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Welcome to the JET Program Resource Centre
You are currently on the site as an anonymous visitor (or are not logged in). If you are a registered user, log-in using the login box on the right. If you are a new user, why not join up today. You can learn more here about why being a member is good.
You can look here to get more information on this site and how it works.
We Welcome Visitor Contributions:
Are you a JET, or wanting to be on JET? Other people just like you would love to read about your experiences, questions, interview details, lesson ideas, cultural stories, or just about anything else about JET and Japan.
Just use the "SUBMIT STORY" link on the right. If you write it, I'll publish it with full credit and many thanks of our fellow readers.
Thanks.
Eric Koshinsky
Former Akita JET and Prefectural Advisor
Carleton University ESL Instructor
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A Walll Between Haves and Have Nots
Posted by: Michael on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 12:49 AM EDT |
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I am applying for the JET program when applications are again given out in September. Until then, I'm trying very hard to get in touch with experienced people, and research as much as I can about whatever preparations I can make. This is turning out to be quite a chore.
Until you have a post in Japan as a JET, you can't register for the "mentor" site on jet.org, and I haven't come up with a way to use these resources without registration. (Frustrating, because I am PRECISELY in need of a mentor.) I have gone to the Japanese Consulate's visitor library, where I hoped to see a compilation of JET (and perhaps several other foreign nationals') experiences in Japan. I was interested in their chosen jobs, locations, tips and tricks to living a happy and productive life in Japan, and what they thought of what they accomplished: I found there was no such book. I am, however, reading the 2003 printing of "Live and Work in Japan," by Mr. and Mrs. Dave Roberts. Not exactly what I had in mind, not comprehensive, but my most valuable insight so far.
I was interviewed yesterday at St Giles school, which offers a CELTA program, and asked the interviewer if I could talk to past graduates who have worked in Japan, and ask them what they thought of the CELTA, what they thought of their jobs and their experiences, and if they thought the CELTA course was worth its price: I was shot down outright. "We will not do your research for you." Yes, they have an Alumni association. You can you use it when you're an alumni. But once I'm holding the certificate in my hand, whether or not this is a good thing, they've got me, haven't they?
I've registered at some private sites, such as Dave's ESL cafe, in hopes of finding some warm-blooded, honest insight into people's experiences. When I go into the chat rooms and forums, people are yacking about who is coming back from a nasty cold, if Sally got the CDs in the mail that Charley sent her, and who is sleeping over at Harry's house this weekend. Of the few who would even bother to talk to me, a stranger, none would really take my questions seriously.
I haven't been able to find any designations--even in the collection of forums at the JET resource center--that adressed my questions in a no-nonsense, matter-of-fact way. Frank opinions are hard to find.
It seems as though everyone is more than happy to talk to Michael, the JET member, the CELTA holder, the FORMER ESL teacher...but nobody wants anything to do with Michael, the not-yet-a-member, the deciding-whether-CELTA-is-a-useful-investment, the haven't-gone-but-determined-to-do-it-right-when-I-get-there ESL teacher in Japan. Am I doing something wrong?
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Overseas Travel - The inns and outs
Posted by: Eric on Wednesday, September 04, 2002 - 04:01 AM EDT |
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Being in Japan provides you with an excellent opportunity to see the rest of Asia. While it may seem like an odd time to bring this up, now is the best time to start thinking about and preparing for your Christmas holidays! I know, I know, you've only been in school for like 2 weeks, but in a very real way, its now or never! There are plenty of countries you can get to within a five or six hour 40 or 50 thousand yen plane ride. Not only is travelling abroad from Japan convenient, it is also pretty cheap. Given the level of our salary, which is high, and the much lower cost of living in almost every other country in Asia (apart perhaps from Hong Kong and Singapore), it is far cheaper to travel overseas than to travel within Japan. Indeed the price of travelling, staying in hotels and eating out every night for two weeks in southeast Asia wouldn't be that far off the cost of normal day to day living for the same period of time spent in Japan. You shouldn't need to take more than 100,000 -120,000 yen with you to have a good time in two weeks and you should have some change out of that. So basically there is no excuse, choose a destination, arrange a flight from an agent (see below), and off you go. If you aren't taking at least three foreign holidays a year - what's wrong with you!?!
Read on for more info...
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Karate Do - The way of the hand
Posted by: Eric on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 11:41 PM EDT |
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Karate History
Most Western students of Asian martial arts, if they have done any research on the subject at all, will surely have come across references to Bodhidharma. He is known as "Daruma" in Japan and as often as not, this Indian Buddhist monk is cited as the prime source for all martial arts styles or at the vary least, for any style which traces its roots back to the fabled Shaolin Temple. However, the question of his contributions to the martial arts and to Zen buddhism and even of his very existence has been a matter of controversy among historians and martial arts scholars for many years(Spiessbach,1992).
As legend has it, the evolution of karate began over a thousand years ago, possibly as early as the fifth century BC when Bodhidharma arrived in Shaolin-si(small forest temple), China from India and taught Zen Buddhism. He also
introduced a systematized set of exercises designed to strengthen the mind and body, exercises which allegedly marked the beginning of the Shaolin style of temple boxing. Bodhidharma's teachings later became the basis for the majority of Chinese martial arts. In truth, the origins of karate appear to be somewhat
obscure and little is known about the early development of karate until it appeared in Okinawa.
To read more, click the link below...
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Japanese Culture and Life -- Sushi
Posted by: Eric on Thursday, April 18, 2002 - 12:08 PM EDT |
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Sushi is the classic Japanese food. It is delicious, healthy, and for us westerners, quite unique.
While going to a Sushi restaurant can be a pricey affair, it doesn't have to be. High end sushi joints can set you back $200+ per person, but good local shops will be more like $15-$20.
At a proper sushi place, you order a "level' of sushi (basic, medium, or high - futsu, chuu, Jo). The chef then makes it for you fresh and it is brought to you. It is always served with ginger, and usually Japanese pickles (tsukemono). You can always (and should always) get miso soup with it.
Often it is served in a 'bowl' like the one on the left, or on a plate made of Japanese cedar. Normally in such a case you will get 10-14 pieces of sushi on the plate. Of course you can always order more if you want. The chart below should help out.
You can look at a chart of the most common types of sushi here
Read on for more great info on sushi...
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Japanese Culture and Life Series: Onsen
Posted by: Eric on Sunday, April 07, 2002 - 01:28 PM EDT |
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Hot springs have a very long history in Japan, and they are an intimate part of Japanese culture. There are over 3,000 "onsen" - or hot springs - in Japan. Onsen are created from water heated naturally underground, and the water varies both in degrees and in mineral composition. The water is piped into the ryokans or other establishments, and then regulated at various temperatures.
Note:Look for more in the Japanese Culture and Life Series in the days and weeks to come.
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