Some of your other videos (before and after this one) made me think you were one of the numerous JETs who bash the program without much real reason...but Im glad I watched this one because you appear to have a genuine enthusiasm for teaching your students.
Im definately signing up for the JET program in the future, im 16 (17 in a few days) right now, and im really interested in japan, and my intention is to move there when i finish university, so im gunna use these few years to try n get as much japanese experience as possible :)
hahaha oh my god, are some students really that bad at english, that they use google translate. :):) so funny... but it sounds like you did a good job...
Im so sad i found this late in the game. Ive been taking japanese for a year now, so i was really interested in the JET programme. What sucks, is that im stuck at community college because i decided to get my AA first then transfer, so i hope to find more information while i work on my BA. I hope to work for JET one day, so excited for my future.
I just found you from myargonauts! Congratulation on becoming a JET, if this isn't too late to say so.
May I ask why you chose this job? I mean, you can't speak the language, so was it to experience foreign-life first hand or learn the language through immersion?
Either way, I'm very envious and excited to see how your schools work.
The main reason I chose the JET Program is because of it's reputation on being a great program.
And the reason I'm in Japan is because I really want to experience a new culture and learn a new language and ever since I visited Japan 2 years ago, I felt this is the country to experience!
I was definitely thinking about the misconception of all Japanese looking alike. I just started on the JET Program in Kanagawa and I've noticed how Japanese all look different! I think that if you give the students the opportunity they will try hard to communicate with you in English. I started with my first school on Wednesday and even though they were unmotivated in class, they were very eager to talk to me (in English) the second classes ended! It is going to be great fun!
It is a nice placement. Has its drawbacks though. It's easy to find foreigners around here so sometimes I find it hard to べimmersed rather than being the only 外国人 in the area. Also ALTs in Kanagawa teach only high school (I teach at yogogakkou, but still high school). But location is prime.
I love to surf! I haven't surfed in so long because I came from NC with no waves at all... But one of my teaching partners invited me to go sometime!
I'm actually headed your way in a few hours, taking the night bus from Kyoto to Yokohama to hang out with some friends. I'm not going to be able to get any surfing in this time, bummer! You'll have to let me know how it is!
...sorry for the Spam: Just wanted to add my experience when I visited in a small near Miyazaki, a guy in a car stopped near where I was standing and in broken Japanese he was asking where the nearest market was. Recognizing he was an American I just told him in plain English how to get there. He thought I was a local and wondered where I was taught such good English - (I am part Japanese) and I had to tell him I was from New England.
Do the student know you are Vlogging and encouraged them to check you out when they got home? It would be nice to see their input at the end of your stay.
I haven't mentioned it yet, seems like there is so much I want to tell them, but such little time. I do get a little feedback from some of the more bold students and so far so good. I really want to foster a high trust classroom atmosphere.
Awesome, glad you like it. When I visited, not as a teacher, but just an American in the neighborhood visiting the school it was fun. There was a language barrier and I was basically drawing in the dirt outback of the school to show where I lived in the U.S. you could see them recognize some states and Boston / NY etc. as their eyes got big. It was good times.
Be careful about posting sentences or ideas produced by your students. There are some legal issues there, even if you are planning to use the information for a professional publication or presentation.
Wow, 360 speeches.. I hope you weren't left ..speechless..
(sorry, bad pun but good luck with that!)
Also, I would say if you're comfortable with the idea, you could perhaps join a good club so that you may see the students outside of the classroom and hopefully get to communicate with them.
I have looked into a few clubs. I try to walk around and say hi to everyone after school during club time too. I figure if they get more comfortable with me, then they might be more willing to speak english to me.
for some of the classes, the JTE would say a few things then it was my floor. other times, i do all the talking and they follow up with japanese when necessary. i can't say i was nervous, but i have been in front of a classroom before.. maybe that's why. i guess if you know your place there, then your confidence will be better.
oh, and i usually deal with classroom order as in keeping the kids on task and quiet....
As 11colors said, requiring the teachers and students to speak English with you will benefit them in the long run. I was the 1st ALT at my school to not speak Japanese, and at first the students and teachers were worried. They'd always spoken Japanese with the ALT outside of class before. But by using English for everyday conversation, their ability, and more importantly, their confidence, improved greatly. If they can speak to you in Japanese, many will do so rather than use English...
Thanks for the advice. So far there hasn't been any issues, especially with the JTEs, they are all very receptive to my English and would rather I ran class to expose the students to as much of the language as possible. However, I do feel bad for the students since they ended one semester with Japanese speaking American friend, only to return with a non-speaker.... BUT, we will all grow and benefit from that!
I'm not allowed to film inside the classroom. I can probably film after school hours, but no students. Soon, I hope to get some footage of my classroom and I will talk about how a typical lesson would go.
The school would first have to allow it, and it would also need signed permission slips from parents for all students appearing in the video. Japanese institutions have become pretty hardcore about privacy laws in the past few years. It's safest to get the permission of the adminstration first, but unfortunately this also makes it very likely that a project like this won't get off the ground.
DW,use that feeling of wanting to know your students to motivate yourself to study! The more you wait the more you'll regret the time you waited later. Students are the best part of Japan for me, and I wanted to know as much about them and help them as much as I could. yeah it might not be the most beneficial for their English, but since when is a teacher's job to ONLY teach the chosen subject? Some life lessons are important too especially the ideas that come from a foreigner. Congrats on Day1!
In my mind, no matter what job I have, I will always be a mentor especially as a teacher. I would still use only English in the classroom and during school hours, but afterwards during club activities or around town, it would be nice to converse in Japanese. I intend to learn as much as possible, but it's a slow process right now with how busy I am.
You make a better English teacher in the long run if you speak no Japanese at all. Their English will be better off if you refuse to speak Japanese to them.
While I agree with James, I have to also say that to truly get to know your students (especially over the long term - like 3 years) then you have to be able to speak some Japanese and relate to them in their language.
Plus, your first year of JET is so new and overwhelming, you often don't pause to get to know the kids, but as you settle into your 2nd or 3rd year and you have to the time, you'll want to speak with them outside of class - so study Japanese if you can.
I completely get you about acclimatising to the way people look - travelling through China was my first time around a lot of asian people, at first I saw "Chinese man, Chinese woman, Chinese man" but after a couple of weeks it just changed into "Bored looking girl, clever looking guy, friendly looking old lady".
Where all did you go in China? I hope to take a very long trip to China in the next few years. I'm thinking about taking one of the trains throughout the country.
I just went to Beijing and Yangshuo in Guilin (down south). Reccomend Yangshuo as a classic backpacker experience, Beijing is just a big stinky hole. though the forbidden city is worth seeing.. and some of the parks..
I was only there for a couple of weeks at the end of a longer trip, came in on the trans-siberian train but then flew around china and to Japan for the first time.. and the rest is history :)
trans-siberian is fantastic. one of my all-time best travel experiences - packing a 4 person compartment with 20 travellers and drinking til dawn while siberia rolls by.. eating still-warm fresh smoked fish from lake baikal, best I've ever tasted..
if you're going that way I highly reccomnd Kiev, Ukraine and taking a day trip around Chernobyl / Pripyat. Seriously thought provoking experience.
cool videos dude :P
YOYOdaMOOSE 1 week ago
Some of your other videos (before and after this one) made me think you were one of the numerous JETs who bash the program without much real reason...but Im glad I watched this one because you appear to have a genuine enthusiasm for teaching your students.
MarlowWhere 2 weeks ago
Im definately signing up for the JET program in the future, im 16 (17 in a few days) right now, and im really interested in japan, and my intention is to move there when i finish university, so im gunna use these few years to try n get as much japanese experience as possible :)
vidEOkid12345 1 month ago
can i be a ALT with a BFA and not a BA
Spazzosity 5 months ago
hahaha oh my god, are some students really that bad at english, that they use google translate. :):) so funny... but it sounds like you did a good job...
TheTheesen 1 year ago
Hi I have a question, I'm looking into doing this next year.
Where did you live? how did you make friends whilst out there? Where they mostly western friends? Does it get lonely?
raamik 1 year ago
Im so sad i found this late in the game. Ive been taking japanese for a year now, so i was really interested in the JET programme. What sucks, is that im stuck at community college because i decided to get my AA first then transfer, so i hope to find more information while i work on my BA. I hope to work for JET one day, so excited for my future.
happymarkkj 1 year ago
cool speech sentences coming soon?
iFukuyama 2 years ago
Uploading it right now! Thanks for the patience :)
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
Thank you so much for watching! I will get that video up soon. :)
Good luck with the application and please let me know if you need any help at all!
Ganbatte!
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
I just found you from myargonauts! Congratulation on becoming a JET, if this isn't too late to say so.
May I ask why you chose this job? I mean, you can't speak the language, so was it to experience foreign-life first hand or learn the language through immersion?
Either way, I'm very envious and excited to see how your schools work.
tonieboo0013 2 years ago
The main reason I chose the JET Program is because of it's reputation on being a great program.
And the reason I'm in Japan is because I really want to experience a new culture and learn a new language and ever since I visited Japan 2 years ago, I felt this is the country to experience!
Thanks for watching!
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
I was definitely thinking about the misconception of all Japanese looking alike. I just started on the JET Program in Kanagawa and I've noticed how Japanese all look different! I think that if you give the students the opportunity they will try hard to communicate with you in English. I started with my first school on Wednesday and even though they were unmotivated in class, they were very eager to talk to me (in English) the second classes ended! It is going to be great fun!
mostawesomestjes 2 years ago
Nice to meet another new JET!! I have friends in Kanagawa, great placement! Are you a surfer by any chance?
One of my travel school is really low-level, but they too tried so hard to chat with me on our long train ride home.
It is going to be tons of fun!!
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
It is a nice placement. Has its drawbacks though. It's easy to find foreigners around here so sometimes I find it hard to べimmersed rather than being the only 外国人 in the area. Also ALTs in Kanagawa teach only high school (I teach at yogogakkou, but still high school). But location is prime.
I love to surf! I haven't surfed in so long because I came from NC with no waves at all... But one of my teaching partners invited me to go sometime!
がんばって！
mostawesomestjes 2 years ago
I'm actually headed your way in a few hours, taking the night bus from Kyoto to Yokohama to hang out with some friends. I'm not going to be able to get any surfing in this time, bummer! You'll have to let me know how it is!
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
...sorry for the Spam: Just wanted to add my experience when I visited in a small near Miyazaki, a guy in a car stopped near where I was standing and in broken Japanese he was asking where the nearest market was. Recognizing he was an American I just told him in plain English how to get there. He thought I was a local and wondered where I was taught such good English - (I am part Japanese) and I had to tell him I was from New England.
nikonninja 2 years ago
haha! great story! sounds like something you should talk about in front of a camera and then toss up on your channel ;)
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
Do the student know you are Vlogging and encouraged them to check you out when they got home? It would be nice to see their input at the end of your stay.
nikonninja 2 years ago
I haven't mentioned it yet, seems like there is so much I want to tell them, but such little time. I do get a little feedback from some of the more bold students and so far so good. I really want to foster a high trust classroom atmosphere.
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
Awesome, glad you like it. When I visited, not as a teacher, but just an American in the neighborhood visiting the school it was fun. There was a language barrier and I was basically drawing in the dirt outback of the school to show where I lived in the U.S. you could see them recognize some states and Boston / NY etc. as their eyes got big. It was good times.
nikonninja 2 years ago
Yeah, there is no other feeling quite like getting your point across to people who do not speak your language! Such a great accomplishment. :)
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
I want to lick your head . . o.0 I love you.
zachywackyt 2 years ago
hahahaha
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
Sounds like an exhilarating first day! Hopefully the feeling doesn't wear off!
reaper4255 2 years ago
It hasn't yet, and even if it does, all I have to do is think of my first day ;)
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
Be careful about posting sentences or ideas produced by your students. There are some legal issues there, even if you are planning to use the information for a professional publication or presentation.
Good luck in Japan!
kanzanagain 2 years ago
Thank you!
And thanks for the heads up! Didn't even think about it like that.
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
thats great that you are taking an interest in your students like that well good luck with your high school students
yozka 2 years ago
thank you so much!
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
haha that sounds really awesome! i bet it felt really good to be appreciated by all those students :)
SO looking forward to that speech video!
mewgirl16 2 years ago
It was a great feeling!
Video will come soon!! :D
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
Fantastic!
Wow, 360 speeches.. I hope you weren't left ..speechless..
(sorry, bad pun but good luck with that!)
Also, I would say if you're comfortable with the idea, you could perhaps join a good club so that you may see the students outside of the classroom and hopefully get to communicate with them.
Forreso 2 years ago
lol...
I have looked into a few clubs. I try to walk around and say hi to everyone after school during club time too. I figure if they get more comfortable with me, then they might be more willing to speak english to me.
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
Congrats on your first day at your high school.
robinsao 2 years ago
Thank you!
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
wow
sounds like the ideal first day
congrats
sabrinasaures 2 years ago
thank you! i hope each day will be like this, at least some of my classes.
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
awsome stuff !
when the class starts do you teach the class all by yourself ? were you nervous?
ChillNAndy 2 years ago
for some of the classes, the JTE would say a few things then it was my floor. other times, i do all the talking and they follow up with japanese when necessary. i can't say i was nervous, but i have been in front of a classroom before.. maybe that's why. i guess if you know your place there, then your confidence will be better.
oh, and i usually deal with classroom order as in keeping the kids on task and quiet....
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
Sounds like you are really enjoying your job!
RisuMiso 2 years ago
So far so good! I already knew I loved teaching, but this day further solidified that!
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
I'm glad you had a good first day! :D
PeBs123456 2 years ago
Thank you! :)
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
As 11colors said, requiring the teachers and students to speak English with you will benefit them in the long run. I was the 1st ALT at my school to not speak Japanese, and at first the students and teachers were worried. They'd always spoken Japanese with the ALT outside of class before. But by using English for everyday conversation, their ability, and more importantly, their confidence, improved greatly. If they can speak to you in Japanese, many will do so rather than use English...
tommiskey 2 years ago
Thanks for the advice. So far there hasn't been any issues, especially with the JTEs, they are all very receptive to my English and would rather I ran class to expose the students to as much of the language as possible. However, I do feel bad for the students since they ended one semester with Japanese speaking American friend, only to return with a non-speaker.... BUT, we will all grow and benefit from that!
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
*this was an interesting video=)*
iFukuyama 2 years ago
thank you!
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
wow, whats up with the mafia getup?
iFukuyama 2 years ago
haha.. that's what some students say too and some of the teachers! gotta love a nice suit!
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
Kevin is right, your language barrier will grow simply through immersion. Glad you're first day was a good one!
JapanielGuerrera 2 years ago
Thank you! :)
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
They will appreciate it if you study Japanese. It sounds a fair game.
Tnakamura11 2 years ago
Agreed, the teachers too.
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
Can you maybe do a video on the Students themselves? Like maybe a few introductions to what your school is like.. with students included etc.. ?
Dragon22873 2 years ago
I'm not allowed to film inside the classroom. I can probably film after school hours, but no students. Soon, I hope to get some footage of my classroom and I will talk about how a typical lesson would go.
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
The school would first have to allow it, and it would also need signed permission slips from parents for all students appearing in the video. Japanese institutions have become pretty hardcore about privacy laws in the past few years. It's safest to get the permission of the adminstration first, but unfortunately this also makes it very likely that a project like this won't get off the ground.
kanzanagain 2 years ago
お疲れさまでした！
kansaiPJ 2 years ago
You are welcome! :)
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
DW,use that feeling of wanting to know your students to motivate yourself to study! The more you wait the more you'll regret the time you waited later. Students are the best part of Japan for me, and I wanted to know as much about them and help them as much as I could. yeah it might not be the most beneficial for their English, but since when is a teacher's job to ONLY teach the chosen subject? Some life lessons are important too especially the ideas that come from a foreigner. Congrats on Day1!
ThePacificCrossing 2 years ago
In my mind, no matter what job I have, I will always be a mentor especially as a teacher. I would still use only English in the classroom and during school hours, but afterwards during club activities or around town, it would be nice to converse in Japanese. I intend to learn as much as possible, but it's a slow process right now with how busy I am.
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
You make a better English teacher in the long run if you speak no Japanese at all. Their English will be better off if you refuse to speak Japanese to them.
ElevenColors 2 years ago
I agree 200%! I figure even as my Japanese ability increases, I will still refuse to speak it in the classroom.
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
While I agree with James, I have to also say that to truly get to know your students (especially over the long term - like 3 years) then you have to be able to speak some Japanese and relate to them in their language.
Plus, your first year of JET is so new and overwhelming, you often don't pause to get to know the kids, but as you settle into your 2nd or 3rd year and you have to the time, you'll want to speak with them outside of class - so study Japanese if you can.
TaishaJason 2 years ago
Thanks for the tips Jason!
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
Awesome dude! Glad you had a great first day.
Also, I'm sure your language ability will continue to grow the longer you stay in Japan.
BusanKevin 2 years ago 2
Thanks.
Speaking of... I need to start studying a bit harder than I have been!
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
killer suit man
betamaxdc 2 years ago 8
thanks! the other teachers and some students say i dress like a gangster.. haha
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
I have to agree - that is one pimp-daddy suit!
TaishaJason 2 years ago
Thanks!
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
Sounds great man, congrats :)
I completely get you about acclimatising to the way people look - travelling through China was my first time around a lot of asian people, at first I saw "Chinese man, Chinese woman, Chinese man" but after a couple of weeks it just changed into "Bored looking girl, clever looking guy, friendly looking old lady".
bluesheeft 2 years ago
Thank you!
Where all did you go in China? I hope to take a very long trip to China in the next few years. I'm thinking about taking one of the trains throughout the country.
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
I just went to Beijing and Yangshuo in Guilin (down south). Reccomend Yangshuo as a classic backpacker experience, Beijing is just a big stinky hole. though the forbidden city is worth seeing.. and some of the parks..
I was only there for a couple of weeks at the end of a longer trip, came in on the trans-siberian train but then flew around china and to Japan for the first time.. and the rest is history :)
bluesheeft 2 years ago
And I love trains, go for it :) cheaper than train travel here.. :/
bluesheeft 2 years ago
Awesome!! Thanks again.
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
Cool, thanks for the tips!
I really want to take the trans-siberian all the way through china and into moscow.
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago
trans-siberian is fantastic. one of my all-time best travel experiences - packing a 4 person compartment with 20 travellers and drinking til dawn while siberia rolls by.. eating still-warm fresh smoked fish from lake baikal, best I've ever tasted..
if you're going that way I highly reccomnd Kiev, Ukraine and taking a day trip around Chernobyl / Pripyat. Seriously thought provoking experience.
bluesheeft 2 years ago
Great... now I'll be spending all my free time researching this trip! I might ask for more advice when I know when I'm going! :)
DeeDoubleYou81 2 years ago