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Hi Folks,
I had always played video games and watched Japanese cartoons as a kid so growing up, Japan was always this mystical place that brought me nothing but joy. Late in college, I realized I could study Japanese and so for my last 3 semesters I took Japanese. It was hard, confusing, busy work and I loved it. My last semester, I applied to JET as an ALT and didn’t even land an interview despite having people who work had worked with JET before saying I had a strong application (maybe it was a technical glitch on my part, I remember that application being trivial to screw up). Hurt, I, at least subconsciously, I didn’t want to study Japanese again.
So time for the other pursuit, right? I love video games too and always played around and modded games for fun. Heck I played games since I was 3. Well, I just got turned down for a job in the video games industry which, while chaotic and uncertain, would have been a wonderful experience. Again, I didn’t even make the interview stage.
Now I’m motivated (and probably angry) that 2 very important aspects of my upbringing have more or less slapped me in the face over the course of 2 years but I’ve come to the realization I’ve picked the wrong battle to fight.
It’s time for perspective shift and I realized Japanese can and will be rewarding the more energy I invest. So here I go again. JET or any other ALT program is no longer a possibility but once I pay off school I intend to take an extended trip to Japan and I’m going to be prepared to communicate.
It’s a bit of some perverse motivation, but whatever gets me off my and hitting the books, right?Welcome! Good luck with your further studies. Not too sure hoe much benefit you’d draw from TextFugu after already doing a year and a half of study already, though. Just idly, why is the JET Program no longer an option?
While we’re at it, I’m probably going to sound cruel and cynical, but welcome to the Real World. Sorry, but I kinda think “They turned me down? How dare they!” is completely the wrong attitude to have. As is the “well, my application was awesome – it must have been a technical glitch” attitude. Sometimes they just plain have more applicants than they need. You’re probably better off shaking the “Japan is a magical candy land” idea as well.
Thanks! At this point, grammar is more or less okay. I know basic sentence structure and tense, (once we start using の時、level grammar+ I get hazy). I think the last lesson I studied in college was… “intended to” sentences that I’ve since completely forgotten (hah!). I just remember there’s a phrase you append to the sentence. Still have my textbooks though so there’s always review there.
I’m mostly hoping to get better at learning/remembering Kanji vocab. I’ve forgotten over 100 kanji at this point (boo!) so I’m hoping textfugu’s radicals will help. On’yomi v. kun’yomi when reading, writing, speaking, etc, is also a weak point I need to re-sharpen! I work in NYC so the onus is on me to find people/places to practice.
As for JET, I was fortunate to be offered a job/career opportunity right out of college. They knew I applied to JET but hired me a consultant until JET got back. Once I verified that I didn’t make the interview stage, I let them know and they hired me full-time a few months later. Since then, I’ve changed course and I’m paying off school as fast as I can. I simply can’t afford to apply to be an ALT.
Certainly wasn’t making excuses – I remember being worried the 2 copies of my transcript I gave to JET had “void” and since they never let you know why you’re turned down I can only wonder! The reality is my application(s) simply weren’t good enough but the nice thing is I have a job/safety net so it’s not like I’m in a tight spot.
Another New Yorker! Praise the lord!
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