May Meeting2019

ScheduleTime Activity

13:15-13:30 Check-in (13:00-13:15) and Opening Announcements13:30-14:20 Group Discussion

･ Re-appointed JETs: Discuss Common WorkplaceIssues, Share Experiences･Graduating JETs: Preparing for life after JET

14:20-14:25 Break14:25-14:55 Panel Discussion 1:

Lesson Planning, Working with JTEs & Students14:55-15:15 Pechakucha Round 115:15-15:25 Break15:25-15:45 Pechakucha Round 215:45-16:15 Panel Discussion 2

Job Hunting, Grad School, Next Step

16:15-16:25 Surveys~16:30- AJET Dinner

AnnouncementsMaterials have been uploaded to the NEW Thousand Leaves CHIBA

thousandleaveschiba.wordpress.com/conferences-and-meetings/

Important Dates

U.S. Taxes

SDC 10/31 & 11/01

JLPT Sunday 12/1 (Registration Begins early September)

Apply to be a BC! Interested candidates can apply by submitting the application form to your supervisor by June 10, 2019

Re-contracting Reminders

Renew your visa if it expires this summer

Get your driver’s license!

Are your US taxes done?

Everyone except 1st-2nd year US ALTs: are you paying Japanese taxes in June?

Disaster Preparedness

http://thousandleaveschiba.wordpress.com/ For More Info!

Group Discussion #First Letter of FirstName

1 A, B, D,

2 C

3 E, G, H

4 J

5 K, L, M,

6 N, P, Q, R,

7 S, T, W, Y

Activity courtesy of Patrick Grimes

Each group member should pick 1-2 topicsof interest from the categories of Goals,Lifestyle, Communication/Japanese,and/or Work. Feel free to create your owntopic as well!

Then please discuss your experiences/share advice concerning each topic withinthe group.

If you finish early, check out the FullAlumni Survey @:

https://thousandleaveschiba.wordpress.com/alumni-advice/

Panel Discussion Round 1

Lesson Planning, Working with JTEs & Students

Angus Smith

What techniques have you found most successful when it comes to lesson planning?

Rei Huang

What methods do you apply to lessons in order to make the curriculum more “fun?”

- Videos, online/powerpoint games, etc.- Helps save time and trees- Helps keep students more engaged

Sean TerryHow do you take advantage of technology in the classroom? What advice do you have for classrooms with limited technology?

Use technology to provide context to the content

of the lesson. (Videos, pictures, visual aids, etc.)

Technology can help streamline your lessons.

Flash cards, posters, and photos can be very

useful as substitutes.

Bringing your own technology into the classroom

is an option.

Alternative study tools can get students

motivated.

Claire SeneyWhat advice do you have for building better relationships with JTEs?

Be consistent!

Keep trying to give them activity ideas, ask if they want help ect.

If you have too much free time give yourself a project.

Be honest with them and yourself.

If they want you to do things you’re not comfortable with, tell them and explain why.

If the issue continues talk to your BoE.

Keep notes about any issues in case you need them later.

Navid Goldrick

What methods do you use for introducing new ideas and activities in the classroom?

Syed AliWhat are some of the major stressors you’ve experienced at work?

Understanding how each of the different teachers taught from each other. As some of the teachers were very “by the book” i.e reading the textbook, doing just the activities.

Others were more focused on involving ICT into the lesson as such my role was more outside of the lesson. Making materials via PowerPoint or preparing videos and songs for teachers.

Others were more balanced or required me to use my “gajin genkiness" as a tool to keep the students interested in the lesson.

In terms of dealing with the issues, the biggest help was COMMUNCATION. Understanding exactly what was required of me and completing my role in accordance. As by speaking with the teachers and understanding if I would need to take point on a lesson or if I would be more involved with “theatrics.”

The best thing to avoid, is thinking you can have a universal approach to all lessons, or year groups or class. There are some class who are noisier, you need to able to find ways to spin the noisy energy into. Maybe you’ll have games in those lesson. If you have students who prefer to draw. Have an activity where they draw their favorite monsters and have to use English words to describe (the result of those were amazing and I can show them if need be.)

PechakuchaRound 1

PechakuchaRound 2

Panel Discussion Round 2

Job Hunting, Grad School, Next Step

Angelique Collin What methods have you found to be successful withJob Hunting?

- Start early! Start to get information on the Japanese job market.There are no successful or unsuccessful methods.- You have to ask yourself the good questions: Do you want to stay in Japan? How long? Do you want a job just for money and security or do you want to challenge something new?- If you are planning on going back to your country, try to find a job which is

connected with something you want to do in the future. If you want to work for Google, to be an ALT one more year will not be very useful for your future.

- What are your values?Do you want to just work for money and you don’t care if this company destroys the planet and makes people sick? Ok! Work for Sanofi Aventis, Ajinomoto, Coca Cola… But don’t find a job that goes against your values! You will become sick and unhappy. Try to find a company that has the same values as you and it’s the most difficult thing. (example: Takasago)

- You like to teach? You enjoy it but you didn’t like your school? Go to another school and see!If you like to teach, Why do you want to lock yourself to a computer ? Don’t go against what you like.

Angelique Collin (cont.)

JOIN A JOB FAIR and speak with the staff. If they look happy and seem to be happy to share information about their job it’s a good sign. If they don’t have energy, look depressed…don’t insist. It said that your life will looks like the same as the people’s life who are around you. So you will become like them in the future. (example of Bandai at the job fair)Do you want to work with Japanese people or in an

international company?

Be careful of Japanese companies who hire foreigners just for the good image of their company and finally the job will be boring and you will never have interactions with people. Rakuten hire a lot of foreigners because the Japanese people English level is too bad….

For NON JLPT

You are a native English speaker….So, just by saying “Hey! I am a native! Hire me!” you will have more chance to find a job just by being a native speaker.

Go to GAIJIN POT, you will find a lot of ads about jobs for non Japanese speakers. Don’t worry.And if you didn’t find anything…You will always be able to work as an ALT again! You could find a job at the last minute!

Angelique Colin (cont.)

Don’t send many CV without getting any information about the company.

Always check the web site of the company, if you feel “something strange”, don’t send your CV. Don’t lose your time by having interview just because your EGO is happy! “Oh! They want to hire me! I am a VIP! Yes!” This is just for your ego. It’s not the good method.

Mary TaylorPlease describe your experience with Grad school applications.

http://www.ets.org/gre (GRE test)https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/ (US Student Financial Aid)

Martin MyronWhat advice do you have for best utilizing the JET/ALT experience? What can be done now to prepare for the next step?

Know your role and play it well.

Do your best to learn Japanese and speak it with your coworkers.

Use your free time after work and vacation time productively.

Remember that JET is temporary.

Take advantage of CLAIR grants and gain certifications.

Think about what you liked about your time on JET but also what you did not like.

Thank you and stay determined!