James specialised in Italian Studies and Arabic Studies at the University of Melbourne and has travelled Italy with academics from the university. In addition to this, he has also extensively studied Linguistics, and has taught Italian and Arabic to adults at the Centre for Adult Education in Melbourne. James' academic interests include Italian and Arabic linguistics, history, and cultural studies. He strives to actively involve all students and encourage them to use the language, while also educating them about its cultural, historical, and social context.