JET Program Vlog #17c - Japanese names at school

Hey Gang - I go off on a tagent in this one and never fully recover. :)

So this one really isn't more about classroom Japanese, but I'll get back to that topic soon.

More soon!
-Jason

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Jason
• Vlog
• Japan
• ALT
• Taisha
• Shimane
• Japanese
• JET
• Programme
• Program

[TheTraveler12]

terrible of me to ask this on a video this old but.. what are your opinions on someone 38 making it through the jet program and teaching in japan? is is looked down upon or is it harder to do so? im not 38 but by the time im done with my bachelors degree i will be.. and i wanted to teach in japan.. im going for a teaching degree..

[myargonauts]

@TheTraveler12 the "official" age limit is 40, but the vast majority of JETs are in their 20s when they start the Programme. I was 34 when I applied, and turned 35 just before arriving in Japan in 2004. But while I was there, we had a new JET start at the age of 37, so older applicants do get hired - my guess is you just have to have a good reason for wanting to go and make that change in your life when most others are settling down.

[OhMySavy]

Whoa, isn't it really familiar to call your students their first name without any honorific at all?

[myargonauts]

perhaps - but I allow them to call me simply "Jason" so I think it's a fair trade.  Plus, they're obviously "below" me socially, so it's ok.

[netjap23]

@myargonauts what are those -kun -san -chan -sama all about

[myargonauts]

@netjap23 they're honorifics or cute nick name type suffixes that you add to a Japanese name to indicate respect or friendliness. Think of -san as Mr or Ms.

think of -chan and -kun mainly for children or your boyfriend/girlfriend - it's like adding a pet name or indicating that someone is your friend. -sama is for someone above you in station or respect - it's like addressing someone as "sir."

[freeofgreed]

lol you had the "C" right the first time.

[TheTraveler12]

@TheTraveler12 be a leech on the people around me nor the country i live in anymore. I had wanted to volunteer when the earthquake and tsunami hit but i didnt have hte money to uproot myself nore the means to get there.. i figure i can kill 2 birds with one stone by teaching something i know since im a native speaker. And i have been trying to learn japanese and the hiragana in my spare time... so i hope they wont think me an old weirdo when i apply for JET someday. lol.. thanks and GL

[TheTraveler12]

@myargonauts well.. i've been interested in japan and their history for a while now.. since i was.. 22 i think.. its been a while.. anime got me interested and it built from there.. the change.. well.. change is a good thing and new experiences make us better people and broaden our minds and hearts. it took me a while to decide what i wanted to do for the rest of my life.. and teaching.. not neccesairly in japan, feels right.. i dont want to

[netjap23]

@myargonauts tnx myargonauts-sama

[SilverGunZoO]

居と先生is smart ;D

[SilverGunZoO]

I think is polite to add the honorific end :D

maybe not ちゃん thou