PROFILE
Masumi Ormandy マスミ オーマンディ
Vocalist Masumi Ormandy is first and foremost an English language educator. She is the co-founder of Tokyo-based Pacific Language School (PLS). With a rich 42-year operating history that has seen the PLS brand spread nationwide to over 50 sister schools which have adopted the PLS curriculum, Masumi currently serves as the Vice principal of the school, and heads the Institute of PLS English Education. She has written and co-authored several books and educational aids. A small sample of her works can be found on this website.
When not working directly with PLS, Masumi travels around Japan as a consultant to English conversation schools, kindergartens, nursery, elementary, middle and high schools, who draw upon her knowledge and experience in the field of English language education. She lectures on teaching philosophy and techniques, as well as helping train the younger generation of both foreign and Japanese teachers of English.
In recent years, Masumi has been a dedicated student of music and singing, and has had several sojourns in Italy, learning the unique flavor of music there, as well as studying the language itself. During this time, she engaged with the local schools, teachers and children – and the educator in her quickly realized that the PLS System could be adapted to teach English to Italian students, as well.
Masumi’s self-challenge to become a vocalist stems not only from her love of singing, but from her desire to demonstrate that music, learning languages, especially English, and international cultural engagement can play key roles in understanding the world, regardless of age, gender or nationality. "Learning good English is a current educational necessity" she says. “It’s the "passport" to a world of opportunities and the realization your dreams."
BIOGRAPHY
Educational speeches, lectures, and seminars (selected excerpts)
| -1980- | ||
| August | Tokyo – Gave a presentation at the National Conference for SELEC (Society of English Language Education for Children) | |
| -1995- | ||
| February | Tokyo – Trained Japanese English Teachers at the YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association) | |
| May | Tokyo – Gave a presentation: “Language Acquisition Level After 210 Hours of Class?” at the national conference for JASTEC (Japanese Association for the Study of Teaching English to Children) | |
| June | Class of elementary students at Pacific Language School Tokyo featured on NHK (Japanese Broadcasting Corporation) television program “Ohayou Nippon” (Good Morning Japan) | |
| July | Hiroshima – Participated in the panel discussion at JALT Hiroshima (The Japan Association of Language Teachers): “An Outline of Goals & Strategies for the Teaching of English to Elementary School Children in Japan” | |
| -1996- | ||
| February | Tokyo – Gave a lecture at CALA (Communication and Language Associates) | |
| June | Tokyo – Gave a lecture at the Tokyo Educators Conference for the Japan Private Elementary School Federation: “Student Centered Activities” | |
| October | Nagasaki – Gave a presentation at the Wesleyan Junior College Language Research Department | |
| -1997- | ||
| Oct | China, Shanghai – Observed English classes at Baoshan District Third Primary School, and gave a practical training seminar for educators | |
| April to March of 1998 | Authored, “Masumi Ormandy’s Sounds of English” for the Asahi Elementary Student Newspaper, and acted as editor for the phonics corner on the Asahi television series, “Eigo Kids” | |
| - 1998- | ||
| February | Tokyo – Gave a seminar for CALA | |
| June | Tokyo – Gave a presentation at the JASTEC national conference: “The State of English Education in Shanghai, China – With Class Video and Commentary by Masumi Ormandy” | |
| Okinawa – Gave a presentation at the JASTEC Kyushu conference: “Effective Use of Activities That Teach Communicative Abilities” | ||
| October | Nagasaki – Gave a workshop at JALT Nagasaki: “The PLS Approach to Teaching English to Children” | |
| December | Saitama, Tokyo – Gave a workshop for AETs (Assistant English Teachers) and JTEs (Japanese Teachers of English) | |
| -1999- | ||
| May | Shizuoka – Lecture at the Fuji Chamber of Commerce & Industry: “Regarding English Education for Children” | |
| November | Nagano, Matsumoto – Gave a lecture for the Association of Parents Concerned With English Education: “Regarding International Understanding and Education” | |
| Shizuoka – Gave a lecture at Ofuji Elementary School: “Communication and Foreign Culture” | ||
| -2000- | ||
| June | Osaka – Gave a presentation at the JASTEC National Conference: “The Importance of Input, and The Inevitable Resulting Output” | |
| July | Nara – Gave a lecture hosted by the association of national public and private kindergartens in Nara City, titled: “Raising Japanese Youth to be International Citizens”, and featuring a demo class by Aizen Kindergarten. | |
| -2003- | ||
| June | Osaka – Gave a presentation at the JASTEC national conference: “Practical English Activities in Private Schools – 4th Graders with the Ability to Speak English Proactively” | |
| October | Shizuoka – Speaker at panel discussion at the JASTEC 23rd Fall Research Symposium: “What We Seek in Elementary School Educators” | |
| December | Shizuoka – Gave lectures: “The Real Goal of Foreign Language Education” and “Anecdotal Experiences with Foreign Cultures” | |
| -2004- | ||
| February | Ibaraki, Kashima – Speaker at panel discussion at Children’s English Lecture Conference: “The 21st Century is a Generation Where Expression is Essential” | |
| November | Nagano, Shimosuwa – Gave a lecture: “Expectations for Elementary School English – Fun Ways to Foster Communicational Abilities – Shimosuwa Children Learning English” | |
| -2007- | ||
| February | Authored, "Passport to the World" published by Dorimu-Sha | |
| July | Aichi – Gave a presentation at the JASTEC Chubu Branch Summer Conference: “What Have Been the Results of Elementary School English Education in Japan?” | |
| -2009- | ||
| February | Shizuoka – Gave a presentation at the JASTEC Chubu Branch Winter Conference, under the theme of, “Knowledge for Homeroom Teachers Continuing English Activities” | |
| Symposium speech: “English Activities in the Present, and Prospects for the Future” | ||
| -2011- | ||
| November | Authored “A Book for Mothers Who Want to Foster Their Children’s English Ability” published by Aspect | |
| December | Tokyo – Spoke at the symposium, “Children’s Futures and English” together with Dr. Mineo Nakajima, former president of Akita International University and Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. | |
| -2012- | ||
| March | Nagano, Minowa Town – Gave speech at the “Wa no Kai” education symposium: “Discussion of Initial Year of Compulsory English Classes”, promoted by the Shinano Mainichi Newspaper. | |
| October | Authored, “Mothers, Be Ambitious!” published by Aspect | |
| -2014- | ||
| February | Osaka – Speaker at panel discussion: “Learning That Translates Worldwide – Thinking About 21st Century Elementary School Education” | |
| Hosted by Osaka Hatsushiba Gakuen with support from the Sakai Board of Education. | ||
| June | Gave a lecture and sang at the English and Music Event: “Ever Growing Dreams, to an Ever More Connected World” | |
| Hosted by NPO New Life Kashima 21 with support from the Kashima Board of Education | ||
| September | Northern Italy – Led a group tour which included observation of English education (ten days), visiting private and public schools, kindergarten, elementary, junior high and high schools, including a courtesy call on the mayor of Limone. |
Cultural Activities (selected excerpts) – including organized events, guest appearances, and co-starred events
| -2011- | ||
| Jun 14th | Tokyo, Roppongi – Singer at “Early Summer Concert” at Chansonnier Pigalle | |
| Jul 10th | Tokyo, Roppongi – Singer at “Summer Afternoon Concert” at Chansonnier Pigalle | |
| Nov 13th | Tokyo, Ginza – Singer at “Autumn Concert” at Hatapoppo | |
| Nov 27th | Tokyo, Ginza – Singer at a mini-concert at Tsukiyo no Koneko | |
| Dec 11th | Tokyo, Minato – Singer at “Christmas Concert” at the Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa | |
| -2012- | ||
| Jan 8th | Tokyo, Shinjuku – Singer at “New Year Concert” at Shinjuku Champagne | |
| Feb 17th | Kyoto – Singer at “Winter Concert” at Pariyaro | |
| Mar 11th | Tokyo, Setagaya – Singer at “Charity Concert” at Seijo Hall | |
| Jun 24th | Tokyo, Ginza – Singer at “Early Summer Concert” at Chansonnier Hatopoppo | |
| Jul 16th | Tokyo, Ueno – Singer at “Summer Afternoon Concert” at Live Space Qui | |
| Dec 16th | Tokyo, Yotsuya – Singer at “Christmas Concert” at Una Canzone | |
| Dec 21st | Kyoto – Singer at “Christmas Concert” at Pariyaro | |
| -2013- | ||
| Jan 25th | Tokyo, Aoyama – Singer at “Singing of New Spring Happiness” at Aoyama Robin’s Club | |
| Jun 13th | Tokyo, Akasaka – Sang at the PLS 40th Anniversary Celebration mini-concert at Capitol Tokyu | |
| Jun 27th | Tokyo, Yokohama – Singer at a mini-concert at Chansonnier Dumont | |
| October 20th | Nagano – Singer at “A Charming Night of Canzone” at Xiv Tateshina | |
| -2014- | ||
| Jan 10th | Tokyo, Ueno – Singer at “New Year Concert” at Live House Qui | |
| Jan 21th | Tokyo, Meguro – Singer at “New Spring Chanson Concert 1” at Kahoo | |
| Jan 26th | Tokyo, Meguro – Singer at “New Spring Chanson Concert 2” at Kahoo | |
| May 31st | Kanagawa, Kugenuma – Singer at “An Evening of French and Canzone” at Mikasa Kaikan | |
| Jun 7th | Ibaraki, Kashima – Gave a speech: “Ever Growing Dreams, To An Ever More Connected World” and sang at the mini-concert: “To The Future” at the Ono Fureai Center | |
| Jun 29th | Tokyo, Kichijoji – Speaker at panel discussion: “English: Passport to the World” with Dr, Muneo Yoshikawa, and sang at the accompanying mini-concert at the Kichijoji Tokyu Inn | |
| Jul 6th | Tokyo, Ebisu – Singer at “Summer Concert” in Ebisu | |
| Nov 15th | Nagano – Singer at the “Talk & Dinner Show” at the Hotel Beniya | |
| -2015- | ||
| Jan 29th | Tokyo, Shibuya – Singer at “Masumi Night” at Live House Encore Shibuya | |
| Feb 26th | Tokyo, Shibuya – Singer at “Masumi Night 2” at Live House Encore Shibuya | |
| Jun 12th | Tokyo, Gakugei-Daigaku – Guest singer at the Gakugei-Daigaku Asian Cafe | |
| Jun 18th | Tokyo, Roppongi – Guest singer at Roppongi KNOB | |
| Jun 27th | Tokyo, Yotsuya – Guest singer at the Diamond Club | |
| Jul 14th | Tokyo, Ueno – Guest singer at Ueno Aries | |
| Dec 13th | Kanagawa, Hakone - Christmas Special Joint Live and Twilight Dinner | |
| Dec 23rd | Tokyo, Roppongi - "Masumi NightⅢ" at Knob | |
| -2016- | ||
| 2016.2.28 | That’s Me JZ Brat | |
| 2016.6.17 | Tokyo, Roppongi - On the Sunny Side of the Street at All of Me Club | |
| Aug 3rd | Kanagawa, Karuizawa - Masumi Ormandy Summer Concert | |
| Sep 16th | CD Release - "Sunshine in Manhattan" - Published by Miles High Records (NY) | |
| Oct 17th-22nd | Sunshine in Manhattan CD Launch Event in NYC | |
| Dec 3rd | Kanagawa, Hakone - "Christmas Special Joint Live and Twilight Dinner" at Venetial Glass Museum |