Mailman

[okayoats]

I like it when the mailman comes. I like it even better when the mother's milk guy came to my door, and he woke me up, and started telling me about the mother's milk products in a polite register, and i said something like : "excuse me, i just woke up and japanese is hard" in japanese. But when you say things in japanese,you are never really sure

Comments

[sumobumblebee]

Yeah, Chinese people still hate Japan for the stuff their military did.

[spookytanooki]

ya that was a dick move, japan >:|

[princeawesome]

ew natto

[koneko_no_kanmu]

...hmm my comment didn't work.

What I was going to say was...

I don't speak a word of Japanese. Is that a problem if I get into JET?

Also, we put Kanto, Chubu, and Chugoku (in that order) as regions in which we'd like to be placed. I just don't want to live in Hokkaido where it's freezing cold. Advice?

[okayoats]

speaking japanese helps, but it is fine if you ...
a.) show a strong desire to study the language, plans to study before you leave

and b.) is that you as a teacher is more important than you as a japanese speaker to get into jet, in my opinion.

At the end of the interview, they usually ask you what you would do if you showed up for your lesson and the teacher wasn't there- basically, an on the spot english lesson that you are not prepared for. Think of a fun way you could teach english basics without having to speak japanese. Your theatre experience will come in handy.

They will probably ask why you chose your areas,and you can be like "dude, im from the south ... i dontlike cold." thats a pretty understandable assertion. Be prepared to be put someplace rural,though. ive heard thatspretty common.

oh,and you say "we"? who is the other person applying with you?

[princeawesome]

I've heard that knowing too much about Japanese culture and the language can also be a drawback in applying to JET. I hear they don't want someone to just come over and try to follow Japanese customs and speak to everyone in Japanese.

I think I might apply to JET one day if I feel like doing something different. It sounds like it would be way easier than teaching in China. I mean some days my assistant never shows up, so I'm teaching about 45 8-year-olds English by myself.

[koneko_no_kanmu]

That's good since I really don't know much about Japanese culture besides what watching anime and a select few Japanese movies (like Kurosawa's Dreams, Ran, and Hideo Nakata's Dark Water) have taught me. And Lost in Translation. Same goes for language.... I watch lots of fansubs/subtitled movies.... but that's about the extent of my Japanese language education. Though I do want to learn some. *prances off to research where she might take lessons*

[thebates]

Oh Caitlin! I miss your stories! I suppose these posts will have to do :-)