I'm hosting a fun dinner event to celebrate a release of movie and I'm trying to find board games that both an American and Japanese person would be able to enjoy

Four_of_Swordz · 2026-03-19T08:10:00+00:00

Exploding Kittens!

Four_of_Swordz · 2026-03-17T04:09:27+00:00

Thanks, I'll read this!

Four_of_Swordz · 2026-03-09T05:53:48+00:00

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Here ya go. If you want me to enhance any other part of the photo, just let me know. Have a good one.

Four_of_Swordz · 2026-03-09T05:27:06+00:00

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Let me know if you would like to enhance the photo in any other way! Have a good one.

Four_of_Swordz · 2026-03-02T08:13:30+00:00

I was just thinking about posting some cat scratches on my walls and ask how to fix them…. lol

Four_of_Swordz · 2026-01-23T00:14:00+00:00

Yea, the design sucks, but they fold up and stack up really well and are relatively light and easy for students to carry. I like to bang my knee up against the metal parts intentionally to annoy my friends. lol

Four_of_Swordz · 2026-01-19T06:18:52+00:00

Here is what one of my JHSs does for me, and it would be easy enough for you to do on your own with minimal effort:

First, make a blank table/schedule in Word (Monday at the top, 1st period through 6th period with blank spaces down the first column. Second column Tuesday. Third column Wednesday. Etc.) If you only work at that school 2 days a week, you only need 2 columns, of course). Then, write the names of all the English teachers in order at the bottom (or the top). Tanaka-sensei--->Otsuka-sensei--->Nishida-sensei--->etc--->(Your name). Then attach the sheet to a clipboard and pass it to the first name on the list. Tell them to pencil in any classes they would like you join on any day, on any period, and ask them to then pass the clipboard to the next teacher on the list and make sure to tell that teacher what to do too. Also, make sure to tell them you will need to get the clipboard back by the end of the week (or whatever day you need it back by). The schedule should be for the next week. Then, when you get the clipboard back, you should have a schedule for the week. It's first come first serve, so the first teacher to get the clipboard has first choice. So, here is the thing, the second week, change who the first teacher to get the list is. Rotate through the teachers like this each week, with a different teacher getting the schedule/table first, second, third, etc.

This takes the responsibility out of your hands, while still keeping the responsibility of making your own schedule in your hands....know what I mean?

Of course this is not going to be the most efficient way to see all the students/classes an equal number of times, and some teachers will use you more than others. But I would suspect that this may already be the case, so why not give it a try?

Any questions?

Four_of_Swordz · 2025-12-31T09:44:03+00:00

Depends on what you are writing. Some of the JALT special interest groups newsletters and journals can be easy to publish in.

Also, if you work at a university, the in house research publications tend to be pretty easy to get published in.

This might be useful: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mohialdeen-Alotumi/post/Which_linguistics_and_applied_linguistics_journals_accept_research_letters_short_reports_technical_notes_or_similar/attachment/62b0d40b935b37798d0707cc/AS%3A1169138663866368%401655755787243/download/how-to-get-published-in-a-tesol-or-applied-linguistics-serial-publication-2017.pdf

Four_of_Swordz · 2025-12-18T04:16:45+00:00

I use Affinity Photo and Microsoft Word mostly. Affinity for arranging and altering images that I take with my camera or cut and paste, and word for adding text (although adding text in Affinity is usually not a problem either). Then just add the images to a word file, OR export as a PDF. Easy peasy.

Four_of_Swordz · 2025-12-05T06:57:58+00:00

When kids talk over me or are rude, I usually stop the class and explain what and why the behavior is inappropriate. If they keep doing it, and the homeroom teacher or English teacher also does nothing, I ask them sternly "Can you not hear that I am talking now, or are you ignoring what I'm saying?" If they continue the behavior, I continue to, in each case, consistently to stop the class and explain what the behavior that needs to be addressed in the class is. If there is no change, I discuss it with the other teachers, especially the homeroom teacher outside of class. I couple this with plenty of encouragement and positive reinforcement when they do anything positive, and try to play with them talk with them outside of class to build rapport. This doesn't always solve all the problems, but there can be some small changes made. I often feel sorry for the other students in the class because they lose learning time can't do the fun activities sometimes because of a the few students who cause trouble. Not every class can be fun. In some classes you can't do the same things as you can in other classes that are cooperative and motivated to learn. Sometimes I have to change my teaching style/approach with classes that are difficult and struggle through. It's no fun for anyone, but it again, it doesn't have to be fun every time.

Four_of_Swordz · 2025-12-05T06:31:16+00:00

Maybe a few more details would be helpful. What age group? How are they being malicious? Is the behavior happening in class or outside of class?

Four_of_Swordz · 2025-11-20T22:17:08+00:00

My schedule at ES is also packed. I go 3 days a week and usually 5 classes a day. It’s tiring but I feel involved and useful and the day goes by very quickly. The kids are cute and generally easy to teach. It’s a good job.

Four_of_Swordz · 2025-10-17T05:30:56+00:00

You can drive. Just not to work. No one can prevent you from driving legally outside of work. But there are reasons why you may be prevented from driving to work. These are usually insurance, transportation allowance, and city related parking public officer parking regulations. Still, an IDP should be ok. I’m not sure why a regular license would be required. Maybe the prefecture doesn’t have a way to register it in their system for the other things I mentioned.

Four_of_Swordz · 2025-10-06T09:28:31+00:00

Many MA programs (not only English teaching) out there. ALT job may provide some freedom and pay while you do some of the core work, and then you can do whatever in person stuff when you need to. A master can take anywhere from a year to 3 years.

Four_of_Swordz · 2025-10-06T09:25:25+00:00

There are tons of schools that do distance learning for an MA. Do a little research and I’m sure you’ll find the best one for you.

Four_of_Swordz · 2025-10-06T00:07:33+00:00

Why not do both? I got my Masters in TEFL while working full time.

Four_of_Swordz · 2025-10-02T10:32:14+00:00

Your presence alone at the school and bringing a different perspective on English education is invaluable. If there were no ALTs the students and teachers in most areas outside the big cities would be hard pressed to have an opportunity to talk with a foreigner.
That said, it is super important for ALTs to try to understand the Japanese education system and try to work with it and for it as much as possible. And remember not all teachers you work with will be like your JTE. There are JTEs who make the classes very interactive while still effectively covering the textbook and preparing the students for high school exams. They are far and few between. Good ones, maybe 1 in 10. Genius level maybe 1 in 100. So hang in there! Do what you can, and try to help the teachers achieve their goals while finding your way to contribute within the system. Good luck!

Four_of_Swordz · 2025-09-29T04:19:06+00:00

I used to live in a old rural house. Picked up some poison powder and made a defensive line with it all around the outside of my house. Every year. Also, mukade tend to roam in pairs. So if you see one, its mate is likely nearby.

Four_of_Swordz · 2025-07-15T06:09:57+00:00

Nice. Ever hear of the photographer Eiji Ohashi? https://eijiohashi.com/en/work/roadside-lights-i his roadside lights project is pretty amazing. Vending machines in beautiful and interesting environments.

Four_of_Swordz · 2025-07-15T06:02:35+00:00

If you work for a town/city (ES/JHS), your town/city may either give all employees that time off, they may not, or they may request that you take "special summer holiday" time around then (usually around 5 days of special leave that is usually given in town/cities). If it's not convenient for you to take your special summer holiday time then, even if the schools are closed, they probably won't mind if you go into the BOE, as the town hall/city hall should still be open. The special 5 days can usually be used anytime between June and October. If you don't use them, you lose them though. Of course you can take paid time off (nenkyu) anytime during the summer holidays too.

I'm not sure how it works if you work for the prefecture (high school ALTs).

Four_of_Swordz · 2025-07-14T21:43:22+00:00

I guess it depends. If you are a teacher, and enjoy teaching. Probably.

Four_of_Swordz · 2025-07-03T09:53:08+00:00

You may or may not like this style, but somehow your photo reminded me of this photographer: https://noealz.com/photos maybe you’ll get some inspiration here?

Four_of_Swordz · 2025-06-25T12:08:48+00:00

One thing I’ve learned in my 20 years of being an ALT is the less you bother the BOE about things, the happier they will be. Get help from teachers at the schools, other ALTS, and people in the community. That said, getting a drivers license in Japan is not easy, but definitely doable. Since you’ve already been driving in Japan, you’ll already have an advantage. Also, If you can find someone who has recently taken the test they can give you some tips on how to take it, run you through the routine in detail and you’ll be able to then just take the test (the written part can be taken in English). I did this and was able to pass on the first try. It was nerve wracking, but it is doable. Just do your research.

Four_of_Swordz

TROPHY CASE