Job Discussion Forums

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

I just returned from our school trip to Canada. I would like to know how students like mine are perceived abroad and if there is anything peculiar about 2nd year high school students going on shopping/JTB sightseeing trips abroad while staying at top hotels under the guise of a study abroad program.
I guess what struck me was the fact that the students seemed unable, unwilling or uninterested in speaking English with anyone as they coached about in a Jculture bubble thrusting their disposable cameras at people while uttering, "piku-cha, piku-cha!".
My advice to anyone going on one of these trips would be to bring a set of headphones and tunes to contend with the non-stop tour guide prattle. It seems the tour company insists the guides speak non-stop while the bus is running. My, oh my!

buffy · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 57

Welcome back. How did it go with the 9 problem kids?
Could you get to play any hoops?
I bet JTB charged a small fortune for the trip.

spidey · Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2004 4:24 am Post subject:

Good to see you made it back in one piece, Sweetsee. Very Happy

Do you feel any different from when you left?

S

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Celeste · Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2004 5:30 am Post subject:

When I was a highschool student, Canadian kids went on similar trips, but there was usually a homestay component. I think that any exposure to a foreign place is a good thing. That the kids didn't take advantage of their trip abroad to speak English at every opportunity is not a big deal in my book. Foreign travel is a life changing experience for most people, and these kids will remember it for the rest of their lives. I do think that putting them in homestays is better than the hotels, though. If nothing else it costs less and there is less opportunity for the kids to get into trouble (theoretically!)

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Sweetsee said:

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

It's the same if a group of Canadian kids came to Japan. They would speak English amongst themselves, stay in groups, admire the sights but stay in a low to middle class hotel. The only difference is that they might be a little more adventurous. Kids are kids.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Thanks everybody,

It was the first time ever to eagerly return to Narita. I was homesick for the first time in my life. I find the level of superficiality among Jfolks amazing.

Buffy,

Thanks, it's wonderful to be back. I completely ignored the gang and must say they were well behaved. I do wish the matter of the shunned student would be tackled but I wash my hands of it.
I did play much needed ball on Sunday at the Y 4 blocks from the hotel. Absolutely fantastic!

Spidey,

Funny you should say that because I do feel different. I now understand my place here at this school and I understand a lot of things better now. I was sitting in the steam room of the Rimrock Resort in Banff thinking how happy I was to not be in Japan. I imagined if I were that Jman would enter the room and give me that Jvibe. Then, I thought that even we weren't in Japan Jman might still come in with Jvibe and I would scoff.

Yes, truly enlightening experience.

I went to the ETJ Expo on Saturday and came back with new material and the desperately sought inspiration and trade secret I have been searching for here.

The combination of the trip and the Expo have lit a fire under me and the heat will warm my students through to Christmas when we will be heading for some fun in the sun in Vietnam.

Again, thank you all for your kind comments and have a great teaching day!

Enjoy yourselves,
s

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Good to see you're back Sweetsee. What was the highlight of your trip, besides staying in 5 star hotels?
I'll bet you're students weren't even impressed with the Rockies were they?