Teacher Bios
Founder
Kimberly Funasaki earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in both Mandarin Chinese and Japanese at Georgetown University. She studied and worked in both China and Japan before earning her MBA at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, completing coursework in Chinese. She used both languages when working for various international companies over a decade in Silicon Valley. Kimberly is the mother of three children, and has been exposing them to the sounds of foreign languages from the time they were infants. She combines her passion for languages with her love of children in opening the Little Ambassadors school.
Kimberly Funasaki earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in both Mandarin Chinese and Japanese at Georgetown University. She studied and worked in both China and Japan before earning her MBA at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, completing coursework in Chinese. She used both languages when working for various international companies over a decade in Silicon Valley. Kimberly is the mother of three children, and has been exposing them to the sounds of foreign languages from the time they were infants. She combines her passion for languages with her love of children in opening the Little Ambassadors school.
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Japanese
Kazumi Cabansag (Kazumi Sensei) is the lead teacher in our Japanese Immersion Preschool. She brings years of Early Childhood Education experience (both local and international) to our program. She is the mother of three little boys, and conducts class in an animated manner to keep all entertained. Please come and see for yourselves! Tamiko Sakamoto (Tamiko Sensei) was born and raised in Japan and came to Hawaii in 1993. She has 3 children who are all bilingual in Japanese and English. She has experience teaching Japanese language to preschoolers through 5th graders. Tamiko Sensei has also received her Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential and has worked with children for over 8 years, including at Camp Penguin Kids’ Club in the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Takumi Asakura (Takumi Sensei) earned certificates in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Intervention from Santa Monica College after graduating from college in Osaka, Japan. She has over 15 years of experience teaching Japanese, including art and music (she plays piano and ukulele, and does pottery and calligraphy). Kids love her positive attitude and enthusiasm! |
Chinese
Annie Kao (Gao Laoshi) is a native speaker of Chinese who recently moved to Hawaii from Okinawa. She is originally from Taiwan, and there earned educational training certification from the United States Marine Corps for the Children, Youth, and Teen Programs as a Program Technician. Little Ambassadors' children (and parents!) all seem to love her open and welcoming nature, and the way that she structures class. She also follows up with parents on a weekly basis. There is no question that all are learning and having fun with Gao Laoshi. |
Spanish
Mitsue Tomala (Tia Mitsue) is a wonderful addition to our Spanish program. She is trilingual--in addition to having grown up speaking Spanish, she also is fluent in Japanese and English! She attended the Universidad San Martin De Porres, has 2 children, and has tutored Spanish while living in Japan. Bienvenido a Tía Mitsue! Korean Soon Ae Kim (Soon Ae Seon-saeng-nim) joins our Little Ambassadors family as an extremely experienced, cheerful, and energetic Korean teacher. She graduated from Singu College and Korea National Open University with degrees in Early Childhood Education, and also earned a diploma of Early Childhood Education from Stanton University in California. She has years of experience as a preschool teacher in both South Korea and Los Angeles, and we are so excited that she has chosen to share her knowledge and background with us! |