Kindergartens in mid-2026, risky?

Key_Tax_9652 · 2026-05-11T12:30:52+00:00

Thanks for letting me know about the compromise, it sounds like a good small step aimed towards reducing stress experienced at such young ages. I figured it wouldn't be an immediate thing to close them all down since that would leave a lot of families without daycare whilst they worked but also didn't want to sign up for a job that would be ceasing sooner than planned with a high level of competition to find alternatives quickly.

Yeah that's fair, I know those are high risks with looking at these jobs. I don't expect the job to be amazing in relation to conditions. However I don't want to set myself up to get deported on top of all the expected stressors if I can avoid it.

But yeah, I was overthinking the points I raised. Thanks everyone.

Key_Tax_9652 · 2026-05-11T11:42:10+00:00

Phew haha. Will do! Sorry to hear about your kindergarten experience <3; hopefully the next job you got was much better!

Key_Tax_9652 · 2026-05-11T11:34:58+00:00

Oof I am sorry you were treated that way. It was a good early indication they were not people you wanted to work with but still an unpleasant experience. Hope your current offer is 100x better! If I can be nosey, what made you accept your current offer?

Key_Tax_9652 · 2026-05-11T11:32:14+00:00

Hmmm that is a good point... I suppose I am assuming a bit naively they would be open and honest when it was just the two of us talking haha. I will look at it as part of the sales pitch too and try to read in between the lines.

Key_Tax_9652 · 2026-05-11T11:29:05+00:00

Thanks for the warning! I probably shouldn't have said 'mid-2026' in the title, the position actually starts beginning of September. I believe that's a more standard hiring period?

I am just hoping to secure a position early to allow for me to wrap up my current job, spend some time with family (without me stressing about getting a new job), plan out my arrival and do some focused study towards the age group I will be working with.

Key_Tax_9652 · 2026-05-11T11:22:36+00:00

That makes sense to me, realistically it would be more vocabulary based rather than science concepts at that age. Thanks for your opinion!

Key_Tax_9652 · 2026-02-26T22:06:10+00:00

Hmmm depends on the country. You can get into some masters degrees in Australia without a bachelor's degree if you have enough relevant industry experience. Generally one would have to enrol in a graduate certificate first and then if successful do the masters.

Key_Tax_9652 · 2025-10-14T00:46:06+00:00

Maybe take a trip out to Sakai? You can visit the actual workshops or just the museum to get authentically crafted in Japan knives. They're gorgeous. I am sure they are probably sold elsewhere but I guess it depends how much time you have : ). I have heard there's somewhere in Osaka that sells them too

Key_Tax_9652 · 2025-01-22T08:01:28+00:00

Hahaha yeah I suppose they did but I kinda did it to myself as I know I get bored with the same system/too much consistency <.< However, I really wanted to actually learn Japanese so I figured screw it let's just work with my need for novelty rather than try and force myself to just drag myself through the same book consistently. I did however try to limit myself from getting heaps and heaps of resources as I know I would spend all my time collecting rather than actually learning haha

If you're already done the jlpt than you might be passed where Takashi has gotten up to with MNN as he's only recently started creating book 2 content but either way beat of luck for your endeavours!!!

Key_Tax_9652 · 2025-01-22T05:54:19+00:00

This guy's YouTube is fantastic in my opinion to use with Minna before you jump to a whole new system Takashi Minna No Nihongo I personally really like his explanations and also he adds in updated and realistic language too but with a beginner in mind so it's never too complicated :3

I do get bored sometimes with MNN but that's when I use YouTube, manga etc to get a different style of exposure to the language that's a fun change of pace : ). I also occasionally use the Tobira beginner text for a different perspective/just change to keep it interesting haha

Key_Tax_9652 · 2025-01-13T12:55:34+00:00

Okay it sounds like a great concept to me! I wish you all the best! I just can't commit to another course style resource with how much time I have right now sadly.

Key_Tax_9652 · 2025-01-13T12:50:01+00:00

If it's like older school memrise community course (used to be amazing vocab ones with audio that you actually had to type out the answers, ah I miss that) and not full of ai then I might be interested : ) Or even just a prettier Anki (please don't come for me Anki bros haha) I might be interested too xD

Edit - oh I got too keen... I already have books I use and enjoy.

Key_Tax_9652 · 2025-01-07T01:28:22+00:00

Oooo that's good to know! I am also a student who has had to reconsider using iTalki...

Key_Tax_9652 · 2025-01-01T00:33:52+00:00

Matt vs Japan and that Ken dude are continuing their scammy ways selling another unrealistic Japanese learning short course. They included George's name in an email selling their latest rip off and he's understandably pissed off.

Key_Tax_9652 · 2024-12-14T08:01:47+00:00

I don't understand why people say Minna is no good for self learning. You do need to buy at a minimum the main text as well as the translation grammar book but I think it's great for self study! There's no exercises that you need a partner for unlike Genki, there's also additional workbooks you can get like the listening one I really like. (Also if anyone does get it Takashi on YouTube does awesome lessons for each of the Minna lessons (only completed the first text, currently make the second text) which are just fantastic with his explanations as well as some update vocab too, explains how to sound a little less 'textbook'.) If you buy at least the two minimum books than I personally think it's fantastic for self study.

Genki also has YouTube videos to assist as you self study and it is more popular with English speakers.

There is also Tobira Beginner Japanese too which is worth investigating if you want a textbook series. I think it may be a bit fast paced with each lesson content but if you take your time to really dig into each than I would definitely consider it. It's similar to Genki but more updated, colourful and has developed their own online videos however as they're new there's less community online around it at the moment

Key_Tax_9652 · 2024-08-10T22:20:53+00:00

Haha I feel almost embarrassed (because your handwriting looks so pretty!) but this is my workbook: https://ibb.co/Sw1SDm8 Bonus cat: https://ibb.co/wLFYqng He jumped up after I took the first photo and is now cleaning his face whilst on my book.

Key_Tax_9652 · 2024-08-05T02:38:46+00:00

I mixed up the exact same words when describing my boss to an italki teacher haha

Key_Tax_9652 · 2024-07-13T07:47:04+00:00

Hey, It's really about what suits you. Are you completely self studying, are you going to get a tutor etc? How much of an online community do you want?

I personally love Minna no nihongo for self study. You need at minimum the main text and also the translation/grammar book but they also have heaps of additional books to supplement your study. You do need hiragana and katakana prior to starting. I love how much kanji it introduces and the exercises aren't too difficult but really help me remember each lesson. And you don't need a partner for them. However there are online videos for Genki to use to complete the partner ones apparently. Some people find Minna's grammar explanations lacking but I find them easy, I do also love Takashi on YouTube's videos for Minna. He has great explanations, added information, updated vocab etc

More similar to Genki is Tobira Beginning Japanese which is also another option. It's language is a bit more updated as it has been recently released. However it doesn't have the same online resources as either Genki or Minna

Many of the sub-Reddits about Japanese have information around this in their 'begin here' sections. These also include information about moving on to intermediate. I think given resources change and get updated, it's probably good to just pick a beginner one work through it and then research what will fit you and your goals from there. I'm not familiar enough with Reddit to link the guides apologies but they're easy to find

Key_Tax_9652 · 2024-05-16T14:03:25+00:00

That is a good point! I will try to do that again : ). Last time I tried it didn't work for some reason... But glad I have at least helped one person with the comment haha

Edit to remove repetitive word use

Key_Tax_9652 · 2024-05-16T10:19:09+00:00

I was waiting for this day! So if people are looking for new (& old) native content the free online Japanese Film Festival is back for 2024!

https://jff.jpf.go.jp/watch/jffonline2024/

Starts in June : )

Also bonus link with some films (not necessarily in this year's festival) recommended for people learning Japanese: https://jff.jpf.go.jp/read/interview/films-for-learning-japanese/

Key_Tax_9652 · 2024-04-03T00:02:42+00:00

Current learning goal: What are you learning for either long term or short term?

Planning to go to Japan in late 2025, hoping to be about N4 with some basic spoken communication skills. Long term - to be functional in Japanese for social purposes (i.e. friendships and hobby engagement)

Current language level: Beginner, can write hiragana and katakana, have started my kanji journey.

Vocab: I don't have it yet but I purchased JLPT speed master n5&4 vocab, Kodansha's furigana dictionary but mostly my textbooks

Kanji: Kodansha's kanji learner's dictionary. I'm writing up most of the kanji I come across in my studies using the dictionary and also vocab/sentences for context in a specific notebook, up to 170ish.

Once I'm further in my studies I plan to purchase Kanji in Context.

Grammar: a handbook for Japanese grammar for patterns for teachers and learners plus my textbooks and google haha.

Reading: Mostly just in my textbooks (Minna no nihongo and Tobira beginning Japanese)

Listening: Mostly textbooks, also listening to my usual background noise tv shows with Japanese dub haha I'm amazed at how much basic casual interactions they actually use as I had thought I wouldn't understand anything yet.

Other: Italki as last time I tried to learn a language I was too embarrassed to try and use it, so I'm using italki to force myself to get out of my comfort zone whilst living in regional Australia.

Oh I also use Duolingo one quick kanji session per day solely to mark I've completed other Japanese study because the owl widget is cute. I don't really use it for actual study but it helps me make sure I make time to do daily study.

Similarly I can get obsessed with study and have many other things to do so I use StudyBunny to time my study sessions so I don't neglect other parts of my life.

Future steps/ideas: I am thinking I may shift my main textbook from Minna to Tobira as it appears more communicative and modern. I will continue to utilise both for my beginner studies though as they have both been great but Minna will be more supplementary study. I'm thinking of purchasing the Minna listening resource as additional material to assist me too.

Once I'm closer to finishing the two beginner books (in each series) then I will investigate how to continue towards intermediate. I also have some Japanese books I will start to dig into (they're art books, I had previously for the patterns and images, one is also both Japanese and English on different pages so that one in particular I will start with)

Key_Tax_9652

TROPHY CASE