So not too much to write about. I did just get my information package from Takayama. I really lucked out in my placement. My apartment is paid for by the schools o I only have to pay utilities. The rest was just the do and dont's sort of stuff along with some minor specifics like holidays and sick leave.
I sent an e-mail to my supervisor as the letter in my package said to. I was rather formal in the e-mail, after the 15 minutes it took me to write the 3-4 sentence long e-mail, as I was unsure of what kind of person my supervisor was and really I'd rather err on the side of caution and be overly polite. I needn't have worried. My supervisor, a man by the name of Hidekazu Itou, sounds like an awesome guy. Not only did his reply include little smiley eyes like ^^ this more than once, but he told me to call him Tom. Because all the other ALTs call him that though he doesn't know why. I laughed.
Anyway that's all for now. More to come once I get talking to my predecessor.
Jun 3, 2010
May 13, 2010
Placement!
I just found out my placement! I'm going to Takayama city in Gifu prefecture. It looks awesome! I'll be in the middle of mountains and I'm only a few hours away from Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagoya, and Osaka.
Takayama is known for its festivals and for its preserved buildings. The city's about 95,000 people and I'll be there just in time for a bunch of their festivals. I'm super excited! And because I've been hired by the city, I'll be teaching either Junior High or Elementary students. People start getting details around May 27th so I should know precisely what grades I'm teaching around then.
And so I'll leave you now as I continue my obsessive research into my new city which will likely continue for weeks. So until I get further details, bye!
Takayama is known for its festivals and for its preserved buildings. The city's about 95,000 people and I'll be there just in time for a bunch of their festivals. I'm super excited! And because I've been hired by the city, I'll be teaching either Junior High or Elementary students. People start getting details around May 27th so I should know precisely what grades I'm teaching around then.
And so I'll leave you now as I continue my obsessive research into my new city which will likely continue for weeks. So until I get further details, bye!
May 3, 2010
Waiting Again
Honestly, the JET program is a lesson in patience. One I am sadly failing. I know that I likely won't find out my placement until the end of the month and possibly not until June but I can't help hoping. I really want to know where I'm going. And what grades I'm teaching. There's only so much planning of things I can do before I get concrete information.
For example, choosing what DVDs to bring. I intend to bring a few that I could possibly show classes. But the difference between movies elementary school children would like and ones that high school students would enjoy is not small by any means. Also the lessons I've already begun planning and the prizes/stickers/things about Canada I get are all going to be tailored depending on the ages of my students. Of course some of them I'll be picking up regardless, like the map of Canada place-mat I found at Walmart, but some will depend solely on my students.
I apologize for yet another post of me complaining about waiting to hear back from JET. JET has pretty much taken over my life at the moment. I'm just ridiculously excited. Every so often I remember I'm going to Japan, not that I forget but that it becomes real for me again, and then I grin and/or giggle for a minute before going back to normal. Well my next post should be my placement. Unless I don't hear until June in which case you may end up with another rant about waiting which I will do my best to refrain from. So I guess I'll say goodbye for now.
For example, choosing what DVDs to bring. I intend to bring a few that I could possibly show classes. But the difference between movies elementary school children would like and ones that high school students would enjoy is not small by any means. Also the lessons I've already begun planning and the prizes/stickers/things about Canada I get are all going to be tailored depending on the ages of my students. Of course some of them I'll be picking up regardless, like the map of Canada place-mat I found at Walmart, but some will depend solely on my students.
I apologize for yet another post of me complaining about waiting to hear back from JET. JET has pretty much taken over my life at the moment. I'm just ridiculously excited. Every so often I remember I'm going to Japan, not that I forget but that it becomes real for me again, and then I grin and/or giggle for a minute before going back to normal. Well my next post should be my placement. Unless I don't hear until June in which case you may end up with another rant about waiting which I will do my best to refrain from. So I guess I'll say goodbye for now.
Apr 16, 2010
Forms and Placement
So I just sent off my JET reply package indicating that yes, I do want to go. It took all my willpower to keep from adding stars and exclamation marks all around the yes. Now I just have to wait until May to find out my placement.
What went into the reply package? Well first was the reply form. Which just involved me ticking off yes I want to go, no I'm not married nor do I have children, and I want to leave from Montreal. Then I had to put on 2 passport sized photos. The JET program requires your photo plastered on nearly everything you send to them. On the plus side at least they'll know you on sight.
The second thing I had to put in was a photocopy of my passport. Luckily I already had it scanned into my computer so I didn't have to move my giant pile of papers off my printer so I could use the scanner.
The last thing in the package, and the one that took the most work to deal with, was my medical form. Even then it only took me 2 days to fill out. First I made an appointment with Health Services on campus. So in I went and the doctor started compiling my entire history right there. This was not necessary for the form, I checked, but I'm guessing because it was my first visit that she decided she wanted it for her records. She started off with do I have any conditions, have I had any surgeries, and then have I had any other injuries. I answered that last question chronologically. She was shaking her head by the end of it.
Next she poked and prodded me to make sure I had no pain anywhere then she took my blood pressure. Then I had to pee in a cup. Oh the fun of peeing in cups. The test was fine, everything was great, until she came to the section of the form that said I had to get a lung X-ray. She pulled out a sheet, drew me a map, and told me to head into Sherbrooke.
So I did. Of course I waited until the next day because I had other things to do. I got on the bus, got off at the wrong stop, backtracked, walked up a giant hill of death, and then found the Radiology Clinic. I was in and out of there in under 40 minutes. 10-20 of those minutes was me and the receptionist trying to figure out if I had to pay or not. I did. After that, I waited about 10 minutes in the waiting area and then got called in. The X-rays themselves took about 3 minutes. After that I came home. My form was finished later that day, yesterday, and today I got my passport pictures done and sent it off!
I was really worried it would take a really long time. The JET office has to receive the form by April 30th so I was panicking a little. But it all worked out in the end.
My next post, which should be sometime in May, will be about where I've been placed. I have my fingers crossed for somewhere in Hokkaido. Until then, bye!
What went into the reply package? Well first was the reply form. Which just involved me ticking off yes I want to go, no I'm not married nor do I have children, and I want to leave from Montreal. Then I had to put on 2 passport sized photos. The JET program requires your photo plastered on nearly everything you send to them. On the plus side at least they'll know you on sight.
The second thing I had to put in was a photocopy of my passport. Luckily I already had it scanned into my computer so I didn't have to move my giant pile of papers off my printer so I could use the scanner.
The last thing in the package, and the one that took the most work to deal with, was my medical form. Even then it only took me 2 days to fill out. First I made an appointment with Health Services on campus. So in I went and the doctor started compiling my entire history right there. This was not necessary for the form, I checked, but I'm guessing because it was my first visit that she decided she wanted it for her records. She started off with do I have any conditions, have I had any surgeries, and then have I had any other injuries. I answered that last question chronologically. She was shaking her head by the end of it.
Next she poked and prodded me to make sure I had no pain anywhere then she took my blood pressure. Then I had to pee in a cup. Oh the fun of peeing in cups. The test was fine, everything was great, until she came to the section of the form that said I had to get a lung X-ray. She pulled out a sheet, drew me a map, and told me to head into Sherbrooke.
So I did. Of course I waited until the next day because I had other things to do. I got on the bus, got off at the wrong stop, backtracked, walked up a giant hill of death, and then found the Radiology Clinic. I was in and out of there in under 40 minutes. 10-20 of those minutes was me and the receptionist trying to figure out if I had to pay or not. I did. After that, I waited about 10 minutes in the waiting area and then got called in. The X-rays themselves took about 3 minutes. After that I came home. My form was finished later that day, yesterday, and today I got my passport pictures done and sent it off!
I was really worried it would take a really long time. The JET office has to receive the form by April 30th so I was panicking a little. But it all worked out in the end.
My next post, which should be sometime in May, will be about where I've been placed. I have my fingers crossed for somewhere in Hokkaido. Until then, bye!
Apr 9, 2010
Result!
I'm going to Japan!!!!! Eheeheeheehee!!! I can't stop grinning. Just got the e-mail. They only e-mail short list candidates. I was on the forums and I created a topic about the Montreal JET results and someone posted how they'd gotten an e-mail at 6:30pm. So I thought I didn't get in because I hadn't gotten an e-mail but then I checked my spam folder and there it was!
I'm giggling like crazy as I write this. So excited. I can't keep still. Ehee! I'm off to start collecting more websites about what to bring and sample lessons. Wheee!!!!
I'm giggling like crazy as I write this. So excited. I can't keep still. Ehee! I'm off to start collecting more websites about what to bring and sample lessons. Wheee!!!!
Apr 8, 2010
Stupid Winnipeg
So as April 12th approaches, I've become even more obsessive about haunting the JET forums. And yesterday I cam across several posts about people who interviewed in Winnipeg have already heard back. Via e-mail.
I am more than a little jealous. Not only do I not find out until next week but I have to wait for a physical letter. One that will first have to go through my mother then to me. But this is all because I am impatient and am sick of waiting to find out if I got in or not. It affects all my plans for the summer and the future.
So yeah, I'm on pins and needles.
I am more than a little jealous. Not only do I not find out until next week but I have to wait for a physical letter. One that will first have to go through my mother then to me. But this is all because I am impatient and am sick of waiting to find out if I got in or not. It affects all my plans for the summer and the future.
So yeah, I'm on pins and needles.
Mar 23, 2010
The Waiting Game
So I'm writing this mostly because I'm bored. I have about 3 more weeks to wait for news from JET so I'm doing my best to distract myself. So that I don't succumb to insanity. As it is I've been pretty much freaking out since the interview. And replaying said interview in my head. Mostly the last part. Where I made the elephant noise. Even now I have no explanation as to why I thought the elephant noise would be a good addition to my mock lesson. I think I just panicked. Oh well, too late now.
So nothing much to talk about. I'm just waiting. Very impatiently and with mounting anxiety, but still waiting. My next update should be about whether or not I've been accepted. Until then, bye!
So nothing much to talk about. I'm just waiting. Very impatiently and with mounting anxiety, but still waiting. My next update should be about whether or not I've been accepted. Until then, bye!
Feb 17, 2010
The Interview
So I just got back from my interview in Montreal. It was...not what I expected. I went in expecting a war crimes tribunal (something some JETs have described their interviews as) and found the people to be super nice.
I kind of lucked out and before my interview the seats in the reception area were full so I had to sit outside. Out of earshot and eye line of the receptionists who I knew for a fact were spying on us. Later I actually watched them hand interviewers sheets they'd been writing on. So I got some time to chat with the people going at the same time as me without worry of being overheard.
Eventually we moved inside and continued our conversation but now it involved asking the receptionists (both ex-JETs) questions about their experiences. On that part I felt I did fairly well. I was leading the conversation for most of the time and asked questions about being a JET that I think (read: I hope) were intelligent and showed I'd been researching the position.
I watched as one by one the other interviewers were called in. Today was the last day of interviews in Montreal and as luck would have it I was the last one called. A half-hour after the time I was supposed to be interviewed. They apologized for the lateness and I told them I didn't mind.
So I'm then led into a tiny closet of a room which only has enough room for the interviewers 3 chairs a table between me and them and my chair. I shook hands and introduced myself. I was going to bow but there was no room and I would have fallen and smashed my face into the table. I'm that kind of klutz.
I was facing two Japanese people, both with fairly strong accents, and one woman I presumed was an ex-JET. They took turns asking me questions. I would write what I was asked but they had a sign saying you're not supposed to release information about the interview so I can't tell you. I will describe my mock lesson though if only to explain why I made the elephant noise during my interview.
I was asked to do a mock lesson for Junior High students as if I'd been left alone with the students. I was told I had carte blanche and that I needed to do a lesson on animals. They then told me that one of the interviewers was going to be a shy person who didn't like English and the other was going to be a disruptive student. Yay me. I started with a few rounds of Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes to explain body parts. I then proceeded to do my best to explain describe an elephant. I chose elephant because it was the first animal I could remember the Japanese word for. Don't ask why elephant was what I remembered. So I started by explaining it has a long nose. Then I drew an elephant on my imaginary chalkboard. I continued saying elephants are big using a mix of Japanese and English. I then ended with the elephant noise. At which point my interviewers all started laughing and told me I could stop. Then they told me my interview was over.
It only took 15-20 minutes. Which is short. I have yet to decide if this is a good thing or a bad thing. At least my elephant noise made an impression. I have a feeling I didn't make that great of an impression during the rest of it. Oh well. It's done now. I won't hear from them until the week of April 12th. Either way, they let you know, So fingers crossed, it'll be good news in April. Until then, bye!
I kind of lucked out and before my interview the seats in the reception area were full so I had to sit outside. Out of earshot and eye line of the receptionists who I knew for a fact were spying on us. Later I actually watched them hand interviewers sheets they'd been writing on. So I got some time to chat with the people going at the same time as me without worry of being overheard.
Eventually we moved inside and continued our conversation but now it involved asking the receptionists (both ex-JETs) questions about their experiences. On that part I felt I did fairly well. I was leading the conversation for most of the time and asked questions about being a JET that I think (read: I hope) were intelligent and showed I'd been researching the position.
I watched as one by one the other interviewers were called in. Today was the last day of interviews in Montreal and as luck would have it I was the last one called. A half-hour after the time I was supposed to be interviewed. They apologized for the lateness and I told them I didn't mind.
So I'm then led into a tiny closet of a room which only has enough room for the interviewers 3 chairs a table between me and them and my chair. I shook hands and introduced myself. I was going to bow but there was no room and I would have fallen and smashed my face into the table. I'm that kind of klutz.
I was facing two Japanese people, both with fairly strong accents, and one woman I presumed was an ex-JET. They took turns asking me questions. I would write what I was asked but they had a sign saying you're not supposed to release information about the interview so I can't tell you. I will describe my mock lesson though if only to explain why I made the elephant noise during my interview.
I was asked to do a mock lesson for Junior High students as if I'd been left alone with the students. I was told I had carte blanche and that I needed to do a lesson on animals. They then told me that one of the interviewers was going to be a shy person who didn't like English and the other was going to be a disruptive student. Yay me. I started with a few rounds of Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes to explain body parts. I then proceeded to do my best to explain describe an elephant. I chose elephant because it was the first animal I could remember the Japanese word for. Don't ask why elephant was what I remembered. So I started by explaining it has a long nose. Then I drew an elephant on my imaginary chalkboard. I continued saying elephants are big using a mix of Japanese and English. I then ended with the elephant noise. At which point my interviewers all started laughing and told me I could stop. Then they told me my interview was over.
It only took 15-20 minutes. Which is short. I have yet to decide if this is a good thing or a bad thing. At least my elephant noise made an impression. I have a feeling I didn't make that great of an impression during the rest of it. Oh well. It's done now. I won't hear from them until the week of April 12th. Either way, they let you know, So fingers crossed, it'll be good news in April. Until then, bye!
Feb 8, 2010
Interview Preparation
So I have my date and time for my JET interview. February 17th at 2:30pm. I'm pretty much vibrating at this point. I've copied down every question I can find on the internet that someone was asked in their interview and I've been answering them. That's 11 word document pages of questions. I'm a little obsessive. Well my next post will be my interview experience, so until then, bye!
Jan 16, 2010
JET
So I'm resurrecting this blog. Mostly due to the fact that, fingers crossed, I'll be heading to Japan come August. So for those of you who don't know, I've applied to the JET program. The JET program is set up so that you can go be a teaching assistant in English in Japan. There's also a position where you can work while speaking Japanese. I chose to work as the teaching assistant.
I sent my application off in November and on Tuesday of this week, January 12th, I found out I've been selected for an interview. I still haven't been contacted on where or when my interview will be, but I passed the first stage of selection.
Today I went out and bought my first suit for the interview. I look like corporate barbie in the thing but at least I'll look somewhat professional. I've also begun doing practice interview questions that I found on the internet and I've been haunting the JET discussion boards. From what I've been able to gather these interviews range from pleasant to, as one JET interviewee described, a war crimes tribunal. The interviews are apparently meant to be terrifying. They like to see how you handle pressure. Which'll make an interview that I'm already freaking out about, all the more fun. Though at least I'll have a story to tell if I fail.
So yeah that's about it. I'm preparing for the interview for the next little while. I'll post when I find out when my interview will be and where in Montreal it'll be held.
Bye for now
I sent my application off in November and on Tuesday of this week, January 12th, I found out I've been selected for an interview. I still haven't been contacted on where or when my interview will be, but I passed the first stage of selection.
Today I went out and bought my first suit for the interview. I look like corporate barbie in the thing but at least I'll look somewhat professional. I've also begun doing practice interview questions that I found on the internet and I've been haunting the JET discussion boards. From what I've been able to gather these interviews range from pleasant to, as one JET interviewee described, a war crimes tribunal. The interviews are apparently meant to be terrifying. They like to see how you handle pressure. Which'll make an interview that I'm already freaking out about, all the more fun. Though at least I'll have a story to tell if I fail.
So yeah that's about it. I'm preparing for the interview for the next little while. I'll post when I find out when my interview will be and where in Montreal it'll be held.
Bye for now
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