Orientation Day 2 – Part 1
It’s about 12 in the afternoon here, only halfway through the second day of orientation, but already it’s been tons more helpful than yesterday. Attended a Q&A session titled “Daily Life of an ALT in Japan”, where the girl, Em, who’s on the island next to mine was one of the presenters. It was really informational and we learned a lot about how to present ourselves and what to expect the first few weeks on the job.
I’m surprised the number of people who are on JET that don’t know or have very limited Japanese knowledge. I have to say, I’m really impressed by them. I just can’t imagine living in the middle of nowhere and not knowing the language at all. I feel that they’re more courageous than me, because I don’t think I could, or would, come on JET without any Japanese knowledge.
Anyways, back to Orientation. The Q&A session was really helpful. We learned tips on how to give good self-introductions to various classes, as well as ways to dodge personal questions. Like… do you have a boyfriend or are you married… questions that many of the younger kids will ask. One of the girls said she likes to answer these with “Shh… it’s a secret”. She said the kids go crazy about it! I might just use that if I’m asked.
I also attended a workshop called “Team-Teaching: Demonstration and Effective Lesson Planning” for Junior High Schools (middle schools) and learned different lesson plans I can use as well as how to best utilize the technology in the classroom. I’m really glad I brought my little video camera, the Japanese Teacher of English (JTE) said he loves to use videos! I’ll be sure to try and create some quick videos. You can actually download the video to your computer, edit it, then download the edited video to your I-pod and use a cord to connect your i-pod to a tv in the classroom. So handy!
I also double-checked the amount of schools I’m teaching at: I’ll be teaching at 10 schools in my city, 2 of which are Junior High Schools (JHS), 2 are kindergartens, and the other 6 are elementary schools. For the JHS’ I won’t really have to do much lesson planning, the teachers of these two schools will utilize me more for games, activities, pronounciation, and creating videos and projects for the students. However, at the elementary schools (which I’ll visit on Mondays), I’ll be doing the lesson plan. So, I want to attend a session here at Orientation on “Creative use of Teaching Materials and Designing Lesson Activities” for Elementary schools. After that session I’ll have my prefectural meeting and find out more about how I’ll be getting to my tiny island. Then, I want to attend a session called “Driving in Japan” and “Thriving as a Rural Jet” except I’m not sure how much that session will pertain to me… since I’m in a kind of unique situation. Well, I’ll let you know how it all goes later tonight!
Part 2
The “Creative Use of Teaching Materials and Designing Lesson Activities” for elementary schools was really educational, I was surprised at how much we learned. Lots of activities we can do to help students learn. We were also taught what our primary objectives were, we are to create a “zest” for language learning in the students we teach. We reach this objective by following a series of steps the government thinks is the best way students learn. The steps are: 1) listening, 2) memorization, 3) reading, and 4) speaking.
After that I went to my prefectural meeting to learn about how we are getting to our placement and how the rest of our luggage is arriving. From Tokyo, I have to take two flights to reach Okinoerabu. One flight flies out of Tokyo to Kagoshima, the most southern tip of mainland Japan. The other flight leaves Kagoshima to my island. We will be shipping our main piece of luggage from the Keio Plaza Hotel to our placement (should take about a day to arrive), then we are allowed one carry-on and one purse to bring on the flight. So, I’m shipping my main luggage… I took out my money and passport and one extra set of business attire and put in my backpack. My purse will actually be my camera bag. We leave the hotel at 9 am sharp. And leave on our flight from Tokyo at about 11:30 am. We will arrive in Kagoshima a little after 1 pm. Once there, our supervisors will meet us there. Most of the new Kagoshima JETs will head by car to their placements, but myself and the other island JETs will be met by our supervisors and will take another plane ride to our placements. Should take about an hour and a half. So, I’ll arrive at my placement Wednesday evening.
I also met two other people on islands surrounding me. So, from what I know so far Em (the girl who is my prefectural advisor) lives on Yoron the most southern island in Kagoshima Prefecture (right before Okinawa); then I live on Okinoerabu; then a new JET (I can’t remember his name) lives on the next island, Tokunoshima with a few other recontracting JETs; then another guy lives on Amami-shima with a few other recontracting JETs. It was nice to meet other islanders and Em told us we will all become fast friends. Em also told me that, for some very bizarre reason, Okinoerabu is inhabited by boatloads of very good-looking foreign and Japanese men – I had no idea! Also, Em has assured me I will have a great time with my placement and contracting organization. Before, I was thinking of going to the workshop called “Managing Expectations with Contracting Organisation”, but she told me not to go because I won’t really need to manage expectations. That the Contracting organisation is quite nice and will love me as long as I’m bubbly – pretty sure I can manage that.
After our Prefectural meeting, I went to a workshop called “Driving in Japan” which was pretty boring. I can’t decide if I will keep my predecessor’s car or get a scooter. It will all depend on prices. PLUS, I’ve already invested in rain pants and a rain jacket… I feel that a scooter is in my future!
After that, I decided not to go to the “Thriving as a Rural JET” because I was told that as an islander it wouldn’t pertain to anything that I’ll experience. So, my roommate Mandie and I hit the town and went out in search of food. We found a place called My Kitchen and ordered a sandwich, Melon soda, and french fries. Very delicious!
After that we got back to the hotel and repacked our bags and brought our one big bag down to the main lobby to be shipped.
Then, a friend’s family of Mandie’s friend met us and took us out to dinner and to check out the observation deck in Roppongi. It was a beautiful sight and is supposed to be one of the best views of Tokyo. Check out my pictures!
Sorry for a crazy long entry, just so much to cover. I probably won’t update until late tomorrow or the next morning. And I may not be able to use skype until tomorrow night.
Love and Miss you all!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Orientation Day 1 Part 2
Orientation Day 1 – Part 2
So, orientation has been pretty informational so far. I was able to make it until about 3 pm before I crashed. I was listening to a presentation for JETs in multiple schools when I just couldn’t focus on anything but how tired I was. I think Jetlag hit all of us at the same time. I’m pretty sure the informational session after that one was empty.
All the sessions I went to were pretty interesting, but after a while it seemed like they couldn’t really go into detail about anything specific and it was all generalizations like “try to try anything once”. But, I’ve really enjoyed it so far. BUT, I think I was smart to go get a cat nap so I could focus for later sessions. Now, I’m about to go to our Welcome Reception tonight.
OH! We met with our prefecture today – Good news! One of my prefectural advisors (basically like someone who watches over people in their prefecture) is on the island right next to me. As soon as I introduced myself to her she exclaimed: “You’re the other islander!” Apparently only two new JETs are being appointed to this island region… there are a lot of other JETs there but they’ve been recontracting. She told me my luggage will most likely be there when I get to the island. She said I am in for the best next year (or few) of my life. She is actually going onto her third year and she said we will become best friends, like it or not, because we only have each other to really hang out with. She’s from the UK and really nice (super energetic… or, as the other Program Coordinators keep telling us to be… very genki (genki is Japanese for energitic/healthy)).
She told me that I will want to have a car because I may want to transport materials to and fro, around the island since I am the only JET there. So, tomorrow I’ll be attending the sessions: Thriving as a rural JET, Driving in Japan, and Managing Expectations with your Contracting Organisation.
Also the girls I am rooming with both flew out of Detroit too and one of the girls is flying to Kagoshima as well. Very exciting.
And, Mom and Dad, you will be relieved to know that I have met plenty of perfectly normal and nice people here. ((we were a little worried over a few of the people we saw at the airport going on JET)).
We had a really nice Opening Ceremony, I can’t get over how formal this place is. All of our dishware is china and the silverware looks like silver. The maids have uniforms and the men wear butler uniforms with bowties and white gloves.
…
Just got back from a night out with my prefecture. Tons of fun, to say the least. My prefecture (Kagoshima-Ken) is full of Brits (us Americans, the four of us, are definitely a minority here). We went out karaoking and had a blast. Who knew singing Justin Beiber at a Japanese Karaoke Bar in Tokyo could be so fun. My friend took video, so once she uploads it I’ll post some.
Love you all!
So, orientation has been pretty informational so far. I was able to make it until about 3 pm before I crashed. I was listening to a presentation for JETs in multiple schools when I just couldn’t focus on anything but how tired I was. I think Jetlag hit all of us at the same time. I’m pretty sure the informational session after that one was empty.
All the sessions I went to were pretty interesting, but after a while it seemed like they couldn’t really go into detail about anything specific and it was all generalizations like “try to try anything once”. But, I’ve really enjoyed it so far. BUT, I think I was smart to go get a cat nap so I could focus for later sessions. Now, I’m about to go to our Welcome Reception tonight.
OH! We met with our prefecture today – Good news! One of my prefectural advisors (basically like someone who watches over people in their prefecture) is on the island right next to me. As soon as I introduced myself to her she exclaimed: “You’re the other islander!” Apparently only two new JETs are being appointed to this island region… there are a lot of other JETs there but they’ve been recontracting. She told me my luggage will most likely be there when I get to the island. She said I am in for the best next year (or few) of my life. She is actually going onto her third year and she said we will become best friends, like it or not, because we only have each other to really hang out with. She’s from the UK and really nice (super energetic… or, as the other Program Coordinators keep telling us to be… very genki (genki is Japanese for energitic/healthy)).
She told me that I will want to have a car because I may want to transport materials to and fro, around the island since I am the only JET there. So, tomorrow I’ll be attending the sessions: Thriving as a rural JET, Driving in Japan, and Managing Expectations with your Contracting Organisation.
Also the girls I am rooming with both flew out of Detroit too and one of the girls is flying to Kagoshima as well. Very exciting.
And, Mom and Dad, you will be relieved to know that I have met plenty of perfectly normal and nice people here. ((we were a little worried over a few of the people we saw at the airport going on JET)).
We had a really nice Opening Ceremony, I can’t get over how formal this place is. All of our dishware is china and the silverware looks like silver. The maids have uniforms and the men wear butler uniforms with bowties and white gloves.
…
Just got back from a night out with my prefecture. Tons of fun, to say the least. My prefecture (Kagoshima-Ken) is full of Brits (us Americans, the four of us, are definitely a minority here). We went out karaoking and had a blast. Who knew singing Justin Beiber at a Japanese Karaoke Bar in Tokyo could be so fun. My friend took video, so once she uploads it I’ll post some.
Love you all!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Orientation Part 1
Blog Entry # 4 – August 2, 2010
Jet lag is definitely kicking in. While I was able to get some pretty great sleep last night (with the help of some Tylenol PM), my roommates and I all woke up at around 5 am.
I don’t think I explained the rooming situation and everything here. Because there are about 6-700 JETs who come in with each orientation, there are about 3 people to a room. So, I have two other roommates. We all flew out of the same airport (Detroit) and so are from around the area.
Dragana! Guess who I had breakfast with this morning, Neil A.! For those of you who don’t know, Dragana has a friend that she went to school with who’s on JET. We chatted once about it. And, by chance, I sat down and ate breakfast at the same table as him. Even crazier, his room is right next door. Small world! I told him about you teaching English in China and now we’re thinking of visiting together.
Anyways, here is the picture of my roommates hanging out before we head down to Orientation today.
Today, Monday, is the first day of our Orientation. It’s a packed schedule and I’m still trying to decide which presentations to go to. Once I go to all the presentations I’ll updated, either later tonight or tomorrow morning (because I’ll probably be up at 5 am again )
Also, here are some pictures of the view from my room in the daylight. You can see tons more. Do you see the red and white tower in the distance on the right hand side of the picture, that’s Tokyo Tower (I think).
Heading down to Orientation Part 1, Day 1. Tell you all about it later.
Check out pictures HERE!
Love you,
Steph
Jet lag is definitely kicking in. While I was able to get some pretty great sleep last night (with the help of some Tylenol PM), my roommates and I all woke up at around 5 am.
I don’t think I explained the rooming situation and everything here. Because there are about 6-700 JETs who come in with each orientation, there are about 3 people to a room. So, I have two other roommates. We all flew out of the same airport (Detroit) and so are from around the area.
Dragana! Guess who I had breakfast with this morning, Neil A.! For those of you who don’t know, Dragana has a friend that she went to school with who’s on JET. We chatted once about it. And, by chance, I sat down and ate breakfast at the same table as him. Even crazier, his room is right next door. Small world! I told him about you teaching English in China and now we’re thinking of visiting together.
Anyways, here is the picture of my roommates hanging out before we head down to Orientation today.
Today, Monday, is the first day of our Orientation. It’s a packed schedule and I’m still trying to decide which presentations to go to. Once I go to all the presentations I’ll updated, either later tonight or tomorrow morning (because I’ll probably be up at 5 am again )
Also, here are some pictures of the view from my room in the daylight. You can see tons more. Do you see the red and white tower in the distance on the right hand side of the picture, that’s Tokyo Tower (I think).
Heading down to Orientation Part 1, Day 1. Tell you all about it later.
Check out pictures HERE!
Love you,
Steph
First Night in Tokyo
Hey All!
So, finally arrived in Japan safe and sound. It was a bumpy ride here, so it was hard to sleep on the plane. So, I'm very thankful for comfortable beds at our hotel.
We (JETs) are staying at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo. My flight arrived in Tokyo around 5 -- the JET Programme actually had a pretty efficient system set up (which suprised me, especially since Detroit's JET Programme Pre-Departure orientation was pretty hectic). There were tons of JETs, volunteering with Tokyo Orientation, placed around the airport. They told us where to go, so I never felt disoriented.
Once we arrived and went through customs, I sent off two pieces of luggage through a courier so I currently have one peice of luggage, my backpack, and my camera bag. I should get the luggage I shipped in a while (hopefully its not too long of a wait!)
It is very hot and humid here. Everyone kept telling me how humid it would be in the summer, but you don't really realize it until you're here. I'm really hoping it won't be too bad on the island with the ocean providing a nice breeze.
I have pictures uploaded on my account on Photobucket, so click HERE to check them out. Just pictures of the room and the view from the room.
Well, going to grab some dinner and go to bed. I'm so tired after that crazy long and bumpy flight.
Love you all!
Steph
So, finally arrived in Japan safe and sound. It was a bumpy ride here, so it was hard to sleep on the plane. So, I'm very thankful for comfortable beds at our hotel.
We (JETs) are staying at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo. My flight arrived in Tokyo around 5 -- the JET Programme actually had a pretty efficient system set up (which suprised me, especially since Detroit's JET Programme Pre-Departure orientation was pretty hectic). There were tons of JETs, volunteering with Tokyo Orientation, placed around the airport. They told us where to go, so I never felt disoriented.
Once we arrived and went through customs, I sent off two pieces of luggage through a courier so I currently have one peice of luggage, my backpack, and my camera bag. I should get the luggage I shipped in a while (hopefully its not too long of a wait!)
It is very hot and humid here. Everyone kept telling me how humid it would be in the summer, but you don't really realize it until you're here. I'm really hoping it won't be too bad on the island with the ocean providing a nice breeze.
I have pictures uploaded on my account on Photobucket, so click HERE to check them out. Just pictures of the room and the view from the room.
Well, going to grab some dinner and go to bed. I'm so tired after that crazy long and bumpy flight.
Love you all!
Steph
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