Author
Courtney Mason
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UIS History Alumni Focus: John Linville

John Linville is pictured with six UIS students during a study abroad trip to Ashikaga, Japan in 2024. Those pictured are standing in front of a statue.

John Linville is a UIS alum who graduated with a B.A. in History in 2013. During the study abroad trip to Ashikaga, Japan in the Summer of 2024, led by Dr. Peter Shapinsky, current students got the opportunity to take a tour with Linville through his newly started tour program, Temples and Trails Tours Japan! On their final day in Japan, students were able to delve into the historical city of Kamakura, guided by the expertise of our esteemed graduate.

After graduating in 2013, Linville revealed that he faced challenges in securing employment in his hometown of Danville, Illinois. This prompted him to return to Japan, where he had previously spent six months studying abroad. For the next decade, he worked as a schoolteacher, teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) at both public and private institutions. Subsequently, Linville pursued further education and earned an M.A. in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Kanda University of International Studies in 2021.

Temples and Trails Tours Japan logo, including a cartoon dog with a backpack, in front of a temple and trees.

Now, Linville spends his time giving tours for his private tour guiding company, Temples and Trails Tours Japan! Started in the Summer of 2024, Temples and Trails Tours Japan seeks to enlighten visitors on the histories of various areas in and around Tokyo. Currently, there are 4 tours offered through Temples and Trails Tours Japan: Tokyo: True Crime and Ghosts, Tokyo: 1000 Years of Samurai History, Tokyo: 1000 Years of Samurai History, and Yokohama: Private Full-Day Tour with a Local.

On advice to current history students, Linville shares: "Get a good idea of what you want to do as a career well before you graduate and confer with your professors to see if there are any networking opportunities in that field for you in the area. Then, if possible, get an internship, do some volunteer work, or get a part-time job in that field. Finally, if applicable, get some sort of certification for that field." If you find yourself in Japan, consider Temples and Trails Tours Japan for your touring needs! John Linville provides a 20% discount to all UIS students and graduates if you book through him directly!