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こういち先生は新しいフォ―ラムを作ったので僕は新しい自己紹介おしてもいいだと思う。
カイルと申す。去年の九月から日本の鳥取県に住んでいる。JETのALTだから中学校と小学校で英語を教えている。大学校生時に物理と数学は専攻だった。日本に来た前に日本語を全然勉強しなかった。でも最近よく勉強している。Textfuguは僕によく手伝った。でもまだ分からない物がたくさんある。だからがんばって続くよ！
よろしく。Damn Kyle, would you not mind translating that into English?
Since Koichi made a new forum, I think it’s fitting to make a new introduction. I’m Kyle. Last september, I moved to Totori prefecture in Japan. I’m an ALT with the JET program and I teach English in an Elementary and Junior High School. I majored in Physics and Mathematics in University. Before coming to Japan, I hadn’t studied any Japanese, but recently I’ve been studying quite a bit. Textfugu has really helped me, but there is still a lot that I don’t quite understand. Thus, I will continue to do my best.
How was that for a translation? Did I miss anything?
Sounds good to me!
Being an English teacher in Japan is a dream career of mine. Do you mind sharing a little bit about your experience with that and the JET program? I’d love to hear about it!
@missing – お直しありがとう
@Kiaifighter – spot on
@Miki – If your interested in teaching in Japan, the JET program is the way to go. The pay is better than other companies, you get paid holidays and there is a large network of people who are supporting you (helping you find an apartment and so no). Unfortunately, I think they are starting to make some cutbacks, so the selection process could harshen over time. There are plenty of other ways to get over here and work though.
If you’re incredibly interested in teaching and love the responsibility of planning and control over content, be warned that, of all the ALTs I’ve met, very few have any real responsibilities of any kind. That’s not to say that they aren’t useful. Especially out in the countryside (where most JETs are placed), the students have very little opportunity to interact with foreign people. This is, in my opinion, the main purpose of ALTs; just chatting with the kids in English and getting them used to dealing with different types of people and recognizing the similarities that we all share. With that said, I think my biggest impact is not in the class room, but in the hallways between class and after school.
As far as living in Japan is concerned, life is life. I would advise not to expect moving to Japan to be a magical adventure full of wonder and bliss. I think some people get roped into this type of fantasy and then actually get over here, live here for a few months and realize that life is just as much of a bummer here as it was back home only a bit worse because they can’t communicate with anyone about it. Not that I’m not enjoying myself, I’m just saying that it comes from the inside, not the surroundings.
This wasn’t meant to be this self-helpish. I apologize.Yeah, several people have been pointing me toward the JET program. My only concern is that it must be quite competitive and hard to get into it, right?
At any rate, I don’t mind so much about not having too many actual responsibilities at first. I mean, if it’s your first time living in Japan (and possibly living on your own in general), I think you can be pretty over-whelmed already. It’s probably nice to not necessarily have too much to worry about in that aspect, and to just get the exposure and experience and to feel helpful in some way. (Though eventually I would like responsibilities! Thats what makes the fun and ‘challenge’. ;D)
As for your words on living in Japan..Thank you! Im certainly not expecting it to be a magical thing. Though, I do expect it to be very different! BUT, I’m nervous for it because I do know that communication won’t be the same and many things Americans take for granted will be completely different as well. Also, I fear how I will be looked at by the natives. I know that there’s the saying “You will always be a Gaijin”. I’m okay with that, I suppose. But do they look down on you or treat you particularly nasty? I don’t want to feel as though they’re trying to tell me with their behavior that I don’t belong there and I don’t have the right to be there. u__u;
Anyway, I truly appreciate the insight here. (:
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