I do want to try and at least post up more of my pictures of Japan this year though. As for writing more actual posts... maybe... But hey, if it is any consolation, I might start a Vlog since a friend of mine is actually willing to help with making it because my video making/editing skills are about as good as a elephant trying to peel a banana. Also, I am gearing up for round 2 of being an ALT in Japan so がんばります！！！
2013 was quite an eventful year full of new experiences. I have learned a lot about teaching in another country, culture differences and of course Japanese. I am in no way fluent in Japanese but now I can actually understand parts of a conversation and actually nod my head in agreement rather then in confusion. In any case, my goal this year is to get to the JLPT 4 level of Japanese. In other words, learn enough Japanese to talk to second graders this year.
With all that being said, knowing Japanese is a little helpful but certainly not essential for teaching English. I would say that it is more about HOW you teach rather than a language barrier. Example, you can draw a smiley face on the board point to it then say "Happy" with enthusiasm and most 1st graders will make the connection with the word. I find that it isn't so much that they have no interest but they don't get to use it outside of class, therefore as they get older some begin to think, "What's the point?" As I was saying one evening to some friends, English is becoming more of an international language and it is starting to be increasingly important to know to communicate. I hope in this year to convey that more to my students and give them the ability to express themselves in English.
Moving on, many people who are into anime or manga have this perceived image that Japan is this high technological paradise where being an otaku is somewhat of the norm. News flash, it isn't. In fact, being a hardcore Otaku is looked down upon really and except for Tokyo (maybe Osaka) a lot of Japan still has late 90s tech maybe early 2000s. Now, I had done my research reading many sources scattered through out the internet so I never really suffered culture shock because I knew what I was getting into. That being said, there is a few things which you will see everywhere in anime and manga that you find everywhere here. An example is school uniforms, especially girls with short skirts. HOWEVER, technically the school rules dictate that they be at the knees but the girls roll them up anyway.
Looking back on previous journal entries from a year or two ago, I have changed a lot. Quite drastically it seems. I feel that I am not plagued but the uncertainties of life as much as I was before, in a way I have come to accept a lot of things that have and haven't happened. I feel more grounded. Probably due to the fact that when I was writing in that journal I was basically going through unemployment, drama with love/loss, figuring out what to do next then finding myself again, etc. Now that I have been in Japan for almost a year, I feel at much more peace with myself and that I'm going in a better direction. I think that I have grown up/matured a lot, I have someone to thank a lot for that but I won't say their name. You know who you are though.
Not sure.
I do have things I want to accomplish this year like saving money to possibly move next year to the Kansai/Kanto region, get my TEFL, visit friends in Tokyo, etc. Planning can take you so far, however, you never know where life will take you. I can only prepare and brace for what life throws at me next.
Cheers,
Nathalie
No comments:
Post a Comment