JET Program Vlog #18 - Are ALTs role models?

[ElBluesummer]

I liked what you said about the shirt. I'm from Hawaii and a professor at my college basically told me the same thing. When he went to Japan to teach English, at first he wore his suit and tie to school every day, but then he began to think about it; if he's there to be an example of how English should be spoken, he should also be an example of the country/culture that he was from. Eventually, he started wearing flowery aloha shirts to school.

[Nooklet]

So informational ;D

[kakaze]

I might have missed this somewhere in your videos but I wonder from all you said; how was your Japanese before you came? (and now?)

[myargonauts]

@kakaze I've mentioned it many times, but I studied Japanese for one year at university before coming, and studied with a private tutor for about 2 years after I arrived. My Japanese is OK, but not as good as I would like.

[tkglobe85]

What do you think it would it be like for Asian American to become ALT? I'm applying for ATL position but I'm kinda concerned if the kids will accept me as a foreigner. Even though I was born and raised outside of Japan and have American citizenship, I am still Asian(part Japanese) and look exactly like Japanese people. So that means they'll just look at me as another Japanese English?

[myargonauts]

@tkglobe85 we recently had a discussion about this over at the forums at JapanJuku(dot)com - I think it's still there. If not, cut and paste this question and we'll get it started again

[djdicrispino]

HA! I got the same response to spelling color without a U in Malaysia. I had to make cheat sheets of all the common British variants. It's something people don't even think about...

[sano303]

I'm not in the jet program, but these videos are very useful for anyone who's going to japan for any extended period of time.

[myargonauts]

cool - thanks for watching

[geezwoman]

Awesome to find someone who is posting about their time in JET in Japan.

I'm considering participating in JET too and I'm wondering if it's best to do this right after undergraduate school. This is mostly because of the need to get 2 letters of recommendations and those professors will probably be my best source.

Thanks!

[Rictof]

If you ask me, I'd say you had a pretty bad day when this video was taken. It was mostly a rant, but it still helped in terms of not running red lights and doing anything that could soil the image of what a JET should be. I think this vlog was more beneficial for most of the other english speaking countries that you mentioned. Well, take care man, I enjoyed it much like your other vlogs.

[sngoku]

Where do you get your ESL games?

I am teaching in Urayasu. I would like some games for them.

[myargonauts]

from websites and books and other teachers. There are a ton of resources on the web. PM me if you want some specific links for teaching in Japan.

[SloshedInShiga]

Just 1 week and 1 day till I leave home for Japan. It is an amazing rush knowing that it is so soon. Just got my luggage in the mail today and picked up my bike (got it boxed at a local bike shop) so its time to get packing.

Of course tomorrow I very likely have a root canal. Which is... not fun at all. But might as well get it taken care of before I head to Japan.

Been slacking on my video blog, no vids yet. Can't seem to finda video editing software I like yet.

[RIOTofCARNAGE]

your interesting to watch im young but plan to be a alt

[myriah96]

パチパチ。

すごいですよね！おもしろいです！

[myargonauts]

ありがとうございます！

[joshparra]

It is amazing! This is interesting!

[Dominilucy]

Thank you for the vlog... I am headed to Japan in a week! I am exited! I will also be wearing a lot of color haha because I like to

[o0HoneyBee0o]

I like this one, as much as you thought it was a rant. Especially the coke part, when I was in elementary school one of my teachers would always have this big thermos of pop. And I would always feel sort of offended, almost like she was showing off the fact that we can't have it at school. No one understood my reasoning but, I guess I'm more of a "empathetic" or what have you person.

[NinkeKuN]

Hmm... hey Jason... I live in Norway, can I be a part of the JET program? Like can I go on that program? I am finished with school right now and have no plans for the upcoming year. I just wonder if the program is just for regular english-speaking countries. I handle english pretty well, still I got my mistakes (very often spelling grr..). I hope you will answer me here on in your video, thanks.

[NinkeKuN]

LOL nevermind.. saw the first video of yours xD; iT's for teacher's right? haha

[myargonauts]

OK - :)

We did have a CIR from Norway once, and we currently have a CIR from Finland, since Izumo is a sister city with a city in Finland.

[Graehaus]

Great video Jason, very informative as always. Thank you for your work and time. You do a great service for your fellow jets, and we, the regular joes, looking for a western approach to another culture.

I always look forward to your Vlogs. The Shopping vid was awesome btw.

[myargonauts]

thanks man - appreciate the comment. :)

[lleverfreell]

Thanks for the heads-up about teaching American English. Being a Canadian, I would definitely benefit knowing about this beforehand rather than being confronted about teaching "bad" English in class. =D

Also, I admire your professionalism and dedication to being a JET. It's obvious that you try to support the students as much as you can, both in and out of the classroom. You are a great role-model for prospective JETs like myself, and your students are very fortunate to have you as a teacher.

[myargonauts]

Thanks for the nice comment. :)

The fictitious teacher in the Jr High textbooks (Ms. Green) is from Canada, and she visits Australia in one story.  They try to help out JETs from other non-America countries.

[Hikosaemon]

Haha, the coke story reminds me of a story I heard about a gaijin parent with kids at a Japanese school being told off by teachers at a sports day for chewing gum where the kids could see, as it set a bad example - never mind the fact that parents and teachers watching the sports day were freely drinking and smoking! Some people just feel like it is their job to look for things to pick out...

[Hikosaemon]

As for the English thing, I'm so used to adapting my English now that I probably don't write much like an "English-English" native anymore. I guess most people (myself included) have no problem accepting the treatment of American as standard English in Japan, simply the ignorance of many Japanese (and worse still, Americans) that other "standards" coexist that aren't "wrong" just not appropriate. Try correcting an Osaka teacher using kansai-ben saying it is "wrong"... Hehe, now that would be fun

[Hikosaemon]

Nice vlog dude - I've been working late and am in a sumo blackout, hoping to catch up soon.

Peace

[myargonauts]

OK - it's a good bashou so far, but Asa had to pull out due to injury today, which sucks.

Looking forward to your next vid. :)

[WhiteMatrix2006]

Interesting video. Something I never really thought about but now makes me think. I really didn't think all that much about how the English should be taught in some places. How some schools prefer you to teach it U.S. style. I think they should accept their version of English (because their version is probably more grammatically correct lol).

-Billy-

[DeathfireD]

You're the man Jason. Oh and when someone bows for you how do you normal react? My first reaction would probably be to bow back. Is that what you do or are you supposed to just stand there and smile?

BTW. You ready for The Dark Knight? It comes out at midnight here in the US.

[myargonauts]

Don't talk to me about DK - I'm so jealous! It doesn't come out in Japan until mid August.. Arrgghhhh!

And yeah - you just bow back.

[jessman1999]

I think it's great that you are sticking to your guns dealing with the grocery shopping and not giving in to the hater.

[myargonauts]

yeah - I'm not gonna take it down. But I wouldn't call him a hater - he's actually a subscriber. I've been lucky and haven't really had any haters yet.

[jessman1999]

Oh, well that's pretty cool to hear that he is a subcriber.

[BusanKevin]

First class video Jason. I really agree with you about being professional no matter where you go, especially since you never know where you might run into students or there parents. I've bumped into my kids in some random places throughout Kobe on the weekends.

Lots of great stuff in this vid! Keep em comin!

[ballinjosh03]

great video with great points. I would assume they want as you mention an exchange if they wanted the ALT to be Japanese or like a Japanese teacher they wouldn't get JETs. :)

[rtobin7]

as always, great video!!

[myargonauts]

as always - thanks for the comment! :D

[DoctorEngrish]

In terms of writing, spelling and such, do you find that the teaching material provided is accurate? And what is the usual class period like for you? Thanks :D

[myargonauts]

Sure - the textbooks are checked and are OK - some of the phrases they teach or emphasize are a little iffy, but overall they're decent.

I don't really have a "usual" class period - which is one thing I like about the job. It all varies so much depending on the teacher I'm teaching with and the age of the students.

[stringtofate]

Great vlog, love the saying.

[MissChiKawaii]

Very informative. Thank you. :)

[DJBear]

Talking about bowing. I think you should make a video and talk/show when to bow and how low to bow in certain situations. Thanks for another great video.

[myargonauts]

when in doubt - bow.

:D

[srzy]

love your videos

[myargonauts]

thanks!

[Smashingblue]

For a video that you seemed to basically be an impromptu it was very informative. I agree with all the points that you made. Especially if all JET's went as far as possible to follow the strictest of utmost polite expectations of society, then it would defeat one of the main goal's of the JET programme. Also as Jason said, if you do make a social faux pas, more often than not someone will politely inform you.

[MessagesFromEarth]

Again, this was a really informative video. Its nice to get a look at how things are on the ground. I didn't really think you rambled. It seemed to be a well thought out, articulate conversation

[nyannyan123456]

Now I have to check your grocery store comments. Who ever wrote the negative comment must have been kind of bored ,and want something to complain about.

[myargonauts]

he had a good point and I felt it deserved a response.

[petchay8099]

thanks for the video! =D

[myargonauts]

you're welcome! :D

[MTassarion]

I didn't know they wanted you to specifically teach American English. Interesting. Especially because here in Europe we all get -bombarded- with the British English in school. Although in my school they did accept it if you had an American accent, given that you stayed American accented throughout the entire oral. lol

And for the rest this vlog was very interesting as well, thanks again. And i must say, you have made me a bit of a sumo fan over the past few days lol..

[myargonauts]

thanks for watching these and the sumo vids. Glad you're enjoying them. :)