JET Program Vlog 6b - Self-Introduction じこしょうかい pt2

[ZombehPanda]

Sadly I didn't find your channel until after I've already arrived in Japan. I'm an alternate who just started so I have to do a week of introductions this upcoming week. I wasn't able to grab the things from home like you did but I can at least try to make a nice powerpoint. I hope that will grab them well enough? Also might see what videos I can string together to make a short video. Thanks for the tips though!! Very helpful!!!

[myargonauts]

@ZombehPanda best of luck. I found that even basic power point does hold attention, since they can see pictures of your hometown, family etc while you're talking. Just be sure to scope out the AV equipment situation before you invest all your time in a computer based intro.

[hotkiss833mv]

Can you only give your jikoshokai in English or could you do it in Japanese?

[myargonauts]

@hotkiss833mv for JET, you shouldn't do it in Japanese, since you're there to teach the students English and for them to hear native English. Of course, if you speak Japanese well, then it will help when they have questions about you and you can explain in a mixture of English and Japanese for initial understanding.

[MerkabaZA]

Thanks a million for the informative video Jason. I'm about to leave for Japan and was stressing over my jikoshoukai until I stumbled on your channel. I've now got a nice long list of stuff that will hopefully entertain my students and give me one less thing to worry about.

[myargonauts]

@MerkabaZA cool. Best of luck!

[Melrudin]

This video was incredibly helpful. This really helps me figure out what kinds of things I can bring to Japan for my jikoshoukai. :) I really had questions about this topic but I think they've really all been answered now. ^^ I'm loving your JET preparation videos. Really helps me feel more prepared.

[myargonauts]

@Melrudin cool - glad it helped. Your self intro lesson will take up a bunch of your time once you first start teaching, so the better prepared you are, the better you can make it.

[ThePortableGamer]

hahaa a fiver :P wasnt expecting tht (fiver = five pound)

[BlanFan2O]

jikoshokai sound fun! it's kinda funny to think that simple things that I come across every day is that interesting to people in other countries! haha I have a shuffle but I have speakears.

[genevenstar]

Hey Jason, thank you so much! This is great~ I took notes and will be planning my own introduction soon. I'm taking senior high students, so that's really scaring me a little. It's so hard to get teenagers' attention for long! I'm 23, and I'm wondering if that's a pro or a con when it comes to interacting with students from the age of 16-18. Any tips?

Thank you so much, your vlogs are really helpful!

[myargonauts]

you'll get their attention at first just by being the new foreigner - but keeping their attention will require some effort, so good luck.

Try to find out what they like and take some interest in it - be it music, movies, sports, etc.

[alexgamerz]

In the first video I believe you said that you had to memorize a few sentences in japanese, but in this video you made it sound like you gave your presentation in english. What language did you give the presentation in to the kids, and did how did it change between grade 1-3 and grade 8-10?

Love your videos. They are very informative and take a lot of my worries away from wanting to go into the jet programme or somthing similar :)

[myargonauts]

I think in the first video I was talking about introducing yourself to co-workers and other adults. For my initial self-intros in class, I used almost 100% English.

If I do one now, I throw in a little Japanese depending on the age of the kids - the younger, the more Japanese - just to insure understanding. But it's really about them hearing English, backed up by visual aids, etc - so it's better to use as much simple English as you can. I always accept questions at the end in Japanese.

[Soheki]

These vlogs are so helpful! I'm really looking forward to putting together my jikoshokai.

[DeeDoubleYou81]

Surprising enough, I do not own an ipod, but was thinking about buying a "netbook" computer for the classroom. I have an adapter that can convert the vga (monitor) output to the standard yellow for the TV.

I figure the netbook is small enough (9-10" screen) to be portable and will also give me internet capabilities.

What do you think?

I guess now they have the ipod touch that can browse wireless internet.

hmmm... decisions, decisions....

Thanks again!!!

[myargonauts]

so - you're in Japan now - did you end up buying an iPod? How are your self-intros going?

[DeeDoubleYou81]

I did not buy an iPod, I don't even have a keitai yet! haha When I do get one, it will be an iPhone.

I have done my self intro lesson (20 times!) and I was lucky enough to have an A/V room which had a projector that I hooked up to my laptop. I ended up making a video (20 min) and the students loved it.

Thanks for checking back with me! :)

[seansfc]

thank you i enjoy watching becasue im interested in a job like this

ive had a similar expirance where i had to do a self introduction when i went to the philipines and i went to philipino / chinese school for a couple days (as a student) and they asked me to introduce my self to grade 1 or 2 children and i couldnt really ask them any questions because they didnt understand anything i guess it was a bad choice on the teaches part

[emokidsrus]

Thank you so much for posting these! You had so many great ideas and now I have an idea of some things I can start putting together for my own introductions. I hope you enjoy the rest of your experience as an ALT!

[koritsimou]

I actually just watched both of these, and took notes. Nowhere have I heard about having to give a jikoshokai (not from the pamphlet or the forums) so this was really helpful. I can begin collecting little things to show off when I finally make it over there. I also want to say thank you for posting these. So far they've been really entertaining and informative, and will probably help out a LOT more when I actually have need of some of the things you're talking about.

[AzureEyesD]

Can you use that iPod thingy to play music from the TV?

[myargonauts]

yes - you can hook it up to any TV and use the TV speakers to play music.

[Youindia]

Hmm.. why is it that you can only record for nine minutes?

[myargonauts]

YT's limit is ten minutes, but the iMovie program I use on my Mac limits me to 9m15s.

[CesarLopLeo]

Ahh! I love your videos, they really help me on what to expect.

One question, I play the cello (instrument) If I take me cello to japan, do you think they will let me play like a small piece to the kids? Just wondering.

Heck I'm highschool Senior but I'm already getting ready.

Thanks a BUNCH MAN!! :))

[myargonauts]

I'm sure you could borrow a cello once you get here. But yeah - I'm sure they'd love for you to play for them.

[42317]

You name things I haven't considered so far, like how passing things around will distract the respective people. But back then I only showed stuff in front of people anyway (and in all Shogakusei groups there was at least one who'd find it very cool to be talking to a German). :-)

[c3058872]

i don't care that these are long! I know you want to keep them shorter so we don't lose interest or some such, but everything you have to say is so interesting, and you have so much to say. maybe you should think about increasing the time of these things?? 5/5 !

[myargonauts]

Thanks - I appreciate the comment. :)

I think it's good that the normal YT limit is 10 minutes - forced me to try not to ramble so much since I always do these vlogs in 1 take.

[knightyaccha]

You can make your Jiko Shoukai as a quiz as well...and give presents to the top three winners(can be american candy or stickers or something cool)...So have your 10 question quiz prepared and be sure to cover those point about your self in your introduction....works well...

[takanorius]

Very much informative.

5 stars!

[WhiteMatrix2006]

What all did you have for your first jikoshokai? I'm sure you weren't as prepared as you are now right? How nervous were you the first time you gave this presentation? Know of anywhere we can go to get more tips and ideas on giving the self-introduction?

[myargonauts]

i was really nervous and my first few attempts sucked pretty bad - you can gauge the reaction of your kids after the first few and adjust accordingly - shorten some things, omit others, include things you forget.

Hopefully you'll get more advice about this at your prefectural orientation.

[WhiteMatrix2006]

OK. Thanks for the answer. Looking forward to future Vlogs.

[spork90]

hey thanks a lot for taking the time to do these, these videos are really helpful. Just wondering if when you do these introductions to younger kids who generally know little English, do you ever translate into Japanese sentences that you know they aren't understanding, or is it more or less strictly English speaking, thanks.

[myargonauts]

good question! Well, it really varies. Some HRTs (home room teachers) will translate everything you say as you go along, others want their kids to try and listen to the English and figure it out. I try and throw in a few Japanese words for the younger kids, just cuz I feel like I keep them more interested that way. For Jr High kids, I stick to English and let the JTE decide how much to translate. I always allow them to ask questions in Japanese at the end and then I respond in English.

[mikegio123]

Thanks for your posts. they have been really helpful for me. I'm headed out to Kyoto prefecture in July and your posts have helped me focus my anxiety. Thanks.

[myargonauts]

Kyoto! You lucky dog! :)

Nara (near Kyoto) is one of my favorite places in Japan.

Good luck!

[LadyAllrin]

I was just there! Teehee! Got bitten in the butt and thigh by the deer at Nara temple. Scary and exciting at the same time.

[DonDiegoLego]

Once again really helpful. And much more helpful than my JET Vlog LOL!

[Dominilucy]

This is totally awesome... Just earlier I was thinking of saving up for a projector to bring with me to Japan. However, I am not to sure about it. I have one question. I am not an American born citizen, what would be your advise? Should I tell them also about my culture due to being from the Dominican Republic... I would hate to make it more complicated than it really is. Furthermore, thank you soo much for these videos. They have actually convinced me that things in Japan might not be soo bad.

[myargonauts]

Yeah - tell em about what made you the person you are today - your heritage plays into that. I always tell my kids about how my parents are from England and were immigrants. More layers to the story. :)

[hexhatexmexnot]

These vids are great and it looks like you're having a really great time teaching in japan! Great Job! ^_^

[myargonauts]

Thanks!

[TheMeditron]

Sick, I have those DVD's.

[myargonauts]

That box set has the episodes where Bruce Wayne fights a ninja and goes to Japan! Great stuff!

[rocketgal]

It really is brilliant that you're doing these. I'm a terrified JET still waiting for her placement and I'm PRETTY SURE I would have had a heart attack from stress already with what precious little information I've been given.

I still think I'm torn between taking the plunge and going, and curling up and staying put in Ireland.....but since I'm seeking out stuff like this I guess I'm getting ready to leave, haha.

[myargonauts]

yeah - it's good you're using the web to find out more about Japan - tons of good resources. You've got two more months - plenty of time to get ready still.

[Graehaus]

Again really cool work, Jason. A question though. Are the Japanese kids really interested in English? i mean with displays and topics that makes or breaks it, but do they have a real drive for gaining English? Hmm, I hope I worded that right.

[myargonauts]

like kids anywhere, some are super interested in English and some just don't care at all. The more I can speak Japanese the more I realize most of my kids ARE interested in me as a foreigner and what life is like in America, but they are too shy to ask me about it in English, so chatting in Japanese has helped me connect with them outside of class.

The smartest kids realize that English can be their ticket out of rural Japan if they want to get out.

[Graehaus]

Cool, thanks for the reply. I really dig these. I mean I am not JET material, but it is great seeing that corner of the world and seeing from a NA view point. Thanks again Jason.

[matman125]

You have some great ideas, especially your mother's mini photo album, haha.

I live near San Diego (Orange Country), but I would probably bring up Snoopy and Knott's rather than avocados ...and highway chases.

[myargonauts]

I bought some small jars of Knott's jam for gifts one time for 3 of my teachers and they loved it!

[eselous]

Another very useful vid Jason, they should all be required watching for anyone going to Japan to teach - with Jet or any other program!

[myargonauts]

Thanks - I appreciate it! :)

[fister356]

cool