Building connections and bridging cultures through language

When he decided – on a whim – to take a Japanese course in high school, Charles Bibus (class of 2026) had no idea it would completely reshape his academic and professional future. At the University of Delaware, that whim took on a more serious form. 

Within the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, faculty members—including Mutsuko Sato, Chika Inoue, Eric VanLuvanee and Rachael Hutchinson—taught Bibus how to master complex concepts in Japanese language and culture. 

In addition to coursework on campus, UD provided rich immersive experiences for Bibus, like working hands-on with Japanese students at UD’s English Language Institute (ELI) and studying abroad in Japan. These opportunities helped him to put his language skills into practice, gain an authentic understanding of cultural nuances and cultivate the adaptable communication skills that define his work today.

Though he did not originally set out to work in education, the pedagogical insight and deep cultural knowledge he gained at UD prepared him well for life after the University degree. Following a recommendation from a former teacher, he dove headfirst into teaching Japanese at his high school alma mater, Appoquinimink High School (Class of 2019). 

Bringing his UD training full circle, he now leverages passions shared with his students—like anime and manga. By creating an environment in which high schoolers feel more comfortable navigating a new language and culture, he inspires current students in the exact same way his own high school teacher once inspired him.

Bibus is a fierce advocate for language education. Looking to the future, he sees cross-cultural communication as an essential skill for our interconnected world—one that opens doors in everything from tech and government to tourism and education. Guided by the incredible teaching standards modeled by UD's Japanese faculty, Bibus is working to build bridges that span the globe.