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the yellow brick road
Joined: 16 Jun 2009
Posts: 25
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 Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 4:42 am Post subject: |
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The only Japanese in your interview was reading some sentences? Do you remember what they were? They didn't bring you into the interview and hammer you keigo or expect you to use son keigo? My keigo is still weak and I don't think it will improve much before I apply. It's at the level where I can understand what I hear but forget about using it. I am wondering if I am over estimating what they expect for my Japanese level.
I am certainly going to apply. The only thing I am unsure about is the interview (I am in Korea now so this will be a run back to America (or Guam seeing as it's US land and they did state they can have interviews there). Does anyone have experience or knowledge about that? It would be a pain to go back to NY. |
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cvmurrieta
Joined: 10 Jul 2008
Posts: 209
Location: Sendai, Japan
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| Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 4:53 am Post subject: |
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| the yellow brick road wrote: |
The only Japanese in your interview was reading some sentences? Do you remember what they were? They didn't bring you into the interview and hammer you keigo or expect you to use son keigo? My keigo is still weak and I don't think it will improve much before I apply. It's at the level where I can understand what I hear but forget about using it. I am wondering if I am over estimating what they expect for my Japanese level.
I am certainly going to apply. The only thing I am unsure about is the interview (I am in Korea now so this will be a run back to America (or Guam seeing as it's US land and they did state they can have interviews there). Does anyone have experience or knowledge about that? It would be a pain to go back to NY. |
If the application states that you can interview in Guam, then go through Guam. However, when it comes time to come to Japan, you will need to fly out of Guam since you will have interview there. If you feel comfortable with keigo and kensongo, great. If not, then "desu/-masu" will be fine. No, they didn't hammer me with keigo. In fact, I was very surprised at how slowly and clearly they were speaking.
Just because they will bend over backwards for you in the interview doesn't mean your CO will once you are here. Get as much RECENT Japanese speaking experience as you can prior to the interview. I knew another CIR applicant in my area and contacted him to set up times to practice speaking Japanese. Both of us ended getting shortlisted. He headed off to Niigata. |
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the yellow brick road
Joined: 16 Jun 2009
Posts: 25
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| Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 4:57 am Post subject: |
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Shortlisted is what happens when your CO decides that he wants another CIR instead of rehiring you?
It's good the interview sounds easy as far as Japanese goes. I know for sure the work environment will be totally different. |
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cvmurrieta
Joined: 10 Jul 2008
Posts: 209
Location: Sendai, Japan
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| Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 5:03 am Post subject: |
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| the yellow brick road wrote: |
Shortlisted is what happens when your CO decides that he wants another CIR instead of rehiring you?
It's good the interview sounds easy as far as Japanese goes. I know for sure the work environment will be totally different. |
No, shortlisted means that you are given first dibs on getting placed when you get your interview results  There are three categories: shortlisted; alternate; failed. You want to be either of the first two.
Most COs decide to rehire their CIRs. I think I may have been misled by a supervisor where I work about my chances for being offered a second contract. We have to decide in February whether we are going to recontract or not. If I had known then what I know, I would have answered "yes" to recontracting and thus put the ball in the court of my division's director to make a decision regarding my recontracting. |
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the yellow brick road
Joined: 16 Jun 2009
Posts: 25
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| Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 5:21 am Post subject: |
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I will hope for shortlisted! The term confused me since I read your post about not being rehired and you said you got shortlisted; I made the wrong connection 
In the meantime I will practice my Japanese and keep translating for 'fun'. I am also working on my Korean. I am not sure if they would care for it, but I figure more languages are better. In any case it will help me with my future. I also want to build up a sort of portfolio.
Thanks a lot and if you have any more advice or suggestions I am still very interested. |
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cvmurrieta
Joined: 10 Jul 2008
Posts: 209
Location: Sendai, Japan
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| Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 5:24 am Post subject: |
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| the yellow brick road wrote: |
I will hope for shortlisted! The term confused me since I read your post about not being rehired and you said you got shortlisted; I made the wrong connection
In the meantime I will practice my Japanese and keep translating for 'fun'. I am also working on my Korean. I am not sure if they would care for it, but I figure more languages are better. In any case it will help me with my future. I also want to build up a sort of portfolio.
Thanks a lot and if you have any more advice or suggestions I am still very interested. |
Since you had told me you are in K-land, any chance to meet up with Koreans who are studying Japanese? I met two Korean female CIRs at the Mid-Year Conference. One of them gave me a present by cutting the skin on my finger with her nail when we were playing a game
She was cute  |
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the yellow brick road
Joined: 16 Jun 2009
Posts: 25
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| Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 5:29 am Post subject: |
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It's certainly possible. I am unsure about the chances of finding someone, but I do live near a great station in Seoul. This place is perfect because it's between 2 universities and one of them is the top language university in Korea. There are many people around here, even Japanese.
I will put up some ads online and see if I can find some of them. Or maybe even go to the university and contact their international students office and maybe they can help put me in touch with some Koreans or Japanese.
Good idea |
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cvmurrieta
Joined: 10 Jul 2008
Posts: 209
Location: Sendai, Japan
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| Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 5:44 am Post subject: |
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| the yellow brick road wrote: |
It's certainly possible. I am unsure about the chances of finding someone, but I do live near a great station in Seoul. This place is perfect because it's between 2 universities and one of them is the top language university in Korea. There are many people around here, even Japanese.
I will put up some ads online and see if I can find some of them. Or maybe even go to the university and contact their international students office and maybe they can help put me in touch with some Koreans or Japanese.
Good idea |
I just found two links to the JET Alumni Association Korea. Since most likely none of them are going to Japan as ALTs but as CIRs, then I am willing to wager that their Japanese is pretty good and that you can maintain your Japanese level with them.
http://www.jetaakorea.org/
http://www.jetaakorea.org/japanese/member/pages/member_03.html
In fact, I was thinking about joining this organization when I had pondered teaching in Korea after JET. I still may end up teaching in K-land at some point. |
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the yellow brick road
Joined: 16 Jun 2009
Posts: 25
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| Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 6:16 am Post subject: |
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My Korean work computer can't type Japanese, but when I get home I will write them an email (in Japanese) and hope they can help me! I am sure they can. My Japanese is much better than my Korean so I think I will be better off writing in Japanese.
Thanks a lot for the links |
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the yellow brick road
Joined: 16 Jun 2009
Posts: 25
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| Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 6:54 am Post subject: |
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| By the way, do you think an online TESOL certificate will give my resume/application a nice boost or do you think it may boost me in the wrong direction (they will prefer me for an ALT rather than CIR?) |
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cvmurrieta
Joined: 10 Jul 2008
Posts: 209
Location: Sendai, Japan
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| Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 6:57 am Post subject: |
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| the yellow brick road wrote: |
| By the way, do you think an online TESOL certificate will give my resume/application a nice boost or do you think it may boost me in the wrong direction (they will prefer me for an ALT rather than CIR?) |
I don't think having an online TESOL cert would hurt your CIR application. Every little bit helps. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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the yellow brick road
Joined: 16 Jun 2009
Posts: 25
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| Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 7:12 am Post subject: |
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| Hmm, these don't appear to be CIR hires and experiences from what I have seen so far from the links. Is the interview the same for both positions? |
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cvmurrieta
Joined: 10 Jul 2008
Posts: 209
Location: Sendai, Japan
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| Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 7:22 am Post subject: |
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| the yellow brick road wrote: |
| Hmm, these don't appear to be CIR hires and experiences from what I have seen so far from the links. Is the interview the same for both positions? |
I have read that the ALTs get asked more questions related to teaching and how you would deal with cultural differences in Japan. The CIR interview presumes that you have some working knowledge of the cultural differences (your app will have already been translated into Japanese for the Japanese interviewers)
Here is what I wrote on the CIR Homepage about the topic:
http://www.cirhomepage.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2292 |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 11:10 pm Post subject: |
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| the yellow brick road wrote: |
It's not because I am a bad person or because I ignore contracts, it's simply because I am very motivated and know what I need and want. I don't think it's a crime but I do guess JET will screw me over if I re-apply in the future for a CIR position.
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*That* I object to. JET will not "screw you over". Stop being so self-interested. JET has very clear rules that it presents up front. Either deal with it or don't apply. There's no "screwing you over" going on.
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I find my resume and experiences to be quite good for my age. I am really curious as to others experiences and qualifications that have gotten into a CIR position. If you don't mind sharing, then pelase do  I want to get an idea of where I stand and what I may be able to do to better myself.
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PM me your resume and I can tell you exactly where you stand in relation to CIR applicants and ALT applicants. |
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