Sunday, August 26, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Confidentiality and Discretion
Hi again everyone,
I just finished the 3 day Aomori Prefectural Orientation and am now performing my first day of work at my base middle school. I was hoping to upload pictures of my schools and students sometime in the future, but I was informed at orientation that uploading any sort of pictures of students, teachers, or even school buildings themselves is strictly forbidden. I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to introduce any of you (very few people who actually patronize my blog) to my schools, teachers, or kids. I find this especially frustrating because it's perfectly acceptable for your supervisor to reveal the details of your recent doctor's visit to your boss. What's up with the confidentiality norms in the country?
Anyways, I'm still working on getting another video up, but my life is surprisingly busy. At the latest, there should be a video uploaded by the end of this weekend. This one should be pretty funny because you get to laugh at my pain and hardships!
-Ryan
I just finished the 3 day Aomori Prefectural Orientation and am now performing my first day of work at my base middle school. I was hoping to upload pictures of my schools and students sometime in the future, but I was informed at orientation that uploading any sort of pictures of students, teachers, or even school buildings themselves is strictly forbidden. I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to introduce any of you (very few people who actually patronize my blog) to my schools, teachers, or kids. I find this especially frustrating because it's perfectly acceptable for your supervisor to reveal the details of your recent doctor's visit to your boss. What's up with the confidentiality norms in the country?
Anyways, I'm still working on getting another video up, but my life is surprisingly busy. At the latest, there should be a video uploaded by the end of this weekend. This one should be pretty funny because you get to laugh at my pain and hardships!
-Ryan
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Oops...
Hi everyone!
Sorry there were no posts this weekend. I did something stupid and left my laptop charger in the office, which they locked up before I had the chance to go back and fetch it. To make up for it, have a look at my office (which is where I work only when I am not visiting schools).
Anyways, I'm back in business and I will try to post some more videos tonight or tomorrow night. In the next video, you can watch some rookie mistakes I made in the last few weeks. See you next time!
Sorry there were no posts this weekend. I did something stupid and left my laptop charger in the office, which they locked up before I had the chance to go back and fetch it. To make up for it, have a look at my office (which is where I work only when I am not visiting schools).
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| Main office, with my desk being the closest to the camera. |
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| Meeting room and other city ALTs. |
Anyways, I'm back in business and I will try to post some more videos tonight or tomorrow night. In the next video, you can watch some rookie mistakes I made in the last few weeks. See you next time!
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Moving In to Aomori
On the morning of August 1st, I left Tokyo (and Kristin) behind and flew from Haneda Airport to Aomori. I and the 4 other new ALTs in Aomori city spent the next few days settling into our apartments, figuring out where all the local stores and restaurants are, establishing bank accounts and residency cards, and getting to know our coworkers and supervisors. The fact that I am in Japan and far away from home hasn't quite set in yet, but being away from Kristin is a constant painful reminder that my lifestyle has completely changed.
Here is a tour of my apartment:
Thanks for watching, and stay tuned for next time's Nebuta Festival coverage!
Here is a tour of my apartment:
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Departure and First Days
Arrival at Narita Airport, Tokyo
Orientation at Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo
Friday, August 3, 2012
Introduction to the JET Program
Hi everyone!
I'd like to christen this blog with an introduction to what the JET Program is and how I managed to attain this position. The JET Program runs through the Consulate General of Japan and is sponsored by various Japanese government organizations, including CLAIR (Council of Local Authorities for International Relations), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications). So yes, it is extremely extensive, bureaucratic, professional.
The application process starts in the fall, and you can apply for several positions: ALT (assistant language teacher), CIR, or SEA. CIR's are basically translators and teachers on the side, while SEA's are high level athletes. Most of the people on JET are ALTs (including myself), and the rest of the information here is for that position.
You must submit an application along with 2 letters of recommendation. You do not need any teaching experience or credentials, but it is highly encouraged that you have some because they will be useful. You also do not need to speak any Japanese, but it is also recommended that you learn some because living in Japan is remarkably difficult without any Japanese language skills. My Japanese is better than most of the newer people here in the program, and yet I'm still frustrated with simple daily tasks like using the washing machine and reading signs and menus.
After your application is reviewed and if you have been selected as a possible candidate, you get a notification of an interview. After the interview, the wait for the results begins. If you were chosen as a "short-list" candidate, that means you made it! "Alternates" are second in line (in case short-listers decline or fail to provide paperwork) and the rest are the rejects. After receiving the results, the paper chase begins. There are many forms to provide and order, like medical forms, tax forms, proof of graduation, and an FBI background check. It is a tedious and harrying process, but these forms are the final barrier keeping you from Japan. Before you leave and after you arrive, there are numerous orientations and events to prepare you for the drastic change in lifestyle that is Japanese society.
That's my basic rundown of what the JET Program is. From now on, this video blog will tell my story of an American moving to Japan to teach English. I hope you all enjoy this blog and I will do my best to keep it updated.
I'd like to christen this blog with an introduction to what the JET Program is and how I managed to attain this position. The JET Program runs through the Consulate General of Japan and is sponsored by various Japanese government organizations, including CLAIR (Council of Local Authorities for International Relations), MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications). So yes, it is extremely extensive, bureaucratic, professional.
The application process starts in the fall, and you can apply for several positions: ALT (assistant language teacher), CIR, or SEA. CIR's are basically translators and teachers on the side, while SEA's are high level athletes. Most of the people on JET are ALTs (including myself), and the rest of the information here is for that position.
You must submit an application along with 2 letters of recommendation. You do not need any teaching experience or credentials, but it is highly encouraged that you have some because they will be useful. You also do not need to speak any Japanese, but it is also recommended that you learn some because living in Japan is remarkably difficult without any Japanese language skills. My Japanese is better than most of the newer people here in the program, and yet I'm still frustrated with simple daily tasks like using the washing machine and reading signs and menus.
After your application is reviewed and if you have been selected as a possible candidate, you get a notification of an interview. After the interview, the wait for the results begins. If you were chosen as a "short-list" candidate, that means you made it! "Alternates" are second in line (in case short-listers decline or fail to provide paperwork) and the rest are the rejects. After receiving the results, the paper chase begins. There are many forms to provide and order, like medical forms, tax forms, proof of graduation, and an FBI background check. It is a tedious and harrying process, but these forms are the final barrier keeping you from Japan. Before you leave and after you arrive, there are numerous orientations and events to prepare you for the drastic change in lifestyle that is Japanese society.
That's my basic rundown of what the JET Program is. From now on, this video blog will tell my story of an American moving to Japan to teach English. I hope you all enjoy this blog and I will do my best to keep it updated.
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