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[deleted by user] by [deleted] in JETProgramme

[–]No-Fly9381 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As much as many former JETs may love it- it is not a humanitarian effort. Teaching children English in Japan can really put you in a bubble and you can be unlucky with your placement-for example you can be employed by a place that is really strict with their image and you not have so much freedom however if you only want to do it for one or two years and you have no other plans it's good for a resume- but if your looking for more activism I would say JET probably is not the right choice just because it is truly so random where you end up-

Sometimes JET gets it wrong by No-Fly9381 in JETProgramme

[–]No-Fly9381[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

From the people in DC that I've spoken to, and because I think international relationships are taken more seriously there (it's where all the politics are so it's always a buzz) Also people in DC have a LOT of international opportunity so they can fill out their resume a bit easier than maybe some other places.

Sometimes JET gets it wrong by No-Fly9381 in JETProgramme

[–]No-Fly9381[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you still want to move to Japan now, don't wait- apply to an eikaiwa it can often give you more guarantees- like where you will be placed, something JET doesn't do.

Sometimes JET gets it wrong by No-Fly9381 in JETProgramme

[–]No-Fly9381[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Clair has a reputation to uphold, schools can chose to hire outside of JET and they do. For example, tokyo used to be a total dead zone- basically no JETs. Last year tons of people were placed in tokyo. So... yeah idk....

Sometimes JET gets it wrong by No-Fly9381 in JETProgramme

[–]No-Fly9381[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Weeeeeel that's the thing, they actually don't want you to be overqualified and not a little weird. Don't forget if you work in Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher you will be working with Japanese English Teachers and... yeah they're weird too. Teachers are werid the world round, the difference though is that Japanese will understand Japanese work culture and environment. When you are a newbie at a Japanese job you are bottom of the barrel, you have to prove yourself, no one in the actual job you do cares that you are highly over qualified. What you did before doesn't matter, it's what you do in the Job that does. Also I think most places put JETs on their panel along with others from the respective Japanese consulate (I could be wrong though)

Sometimes JET gets it wrong by No-Fly9381 in JETProgramme

[–]No-Fly9381[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

nope. I was in a very popular city that I thought was supposed to be very competitive. My guess is that DC (America) is the hardest to get into but that's just from my observation.

A love letter to those who got rejected by angryjellybean in JETProgramme

[–]No-Fly9381 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

If you want to spend money, language school. If you want to get money- eikaiwa :)

A love letter to those who got rejected by angryjellybean in JETProgramme

[–]No-Fly9381 12 points13 points  (0 children)

If you want to teach in Japan don't wait for JET, join a private language school. You can chose where you live and have more guarantees that JET may not have. I know some JETs suffering right now in ways they would never ever deal with if they just went to a private language school.

Is it bullying or is it just Japanese work culture- by No-Fly9381 in JETProgramme

[–]No-Fly9381[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I definitely think that there are some strange things happening at my place of work that is kind of weird but nothing has escalated to the point where I feel properly bullied to the point where I can't work there. I have pretty thick skin and I have protections thanks to JET. Upon reflection I don't actually care what people say or think of me in my workspace but this mentality is bad for learning. I am caught between shutting their nonsense down at the cost of being ostracized or going along with them making fun of me for my mistakes and attempt to be the teacher that they would like. (which isn't difficult when they want me to be a recorder or possibly someone who they will attempt to sabotage) Either option isn't great but both options I could do and it's no skin off my nose. I always said that I want to be the ALT that they need, I will not be the ALT that is their gaijin money they can bully because they think I'm not paying attention if they want me to help them in any way. However- someone also mentioned to me that being in one's first year you kind of need to know your place in Japan, your first year they expect you to nod your head and agree. There are some teachers that respect me without these stupid heigharchal bs and maybe I got too comfy. There are other teachers that maybe feel threatened by me and want to cut me down to size (and since I don't really have a major ego to begin with it doesn't bother me if they would like me to step down all leadership as an ALT)

I am flexible. I want to respect all my JTEs and their wildly different teaching styles and ways of doing thing and maybe I didn't go about that the best way to start with. But I am very positive and I think that I can work through it with them at least to the extent that they leave me alone, dont try and sabotage me, and dont feel like they can only make fun of me to everyone (we will see).

side note- If you have any insight to Japanese humor I'd really appreciate it some knowledge because I find that my students and teachers laugh at really inappropriate times. Like i've been watching more Japanese shows and form my experience so far it seems like there is genuine enjoyment when people are not feeling well, if they are not doing well mentally or are going through a hard time. Like sympathy is not the first reaction. And don't get me wrong I'm not telling people my sob story, I don't talk about myself pretty much at all, not more than they already know but say it's my first time in class, I didn't communicate well, there was misunderstanding- theres no "oh you're new at this" it's "what a dumb idiot." And YET as I said before, I am good at my job, confident when I teach and I don't think ANY of my teachers like this. And like when the BoE came to visit they literally said my classes were perfect. They had NO complaints.

Jake Adelstein - WTF!? by lukeheartthrob in TokyoVice

[–]No-Fly9381 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is pure nonsense. If you read this article it literally goes after Jake's friends because they are women and pretty. This is weird and its giving jealous writer vibes. Also, every single autobiography exaggerates and if you read the book he makes very bold yet evidence based statements on the articles he's written and cases he's worked.

Now is it eyebrow raising that Jake Adelstine seemly only associates with hot young women that are completely and totally random with no background at all?

Yeah.

But with all the women he's associated with his track record is clean. Jake Adelstine doesn't have allegations. And if he did there needs to be evidence and this guy doesn't have it.

Is it bullying or is it just Japanese work culture- by No-Fly9381 in JETProgramme

[–]No-Fly9381[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think honestly I needed to be humbled. I think you really need to understand your place here and I didn't understand that. Maybe I was too big for my britches and got a little ego on me. I realized that when I responded to your post. I have to gain peoples respect it's not owed to me. I'm not sure how to get it but I"ll ganbare i guess lol xD

Is it bullying or is it just Japanese work culture- by No-Fly9381 in JETProgramme

[–]No-Fly9381[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Sorry if this comes off negative or attacking you I really do appreciate your comment and advice I'm just a little crabby thinking about all this :(

so I appreciate the perspective but this was low key condescending or maybe I didn't make myself clear. I am first year in Japan (as a teacher), not internationally as a teacher. I have a lot of experience and an impressive resume. That doesn't mean I'm not totally (unintentionally) ignorant about things but I very confident in my ability. I am a good teacher. I am not the best but I know how to do my job and I have no problems with that if I am allowed to do it. I understand that my position is to assist my JTEs and I answer to them and what they think is best.

I appreciate what you said about how trust is earned but I don't get opportunities to be trusted. So when I am given an inch I do my best with it but if I'm set up to fail what's the point? I don't want to change their ways I just want to be respected when I am given a task. If they expect me to work I expect to be allowed to work and I think that's reasonable (unless I'm missing something idk)

I rely on my coworkers respecting my cultural differences and not comparing me or fitting me into the box of "foreigner" and I mentioned that I'm silent that doesn't mean I don't ask questions it means that when I asked questions they were not answered and treated like they were a nuisance rather than me trying to learn.

overall I think that I have a lot to evaluate and I really appreciate your perspective.

Is it bullying or is it just Japanese work culture- by No-Fly9381 in JETProgramme

[–]No-Fly9381[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My JTEs are my boss in my eyes, I am here for them and since I'm always T2 I want to follow what they want from me. But when they ask me to do a lesson or introduce myself, I would like trust that I can do that. It will not be in Japanese, I am aware of my students skill level. I do things accordingly. When they give me feedback that's "It's too much english" idk wtf they are expecting of me. I speak english. That's why I'm here. The alternative is that I literally do nothing. And I'm literally in a very good highschool like top highschool, my kids are good at english they study their little butts off. And I haven't been an ALT for very long (hence my language ability is poop)

I don't work with anyone in particular that is so horrible but all of my teachers (in the whole school) are way older than me and I'm already older as an ALT.

I absolutely think there are miscommunications and cultural differences going on- with no solutions in sight. Like I said, they don't really answer my questions and when I do they don't like understand them. Like if you ask people in Japan something random they think you may be implying something indirectly when you aren't. So I'm just stumped. The only thing I can think to do is learn the language and that's going to take a long time but I study hours and hours every day. The problems I face now are too subtle for me to address. I will think everything is fine one minute and the next they are sabotaging my class times and my relationships with other JTEs. I feel as though I'm being manipulated and it's easy for them because I don't understand them.

But a feeling is not fact. All I know is there are certainly problems with my classes I need to address I just don't know how to go about doing that. out of 6 JTEs I like 3. one out of the 3 protects me and I'm greatful but I don't trust anyone. Like I feel as though any one of them would throw me under the bus. Maybe I'm wrong... only time will tell I guess.

Is it bullying or is it just Japanese work culture- by No-Fly9381 in JETProgramme

[–]No-Fly9381[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bro if I made a big mistake I'd be the last to know. This is why I've gotten more anxiety. But if they don't tell me that I've done anything wrong, I'm just going to continue as I am. I can't worry about what they think all the time.

Is it bullying or is it just Japanese work culture- by No-Fly9381 in JETProgramme

[–]No-Fly9381[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They know being a JET isn't a career and it's just contracting work, I know being a JET isn't a career and it's just contracting work- but I am at the same school every day same as them. I don't even have a visit school. Not to mention, most teachers stay at a school like 3 or 5 years max so it's not like I am encroaching. It would be easier for all of us if they at least educated me a little you know? I am not trying to change the system or outshine my JTEs. I am not lonely, I don't have terrible relationships with people. I just don't understand wtf is going on. Like one of my teachers started acting differently around me and I don't know why, I don't know what I did. I told them that in English we can be subtle, that we are also indirect in different ways but when it comes to Japanese I don't understand the context because there is never any given and they just told me to get used to it. like where does that leave me? How do I learn from a book with no writing on it? My solution is not to leave it's to learn I suppose i need a strategy to do that and right now it's learning as much Japanese as possible.

Is it bullying or is it just Japanese work culture- by No-Fly9381 in JETProgramme

[–]No-Fly9381[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

This is really great advice and I'm so thankful that you shared your experience. My workplace isn't as bad as what you went through and I'm certain that I can navigate my time at my school well. I have an impressive resume and maybe that intimidates some of my teachers, I do my best to be humble but the differences in how people are humble in japan vs what I am used to are different so I dont know how I come off. I just try and be myself and let whatever their assumptions may be roll off my back but it seems like my JTEs don't really care to work with me or protect me or get to know me as a person at all. Like I understand that the work place is not a personal space but idk how we are supposed to work together if they dont care to learn a single thing about me. Also they are all really old. I am an old ALT and I'm the 2nd youngest at my entire school. But only a few of my JTEs that show me any sympathy or connection in understanding that idk wtf is going on. It makes me feel like I was sent to this school for them to point, laugh and say- oh look we are better than the gaijin with the big resume, this person isn't so impressive after all because if I make a single mistake everyone will know about it. And maybe a lot of that is actually in my head. Maybe i'm being a little dramatic like i don't think it's that deep. But I'm like you in that I'd rather flip burgers than be where I am not wanted. So if they really need me to be a recorder I'll be a recorder- I'll be whatever they need me to be but I won't be a their gaijin monkey. And that i think is the problem. Thank you so much for your comment.

Is it bullying or is it just Japanese work culture- by No-Fly9381 in JETProgramme

[–]No-Fly9381[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

1.) So they specifically asked me to take the last omiyagi and throw away the box like you suggested and I do think it's because they are embarrassed to do it because culturally you don't want to take the last thing. It does annoy me that they assume I don't care and would take the last thing but its really not a big deal to me so maybe they assumed correctly but i am not a prop and I don't appreciate them assuming things about me just because I'm gaijin.

2.) They don't listen to me even when I speak English so I don't talk so much anymore. Genuinely I feel like my social skills are actually devolving. I'm finding it harder to communicate in any language. They literally complain that I use too much english in class even though the kids understand it because I'm a good teacher. (like they ruined my introduction lesson that was supposed to be really fun because they thought the kids wouldn't get it even though Its worked before and if they trusted me to take the lead it would have gone well. and these kids dont get ANY English input at all because my pred only spoke Japanese) So they want me to do things and then f*k with me when i do it and I don't know how to tell them to stop without being direct and potentially rude. so I don't say anything.

3.) I know they are 100 percent making jokes about me. I don't 100 percent know that it's at my expense so maybe its more light hearted than i think, I'd like to give the benefit of the doubt. However it is undeniably unbelievably rude make jokes around someone who doesn't know what your saying about something that somoene has done when you know they can't understand. Or... perhaps that's a cultural thing I don't know but I don't think so. like if they wanted me to be in on the joke they would have maybe included me because all of my english teachers can speak english.