Job Discussion Forums

[think_balance]

Assume you could talk to your younger self just as you were starting to plan to move to / teach in Japan, what advice would you give yourself? What did you do wrong, how would you have corrected it and, most importantly, what did you do right?

[timothypfox]

You need to share something about yourself or others won't want to share.

[Glenski]

Younger Glenski:
Learn more Japanese.
Learn more about Japanese business ways.
Learn more about the market and what lesson planning is about.
Learn more about the law & visas & insurance.

Good job on being flexible in lesson planning and presentation.
Good job in letting students fumble about to make mistakes as often as possible.
Good job in researching what the whole business is about, and collecting data on housing, salaries, vacation time, hours, etc.

[think_balance]

[pnksweater]

Education is kind of a crap shoot. You don�t really know what field you�ll land a job in when you�re finished. You can always go back to school, if need be. But I wouldn�t stress out too much about that sort of thing.

I would advise my younger self to bring more money and less stuff. I�d also like to tell my younger self to get rid of most of the crap that I stored at the homes of friends and relations. A few years later you won�t want most of it anyway.

What I�ve done right- schmoozed when I had the opportunity. Applied for things that were a bit of a reach. I�ve landed several opportunites in Japan by taking advantage of serindipidous situations or simply applying when everyone said I didn�t have a chance of being accepted. Make the most of your time here and your connections or else you won�t have much to show for yourself when you go home.

[steki47]

1. Quit Nova much earlier
2. Saved more money
3. Started my MS degree earlier
4. Studied more kanji earlier

I'm sure there is more, but that's what popped into my head.

[Shonai Ben]

i would have come here when i was much younger.......

[aynnej]

As pnksweater said, I wish I would've brought less stuff and gotten rid of everything still stored up in my father's attic. Also wish I would've developed a more disciplined budget and routine early on. I think back to the amount of time and money I wasted during my first year and cringe. Also wish I would've drunk a bit less. Nothing wrong with being social, but it's okay to say "no" once in a while, especially when your health and your personal priorities are concerned.

What I did right -- traveled around Japan, even though it was expensive (my holidays are always during the peak travel times); bought a decent laptop and camera before coming over; studied Japanese consistently (hadn't studied before coming over, now just take weekly lessons... haven't made lightening-speed progress but consistent effort does pay off); stayed in a guesthouse until I got my bearings then found my own apartment with a reasonable commute; met loads of interesting people; went home regularly (every 12 - 18 months) and kept in touch with family.

[taffer]

Shut up more. Should have taken myself out of the equation more. When students talk about what THEY want to talk about, we get more.

Wait for answers. Patience.

Take notes on adult students. While they are talking about onsens and the World Cup, get down those details.

Not let hyper/ genki/ anal staff into my space as much. Perimeters, enough said.

DO let the sailors take over the ship more often, ie, hand the book to my kids and let them run things more often.

Incorporate parents of your students into Observation Days. No wallflowers allowed. Everybody asks and answers...They start in panic, leave in joy. I know just how silly that sounds. Try it, is all I can say.

Breathe.

Reduce communication with the back home crowd who talk -. Increase the talk with those back home who are +.

Talk more with Mom, or that Person of Most Importance whomever they be. I lost Her on Thanksgiving Day last year. Why I mention this is I was lucky enough to have had an AWESOME, (no lesser word describes) last conversation with Her, though I didn't know it then...say what you should say to those back home with not a shred of abandon. You never know, my friends.

As stated above, learn Japanese. Even the outcasts down at the Outlaw Turtle Hermits Lodge 303 agree.

If you teach every lesson like it's Observation Day, Observation Day loses a lot of it's bite. Teach today like there is a camera set on RECORD- on YOU. I may offend with that, but it has helped me.

Start children off by lining up and taking turns greeting each other. Start with order, fall into chaos. Starting with chaos is a recipe for a lesson not taught. Encourage the good ones, always a majority for me here. Recognize that misbehavior is often a sign of insecurity. Find a way for the insecure to succeed.

Welcome challenges. Sing eency weency spider on full tilt! It took me YEARS I am not proud to say, years, to appreciate the glory of getting giddy with the little people. I had always looked forward to children's classes with negativity. Now it's like let's get it on. Perhaps I have a hole in my bag of marbles...yep. I do!

Personal Agenda Follows, Warning!

When you are not on the clock, take your watch off. Turn the alarm clock away so that you can not see the accursed thing. Gazing upon the thing is a bad habit down there with bogarting. Dante's uncut version of the Inferno sends clock watchers while off the clock to the Room of Pins, Needles and Stainless Steel Colon Cleansers, (ribbed). Promise you, not a space of glad.

Unplug your home phone. A taxation of the soul if ever there was one.

Cell phones. I advise against them. I accept the flack before it is flung...but some day you will in some way agree. A taxation of the...

Look up Gracian http://www.sacred-texts.com/eso/aww/aww10.htm and the Bushido here, http://www.sacred-texts.com/shi/bsd/index.htm

That, kind fellows, is my 2 Yen on the subject.

[the4th2001]

I wish I were more patient and understood that instant gratification comes at a cost. Now my motto is: Short term pain, long term gain. It helps keep me in check.

[think_balance]

[the4th2001]

[think_balance]

[TokyoLiz]

Taffer said

[think_balance]

[quote="TokyoLiz"]Taffer said