| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Jess
Joined: 02 Jul 2003
Posts: 11
|
 Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2003 11:15 am Post subject: How to Prepare? |
 |
|
Hi!
I will be leaving in April 04 from the UK to work as an ALT in Japan. I would be very grateful for any tips on what to pack and what to do before going. I have drawn up my own list but was just wondering if there was anything I was missing...
Are there any teaching materials that I could get in the UK that you would recommend for teaching 5-15 year olds?
Many thanks in advance! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2003 11:34 am Post subject: Re: How to Prepare? |
|
|
| Jess wrote: |
Hi!
Are there any teaching materials that I could get in the UK that you would recommend for teaching 5-15 year olds?
Many thanks in advance! |
Jess just a tip:
If you are teaching in a high school or an elementary school you will be bombarded by sales reps from many large publishing companies who will give you free copies of texts to try out in your classes. Most text books, teachers books etc you will be able to get in Japan if you contact the publishers such as Oxford and Cambridge, or you can pick them up at book fairs. Some companies also produce teaching aids such as flash cards, games etc you can use in your classes as well. I have the contact details of a few places if you are interested as many of them have catalogs for things for teaching kids. Of course you can bring your wn materials and though I dont teach kids I think what always work is 'realia' ie.e authentic non- teaching materials that you can use in class, but are often hard to get in Japan. Picture books, English menus, timetables, English games etc. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
shmooj
Joined: 11 Sep 2003
Posts: 1758
Location: Seoul, ROK
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2003 1:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Bring a ton of blu tac but don't let it out of your sight. It is useful in so many ways in the classroom but the little critters have never seen it and it tends to stick to them too if you get my drift.
I've not worked in the mainstream school scenario so it's hard for me to suggest stuff for you.
You said you had a list. Why don't you post it here and we could comment on it? You might find some of it is available here or not worth bringing. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
easyasabc
Joined: 13 Jul 2003
Posts: 179
Location: Japan
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2003 2:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| shmooj wrote: |
| Bring a ton of blu tac |
Absolutely - I was going to say exactly the same thing.
I just did something last week with some elementary school kids and used Blu-tac and you wouldn't believe how excited they were about it. It's hard to imagine but they've never seen it!
I can't comment on junior high school because I don't do anything with them but for elementary school kids some of the best things I use I've been able to get from the 100 yen shop here. Plastic fruit and vegetables, foam alphabet letters etc etc. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jess
Joined: 02 Jul 2003
Posts: 11
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2003 3:13 pm Post subject: My list of things i need to do... |
|
|
Thanks for your help-- would never have thought, blu tack!
this is a section of the excel sheet (with the jobs)...
Find out about flights
Book flights
Sort Inland Revenue
Sort SLC
Sell car
Move out from house (give notice to landlord)
Move belongings out from house
Buy required items (clothes, toiletries etc)
Find out about bank accounts
Sort out bank accounts / direct debits etc.
Create box of supplies for teaching
Packing and weighing
Opticians and Dentist
Enquire Medical
Get Jabs
Get ISIC card
Research Int Driving Licence
Get Int Driving Licence
Search for classifieds for items in Japan
Join union? Www.generalunion.org Y37,000
Research insurance
Jess |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
shmooj
Joined: 11 Sep 2003
Posts: 1758
Location: Seoul, ROK
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2003 3:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
My comments in italics and your original in bold:
Sort Inland Revenue
I filled in a "non-resident for tax purposes" form. It gets them off my back while I am here and they stop pestering me with self-assessment forms. You don't have to pay any tax in the UK while you are in Japan.
Sort SLC
What's this?
Buy required items (clothes, toiletries etc)
I was actually thinking your list would be a detailed list of this point. What you might think is required might not be and vice versa
Find out about bank accounts
Well, you can easily get an account here once you get settled. In fact, you are probably going to have someone sort something out for you. Don't bother with this till you get here. You might want to make sure your own bank in the UK has internet banking so you can access details from here and get a 24 hour international number for you to call the bank in the UK for in an emergency. You never know.
Opticians and Dentist
I've never done it but heard that you can get eye tests for free here at a glasses shop. Someone else might be able to give more info. Dentists here I've been to are superb and unless you're in the sticks, may also speak English too as they are well educated.
Get Jabs
This aint White Man's Grave honey. No need for anything I can think of. It is healthy healthy here.
Research Int Driving Licence
Phone the RAC. THey'll send you a form. Post it off and get your IDP back in a week or so. Once here, you can drive on it for a year. After that, you will need to convert to a Japanese license. Search this forum for how to do that.
Search for classifieds for items in Japan
I presume you mean stuff like furniture etc. You can pick up a ton of stuff here from classifieds and local second hand shops. Just wait til you get here and see what your local area has to offer. If I misread you here, let me know.
Join union? www.generalunion.org Y37,000
Can't comment on this. If you are an ALT you should be treated pretty well though.
Research insurance
What kind did you have in mind? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
