Job Discussion Forums

[Sweetsee]

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]

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]

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

Do you feel any different from when you left?

S

[Glenski]

[Celeste]

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]

Sweetsee said:

[canuck]

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]

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]

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?

[Sweetsee]

Thanks Gordon,

It's good to be back. The Hyatt in Vancouver was just OK, actually I found it to be sub-standard for Hyatt. The service was mediocre at best.
I would not reccomend it. And no where near 5 stars.

The Rimrock in Banff was very nice.

The highlight of my trip was running (literally) to and from Hastings near Gas Town the moment after arriving at the hotel. That and the breathtaking scenery of the Cascade Mountains, the spa at the Rimrock and coming home. Oh yeah, playing basketball at the Y on the rainy Sunday was awesome. Got burned up by a big Korean player. We ran full-court for more than an hour and was just what the doctor ordered for the jet-lag, stress and alienation I was suffering.

Also had some good conversation with locals in Banff. They said I was the first American they had encountered who wasn't overly patriotic. They complained to me of the Americans who throw there weight around and think themselves superior. I agree with them.

I would be more than happy to field more questions about my trip but won't bore you with my opinions unless they are asked for.

Oh yeah, I believe the students were impressed by the Rockies. Of course, many tried their best to conceal that feeling but I am sure that it is a scene they will replay in their minds for the rest of their lives. Those views near Banff were truly majestic, Lake Louise, Emerald Lake, etc.
Heck, I can't wait to get back there next year, usually feel like that after travelling.



Enjoy yourself, Sir.
s

P.S. I asked after Kobayashi to no avail. Sorry.

[Eleckid]

[Sweetsee]

Thanks ElecKid,

That is very kind of you and I am happy to be back. As for the weather, the first day in Vancouver was sunny! What a beautiful city, particularly looking at it from the waterfront by the Totem Poles. The second day was rain. The first day in Banff was snow followed by clear with scattered clouds. Beautiful all around.

Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike anyone. I was standoffish to a degree but at the same time no one, well almost no one was really interested to hang with me.

Gotta teach. Have a great day.

[TokyoLiz]

Sweetsee,

I was thinking about the issue of homestay vs hotel accommodation. From about April until late November, it's really hard to get a quality short-term homestay in Vancouver. Usually, the big five international ESL schools in town have their own homestay departments which set up, inspect and manage the homestay family situations. The result is that there are few good quality short-term homestays available. It's much easier for a school to book a package from Japan than to mess with local agencies for homestay.

Vancouver's used to hoardes of Japanese students, Korean sailors, Mexican ESL kids and locals - a lot of locals - who don't speak English. Tourism is our city's lifeblood. Vancouverites and other British Columbians are quite welcoming.

Hey, you should have seen the rabble of English-speaking foreigners I saw at Kamakura last week. What a din they made! And the locals smile and nod and take pictures with them, just like Vancouverites do.

[Sweetsee]

TokyoLiz,

I doubt that my school is at all interested in home-stay. I heard that in the past the teachers all flew business class.

My school does however have sister schools in both New Zealand and Australia. This last summer a group of students went to Australia and they do stay with the students there.

I suppose that because the entire second year class goes to Canadan, there is no study program.

Myself, I am looking forward to going to Canada again next year and then that will be the last time as they said it's too expensive. I believe after that they will be going to Australia.

At any rate, my first year students are all fired up about their sempai's trip, seemingly more so than sempais themselves, and they want to ask me about the trip. I'm stoked about that!

Btw, Halloween Jeporady is fun at this time of the year, "Survey says..."!


Enjoy yourself TokyoLiz. And I would be very proud to be a Vancouverite. I reckon it rox there!

Kind regards,
S

[blue jay]