video, Osaka
    • 2014 Voice, Nissho Corporation Promotional Video, Osaka
    • 2014 Voice, Obayashi Corporation Promotional Video, Okayama
    • 2014 Voice, Angel Playing Cards Promotional Video, Kyoto.
    • 2014 Voice, Qualicaps Promotional Video, Kyoto.
    • 2014 Voice, Koshin Promotional Video, Kyoto
    • 2014 Voice, Coretec Promotional Video, Osaka
    • 2013 Voice, Osaka University, Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology Video, Osaka
    • 2013 Vocal Alarm, Patlight, Osaka
    • 2013 Voice, Osaka University Video, Osaka.
    • 2013 Voice, Tantai Sentai Ren Ranger Commercial, Osaka (more)
    • 2013 Voice, Everloy Shoji, Co., Ltd. Promotional Video, Osaka.
    • 2013 Voice, Angel Playing Cards Promotional Video, Kyoto.
    • 2013 Voice, Kansai International Airport Promotional Video, Osaka.
    • 2013 Voice, Osaka International Airport Promotional Video, Osaka.
    • 2013 Voice, Fuji Honing Industries Ltd. Promotional Video, Osaka.
    • 2013 Voice, Oribest Promotional Video, Osaka.
    • 2013 Voice, Koshin Promotional Video, Kyoto.
    • 2012 Voice, Kanazawa Institute of Technology Video. Osaka.
    • 2012 Voice, Koshin Promotional Video, Kyoto.
    • 2012 Voice Actor, Father, Nestle Animation Project, Osaka.
    • 2012 Voice, Panasonic Khon Kaen Factory Promotional Video, Osaka.
    • 2012 Voice, Panasonic Industrial Devices Promotional Video, Osaka.
    • 2012 Voice, Panasonic Cordless Tools Promotional Video, Osaka.
    • 2012 Voice, Ibaraki City Environment and Hygiene Center Waste Treatment Plant Promotional Video, Osaka.
    • 2011 Voice, Hyogo Hyoban Corporation Promotional Video, Osaka.
    • 2011 Voice, Kogasaki Incineration Facility Promotional Video, Okayama.
    • 2011 Voice, Toyota Dealership Training Video, Osaka.
    • 2011 Voice, Takisawa Machine Tool Promotional Video, Okayama.
    • 2011 Voice, Diamond Electric Promotional Video, Kyoto.
    • 2010 Voice, Crestmuse Project Promotional Video, Osaka. Sample: 1 2
    • 2010 Voice, Osaka University Educational Video, Osaka
    • 2009 Voice, CTC-Japan Corporate Video, Osaka
    • 2008 Voice, GTR Tech Promotional DVD, Kyoto, Japan.
    • 2007 Voice, From A and From A Navi commercial, Osaka, Japan.
    • 2001 Voice, Koa Oil Company Ltd. Corporate Video, Osaka Japan
    • 2000 Voice, Tokusen Engineering Corporate Video, Osaka Japan
    • 2000 Voice, NeoGeo Pocket Audio's MP3 Demonstration, Osaka Japan
    • 1995 Actor, Foreign Businessman, Promotional Video, Tsuka-hon, Osaka, Japan. view
    • 1988 and 1989 Producer, Promotional Video - Procter and Gamble, Ft. Myers, Florida.
    • 1987 Actor, Student, AT&T Promotional Video, Peoria, Illinois.
    • 1986 Actor, Husband, Television Commercial, Steigers Furniture, Pekin, Illinois. view
    • 1986 Actor, Son, Television and Radio Commercial, Pekin Memorial Hospital, Pekin, Illinois.
  • Live Events
    • 2001 Presenter, Hello Kitty Gakuin, Asian Trade Center Hall, Osaka Japan.


Associations

Japan-American Society of Osaka.

Employability
  • Japan - Working Visa - Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Service until December 2024
  • United States - United States Citizen


Other Things I've Done:
  • Flown 508,717 miles, (map) including 57 trips across the Pacific Ocean.
  • Passed through immigration 90 times
  • Rang in the year 2000 in New York's Times Square
  • Walked over the Bridge Over the River Kwai



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About the author

Mark McCracken

Author: Mark McCracken is a corporate trainer and author living in Higashi Osaka, Japan. He is the author of thousands of online articles as well as the Business English textbook, "25 Business Skills in English".

Copyright © 2023 by Mark McCracken, All Rights Reserved