JET Programme Series: Thank you Google Maps and Skinny Fabulous!!! - Roxcell John
2023/1/26
JET Programme Series: Thank you Google Maps and Skinny Fabulous!!! - Roxcell John
As I sit to write this piece, I think about the weekend before spent studying Japanese, reading a book and watching shows in my apartment; and then I think about the plans I have to go ice-skating this weekend. This shows the extremes of my time spent outside of work, from being alone and trying to learn a language listed as the 4thmost difficult to learn for English speakers, to going on adventures with friends I’ve made in the short time of being here.
For a girl who has only ever done regional travel, landing in Japan was a surreal experience. After staying 2days in a Tokyo hotel for orientation and then flying to the Yamaguchi prefecture to meet the staff of the Shimonoseki Board of Education, I was driven to the 9 schools (typically the number of schools range from 1-4) to be introduced to the school principals. The next day I was shown how to take the train and the bus and encouraged to input my schools’ locations on google maps. Admittedly for the first month I was overwhelmed with the number of schools, teachers and students and the different methods of teaching. Now, I must say that I love it. I am never bored, as each day I get to go to a different school (sometimes I revisit 1 or 2 schools in the same week) and experience something different. In my down time, I study Japanese so that my time here can be lived more comfortably in the future.
The main goal of the JET Programme is cultural exchange and of course this has been my main focus. My self-introduction is my favorite class as I am able to share about my country of S.V.G. to the students and to the teachers. Through bingo and PowerPoint sides, the students are introduced to who I am and then this culminates in the music video by Skinny Fabulous “This Island is Mine.” In my opinion, it best showcases our culture, our people and our landscapes. Learning through experience, I have opted to take traditional school lunches and have done a bit of travelling. Even with the language-barrier frustrations, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Japan.
To anyone planning on coming on the Programme this year, my advice is to study as much Japanese as you can using applications such as WaniKani and Anki and immersion through Japanese media. All the best to you. Finally, thank you to all those who continue to encourage me in my journey and to the Programme for offering me this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
JET Series: Thank you Google Maps and Skinny Fabulous (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives
For a girl who has only ever done regional travel, landing in Japan was a surreal experience. After staying 2days in a Tokyo hotel for orientation and then flying to the Yamaguchi prefecture to meet the staff of the Shimonoseki Board of Education, I was driven to the 9 schools (typically the number of schools range from 1-4) to be introduced to the school principals. The next day I was shown how to take the train and the bus and encouraged to input my schools’ locations on google maps. Admittedly for the first month I was overwhelmed with the number of schools, teachers and students and the different methods of teaching. Now, I must say that I love it. I am never bored, as each day I get to go to a different school (sometimes I revisit 1 or 2 schools in the same week) and experience something different. In my down time, I study Japanese so that my time here can be lived more comfortably in the future.
The main goal of the JET Programme is cultural exchange and of course this has been my main focus. My self-introduction is my favorite class as I am able to share about my country of S.V.G. to the students and to the teachers. Through bingo and PowerPoint sides, the students are introduced to who I am and then this culminates in the music video by Skinny Fabulous “This Island is Mine.” In my opinion, it best showcases our culture, our people and our landscapes. Learning through experience, I have opted to take traditional school lunches and have done a bit of travelling. Even with the language-barrier frustrations, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Japan.
To anyone planning on coming on the Programme this year, my advice is to study as much Japanese as you can using applications such as WaniKani and Anki and immersion through Japanese media. All the best to you. Finally, thank you to all those who continue to encourage me in my journey and to the Programme for offering me this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
JET Series: Thank you Google Maps and Skinny Fabulous (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives