• BORDERLESS HOUSE: Clean & Cozy International Share / Guest Houses. More than 2,500 beds in central Tokyo such as Harajuku, Ikebukuro etc. All rooms are furnished! Private Room: ¥ 60,000〜/ Shared Room: ¥37,000〜


• Aki House and others: Green Forest Corporation: Aki House is a small Gaijin House right in the centre of Tokyo (Iidabashi) offering affordable accommodation for those who stay a little bit longer. Staff is very friendly and speaks English. Attached to the hostel is a small capsule hotel.


• Nagasaki International Hostel AKARI: By far the best place to stay in Nagasaki. Very friendly owners, more than reasonable room rates, clean and nice single and shared rooms, community area etc.


• Backpackers Hostel Ino's Place: Cozy hostel in Sapporo, not far from the city center. The owners speak English very well and can help with everything.

AAAL

American Association for Applied Linguistics (Web site)

ACET

Association of Children's English Teachers (Web site)

ACTFL

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (Web site)

ACTJ

Association of Canadian Teachers in Japan (Web site)

AET

Assistant English Teacher

ALT

Assistant Language Teacher (part of JET)

ALM

Audio-lingual Method (depends on mimicry, memorization of set phrases and repetitive drills; vocabulary is learned in context and there is extensive of audio tapes and visual aids; evolved from the Direct Method)

ARELS

Association of Recognised English Language Services. The representative body of private accredited English language schools in the UK. Formed in 1960, it is the longest-established ELT association in the world. (Web site)

BAAL

British Association for Applied Linguistics (Web site)

BALT

British Association for Language Teaching

BASELT

British Association of State English Language Teaching (Web site)

BC

British Council (Web site | BC Japan web site)

BULATS

Business Language Testing Service (provided by Cambridge ESOL Web site)

CALL

Computer Assisted Language Learning

CEELT

Cambridge Examination in English for Language Teachers (Web site)

CELTA

Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (was CTEFLA; Web site)

CIEE

Council on International Educational Exchange (Japan representative for the TOEFL; Web site)

CILT

Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research (Web site)

CILTS

Cambridge Integrated Language Teaching Schemes (Web site)

CIR

Coordinator of International Relations (part of JET)

CLAIR

Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (part of JET; Web site)

CLT

Communicative Language Teaching

COTE

Certificate for Overseas Teachers of English (Web site)

CPE

Certificate of Proficiency in English (Web site)

CTEFLA

See CELTA

CUP

Cambridge University Press (CUP Japan web site)

CWAJ

College Women's Association of Japan (Web site)

DBE

Developmental Bilingual Education (similar to but more gradual than TBE, and continues development of the student's native language after English proficiency is achieved)

DEH

David English House

DELTA

Diploma in English Language Teaching for Adults (was DTEFLA) (Web site)

DM

Direct Method (instruction in the target language, teaching everyday vocabulary, and with an inductive approach to grammar; the first of the 'natural' methods)

DOS, DoS

Director of Studies

DOTE

Diploma for Overseas Teachers of English (Web site)

DTEFLA

See DELTA ]]> http://www.eltnews.com/features/guide/2009/01/acronyms_a-d.html http://www.eltnews.com/features/guide/2009/01/acronyms_a-d.html Terminology Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:57:28 +0900

EAL

English as an Additional Language

EAP

English for Academic Purposes

EAT

European Association of Teachers (Web site)

ECIS

European Council of International Schools (Web site)

EFL

English as a Foreign Language (mostly UK)

ELD

English Language Development

ELICOS

English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (Australia; Web site)

ELT

English Language Training or English Language Teaching

EPP

English for Professional Purposes

ESID

Every Situation is Different (often used in the JET Program to describe the varying circumstances of its many participants)

ESL

English as a Second Language (mostly US)

ESOL

English for Speakers of Other Languages

ESP

English for Specific Purposes

EST

English for Science and Technology

ESUJ

English-Speaking Union of Japan (Web site)

ETJ

English Teachers in Japan (Web site)

GTM

Grammar Translation Method (label to describe the 'traditional' teaching methods used before communicative aproaches were developed toward the end of the 20th century; still very popular in Japan)

IALLT

International Association for Language Learning Technology (Web site)

IATEFL

International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (Web site)

IIEEC

Institute for International English Education of Children (Web site)

IELTS

International English Language Testing System (Web site)

IPA

International Phonetic Alphabet or International Phonetic Association (Web site)

JACET

Japan Association of College English Teachers (Web site)

JALA

Japan Anthropological Linguistic Association (Web site)

JALT

Japan Association for Language Teaching (Web site)

JASELE

Japan Society of English Language Education (Web site)

JET

Japanese Exchange and Teaching Program(me) (Government web site)

JETAA

JET Alumni Association (Web site)

JTE

Japanese Teacher of English

K-12

Kindergarten to 12th grade (based on the US school system)

KOTESOL

Korea Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (Web site)

L1

First Language (the student's native language)

L2

Second Language (the language the student is learning; also referred to as Target Language)

LAD

Language Acquisition Device (universal, genetic ability to acquire language; idea developed by Noam Chomsky)

LATEM

Little America Teaching English Methods (Web site)

LCCIEB

London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Examinations Board (Web site)

LEP

Limited English Proficiency (usually used for children in a country other than their native-language environment)

LES

Limited English Speaker

LIOJ

Language Institute of Japan (Web site)

LLA

Language Laboratory Association of Japan (Web site) ]]> http://www.eltnews.com/features/guide/2009/01/acronyms_e-l.html http://www.eltnews.com/features/guide/2009/01/acronyms_e-l.html Terminology Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:50:43 +0900

MELTA

Malaysian English Language Teaching Association; Web site)

MLAT

Modern Language Aptitude Test (developed at Harvard University and published by the Psychological Corporation; Web site)

MLU

Mean Length of Utterance (Means of calculating the linguistic activity or proficiency of young children; in short, the number of words spoken divided by the number of times they speak)

NA

Natural Approach (stresses simplified conversation and visual or physical cues to make English input comprehensible)

NATESOL

Northern Association of Teachers of English for Speakers of Other Languages (UK; Web site)

NCTE

National Council of Teachers of English (US; Web site)

NLP

Neurolinguistic Programming (based around the idea of the mind map, which helps the student to express in English their inner virtual world)

NNS

Non-native Speaker

NS

Native Speaker

ODA

Overseas Development Agency

OHP

Overhead projector

OUP

Oxford University Press (OUP Japan web site)

PGCE

Post Graduate Certificate in Education (for teaching in UK state sector; Web site)

PPP

Presentation, Practice, Production (Presenting new language; Practicing the language with controlled exercises; Producing the language with free exercises)

RP

Received Pronunciation (the accent of English which is considered a mark of an educated speaker; sometimes referred to as Standard English or BBC English)

RSA

The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (Web site)

SAIP

Special Alternative Instructional Program (a form of immersion education in which students are taught primarily through sheltered English techniques, with the native language used as little as possible; does not promote the development of bilingual skills)

SIG

Special Interest Group

SL

Second Language (in this case, English)

SLA

Second Language Acquisition

STEP

The Society for Testing of English Proficiency (test also known as Eiken; Web site)

STT

Student talking time

SW

Silent Way (a teaching approach where the teacher is as silent as possible and students 'discover' language for themselves)

TBE

Transitional Bilingual Education (teaching students in their native language and phasing in English instruction)

TEAL

Teaching of English as an Additional Language (Canada; Web site)

TEFL

Teaching of English as a Foreign Language (mostly UK; Web site)

TENAR

Teaching English for No Apparent Reason (one of several facetious expressions used to describe a learning situation where the purpose is, at best, vague; this includes language courses that apparently exist merely to allow students to meet university graduation requirements; common in Japan)

TENOP

Teaching English for No Obvious Purpose (see TENAR)

TENOR

Teaching English for No Obvious Reason (see TENAR)

TESL

Teaching of English as a Second Language (mostly US)

TESOL

Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (Web site)

TL

Target Language

TOEFL

Test of English as a Foreign Language (commonly used to gauge English ability for university entrance; Web site)

TOEIC

Test of English for International Communication (commonly used in Japan to test proficiency in English for business purposes; a minimum TOEIC score is increasingly being used as a job requirement; Web site)

TPR

Total Physical Response (ususally used with children to get them to respond physically to learned language)

TSE

Test of Spoken English

TT

Team Teaching

TTT

Teacher Talking Time (for giving motivation, instructions and exposure to the new language)

TWE

Test of Written English

UCLES

University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (Web site)

UG

Universal Grammar

USIA

United States Information Agency (Web site)

VSO

Voluntary Service Overseas (UK web site; Canada web site) ]]> http://www.eltnews.com/features/guide/2009/01/acronyms_m-z.html http://www.eltnews.com/features/guide/2009/01/acronyms_m-z.html Terminology Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:49:43 +0900 米国

beikoku

The USA (Amerika is usually used) ボールペン

bohru pen

ballpoint pen 文法

bunpoh

grammar 文章

bunshoh

sentence 中学校

chuu-gakkoh

junior high school, middle school 大学

daigaku

university 大学院

daigakuin

(post) graduate school 動詞

dohshi

verb 動名詞

dohmeishi

gerund 英語

eigo

English 英検

eiken

English proficiency test administered by STEP 英会話

eikaiwa

English conversation 英国

eikoku

the UK (Igirisu is usually used) 鉛筆

enpitsu

pencil 副詞

fukushi

adverb 複数（名詞）

fukusuu (meishi)

plural (noun) 学校

gakkoh

school 合宿

gasshuku

study camp 現在（形）

genzai (kei)

present (tense) 保健室

hokenshitsu

(school) infirmary イギリス

igirisu

the UK 辞書

jisho

dictionary 過去（形）

kako (kei)

past (tense) 契約

keiyaku

contract 形容詞

keiyohshi

adjective 欠席

kesseki

absence 消しゴム

keshi gomu

eraser 期末試験

kimatsu shiken

end-of-term test 高校

kohkoh

(senior) high school 校長先生

kohchoh sensei

school principal 黒板

kokuban

blackboard 答え

kotae

answer 教育

kyouiku

education 教科書

kyoukasho

textbook 教室

kyoushitsu

classroom 給料

kyuuryoh

salary, pay 授業

jugyoh

lesson 名詞

meishi

noun 未来（形）

mirai (kei)

future (tense) 文部科学省

mombu-kagakushoh

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (was Mombushoh) 文部省

mombushoh

Ministry of Education (see Mombu-kagakushoh) 問題

mondai

problem, question 年末試験

nenmatsu shiken

end-of-year test 入学試験

nyuugaku shiken

entrance examination 履歴書

rirekisho

resume, curriculum vitae (CV) 成績

seiseki

exam grades, results 生徒

seito

student 席

seki

seat 専門学校

senmon-gakkoh

special (professional) school, technical school 先生

sensei

teacher, Mr./Ms.... 試験

shiken

test, exam

shin-eiken

New Association of English Teachers 質問

shitsumon

question 小学校

shoh-gakkoh

elementary school, primary school 出席（を取る）

shusseki (wo toru)

(check the) attendance/roll 出席簿

shussekibo

attendance/roll book 総合的な学習の時間

sohgohtekina gakushuu no jikan

"period for integrated study," often used for English classes in elementary schools 単語

tango

word 短期大学

tanki-daigaku

junior college (2-year) 単数（名詞）

tansuu (meishi)

singular (noun) 机

tsukue

desk 綴り

tsuzuri

spelling 幼稚園

yohchien

kindergarten ]]> http://www.eltnews.com/features/guide/2009/01/japanese_eltrelated_words.html http://www.eltnews.com/features/guide/2009/01/japanese_eltrelated_words.html Terminology Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:48:43 +0900 CIR or ALT?
I had originally applied to be a CIR (Coordinator of International Relations) at the recommendation of my Japanese professors, but got a call from a woman at the JET office in Washington early on after applying. She explained that I probably didn't have enough Japanese experience at the time and offered to change my application to the ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) category (which I gratefully accepted).

While I wish that I'd been able to demonstrate my Japanese ability in an interview -- indeed, I think I spoke and read more Japanese upon arrival than at least a couple of the new CIRs I met -- I have no regrets about becoming an ALT instead, and appreciated the chance to change my application. I should note that this is not necessarily standard procedure, and that the decision of whether to apply as a CIR or an ALT should not be taken lightly. At least three years of college-level Japanese including participation in an exchange program seems to be the minimum for consideration.

There are currently over 6,100 participants in the JET Program, 90% of them as Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs). ALT's team-teach with Japanese teachers in junior and senior high schools.

I think the things which helped my application the most were my previous experience abroad in Tokyo, excellent letters of recommendation thanks to my Japanese professors, and an articulate essay and interview. (You'd be surprised how many people who apply simply don't write clearly). I think that experience abroad, not necessarily to Japan, but to pretty much any foreign country, is one of the most revealing standards they have to judge an applicant by.

I'm not sure how much my Japanese ability helped in getting me the job. I do know, however, that I have benefited tremendously from being able to understand what's going on here in day to day life. I will go so far as to say that I think my experience has been better than those of some of my peers because of that.

All things considered, Japan is relatively easy to get along in on English alone, given a flexible personality and the right acquaintances -- but, it's a whole lot easier, especially on the nerves, if one can get along in the vernacular. A semester of college-level Japanese provides the basic survival skills, and all the foundation grammar should be covered by the third semester. In my opinion, a very worthwhile investment.

My first piece of advice is: even if you want to live in a big city, don't request Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto. Those are the places that people who've never been here have heard of and ask for, and account for an extremely small percentage of all available slots. One problem is that the big cities have plenty of foreign teachers to choose from without needing JETs at all. Indeed, many expect that the rural JET would have the toughest time here, but in many ways I think the urban JETs actually have it worst. Basically, big Japanese cities are lots of fun so long as you don't have to live in them.

The deadline of application is usually in December. Applicants are notified in March, and successful participants arrive to Japan in July or early August.

While I definitely classify myself as a city boy, and have lived in or near some huge metropolis all my life, I can't say that I'd rather be working in Tokyo. I've lived in Tokyo before, and compared to my life here out in the mountains, that was hell. Fun for a few months, but definitely urban hell. I lived in a small cell of an apartment/dorm room about fifteen minutes outside the Yamanote loop (which encircles the densest region) and shared a kitchen and bathroom with three other guys. That was discount foreign student housing.

Here, I command a modest two-room plus kitchen and bath apartment suitable for a small family, approximately six times the space, at about the same rent (half if you consider my Board of Ed's subsidy). My commute here ranges from three to thirty minutes by scooter; in Tokyo, it was an hour door to door from my apartment to school, which is enviably short for most Tokyo lifestyles. It is easy to presume that living in a huge city is more fun than living out in the boon docks. Well, maybe. There are certainly more theatres, museums, amusement parks, indoor ski domes and other 'entertainment facilities' in the urban jungle. And I have to say that Tokyo is a great town for a date.

But since most of us are trying to save at least a little money, and I, at least, don't find myself in dating situations enough to make them a major factor (duly noted on the to-do list), this is all of limited consideration. When you take a look at what young Japanese really do for fun when they go out at night, it basically amounts to eating and drinking, singing karaoke, playing pachinko and video games, and whatever it is that significant others do with each other after the parties are over (wouldn't know). The facilities for these activities -- typically pubs, karaoke boxes, arcades, pachinko parlors, and hotels shaped like castles, exist in any place in Japan with enough people to justify a dot on the map.

Yeah, the Tokyo ones are flashier, but they cost twice as much for the same thing, and out here at least they remember your name. After the sensory overload of Tokyo's night scene wears off, I'm not sure there's all that much practical difference between how you'd spend your off-hours time there and in any of the hundreds or thousands of less notable cities on the islands.

When you are informed of what location you will be working in, it may be as vague as just the name of the prefecture.

Urban hell
I made the 90-minute trip into Tokyo quite frequently when I first arrived here as a JET -- nearly once a week, mostly on shameless shopping binges after receiving my first pay envelope (which largely accounts for the fact that I saved very little my first year). In recent months, however, the Tokyo high has worn off, and I find myself going in only about once every five or six weeks, and even then not staying long. Nowadays when I do go in, it's usually either to meet a friend, buy English books or music, stock up at the international grocery, or buy computer equipment. As a consequence of my declining interest in weathering the urban onslaught every week, I've managed to save quite a bit each month.

Perhaps the best reason I can think of for seriously pursuing a big-city urban placement, aside from masochism, is compensation for no prior experience abroad and/or no Japanese language ability. In general, it's much easier to get along using English, and the comforting amenities of your home country (international foods, media, etc.) are more likely to be available, in the big cities than anywhere else. Then again, folks in general are a whole lot nicer (albeit also less 'internationally aware') the farther you get away from Tokyo.

Consider the weather
In terms of climate considerations, while it's certainly milder in the summer and colder in the winter up north in Hokkaido, and warmer all year round in Okinawa, Japan really isn't big enough for there to be major latitude-based differences in climate in most regions -- Kyushu seemed just as cold when I tried to escape there last winter. However, coastal (implying more urban) locations will average a few degrees warmer in winter than the mountainous regions which comprise most of the country.

While I've done plenty of complaining about the cold, it's important to realize that despite the somewhat exaggerated claims of those who live here -- I guess some people like to flaunt their endurance -- Japan really doesn't get any colder than most of the participating countries in the JET Program. I doubt that anything south of Hokkaido, and probably not even that region, has ever suffered an American east coast style winter storm (or so my New York friend seems to indicate). The difference is thermodynamically bankrupt construction practices, laughable heating implements, and virtual absence of insulation in any of the buildings you're likely to spend much time in. As I once commented to a teacher, "Japan is colder than America, but only indoors."

The salary is around 3.6 million yen per year (after tax). Visas and flights are arranged by Japanese government agencies.

Academic attitude
A final consideration, albeit admittedly based on a gross generalization, is the academic attitude of the people in your region. In general, students in rural areas are more likely to enter agricultural and service jobs, while urban students are more likely to be headed for white-collar positions. Without making a value judgement, it is reasonable to say that the latter are, on average, going to be more serious about studying English for purposes of employment and continuing education.

Prestigious, high-level schools tend to be located in or near urban or suburban centers, and draw students from outlying areas. Most of the time I don't mind the fact that I don't teach in such schools, since I have plenty of students who are enthusiastic about English despite having no educational aspirations beyond high school. However, there may be applicants who for any number of reasons may wish to take this factor into consideration.

For obvious reasons, I cannot make a general recommendation regarding placement, but I hope that the insight on the places I've lived in provides at least a little guidance. However, don't stress about placement requests too much, since I've met very few people who ended up getting exactly what they asked for. One guy I met even asked for a rural placement and ended up twenty minutes from Tokyo! I didn't get my first preference, which was the Kinki region (Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe), but I did get my second request of Saitama Prefecture, which is immediately north of Tokyo (proximity to the capital and relative obscurity to other applicants being the reason I asked for it!)

Bring some clothes, including at least one formal outfit for all the ceremonies, etc. At school I wear khakis and those Gap-type not-quite-dress-shirts with a tie, sometimes with a casual sports coat, and I'm usually better dressed than a lot of the other teachers. A good investment is an athletic warm up suit -- in addition to their obvious function, you can wear them in the classroom (everyone else does), and the ones the teachers buy and wear here make them look like commercially sponsored race cars (you'll see what I mean).

Don't sweat the whole indoor shoes thing that causes so many pre-arrival JETs so much undue stress, just use the school slippers until you figure out what the deal is and buy some here (well, unless you have really big feet). It'll be hot when you arrive, so ship your bulky winter clothes ahead by sea mail. Use your base school or board of education's address, as you won't likely be at home when your package arrives.

My advice is to buy pretty much everything else here. Some things can wait until your first pay envelope, and others you can buy cheap off your predecessor or other JETs. Keep in mind that although many will, your host institution has no formal obligation to provide you with household items and necessities. However, I think most will be reasonable.

Other things to bring include personal items like contact lens accessories, medicine, an international drivers' license in addition to your own country's license (which you can later convert to a Japanese license if you can pass the test), computer stuff if you're into that (preferably a laptop), and classroom materials like photos, videos, etc. That should all fit into two suitcases and a carry-on, shouldn't it?

Participants can stay on the program for a maximum of 3 years. The maximum age limit is 40.

Bringing gifts: What to bring
I think that this is the subject that gave me the most undue stress before coming to Japan. After reading and hearing time after time about the importance of gift-giving in this society, it's hard for any pre-arrival JET not to worry about what one ought to be adding to one's luggage for hierarchical distribution upon arrival. Despite having lived in Japan for a brief period before coming as a JET, even I made the mistake of bringing a bit too much in terms of gift items.

Although in most gift exchange instances between Japanese people the price of the gift is often more important than the actual content, this is not the case for newly arrived JETs. The important thing is to bring something which is unique to the place you come from, something which will remind the recipient of your and your country. Picture books, local arts and crafts (small items), and locally produced food items (for example, Ghiradelli chocolate from San Francisco) make excellent gifts.

Some JETs bring liquor for male supervisors, although the bottles can be very heavy, and price discrepancies aren't what they used to be. Remember that Japanese houses are invariably small and cluttered, which means that food items and small trinkets may be appreciated more than larger non-consumable items simply due to the space they don't occupy.

Who to bring gifts for depends largely on your circumstances. If you receive correspondence from your host institution, bring something nice for whoever signed it (probably your supervisor and his or her superior), otherwise, bring a couple all-purpose items designated for your unknown superiors.

Snack food items (cookies, sweets, etc.) which can be shared among the teachers' room faculty at your schools will be appreciated -- don't worry about each individual teacher, since there may be quite a few. If you're in a homestay situation, bring something extra special for your host family. Finally, pack a few small "backup items" to give to whoever helps you out a lot in your first couple of months.

Aside from those for your supervisor(s) and teachers' room(s), it's OK to save some gifts for a month or so until you know who you want to give the rest to (although even the former don't have to be presented immediately upon arrival). I think it's better to give things to people who I get to know and really help me out rather than some official who I'm never going to have any contact with.

Instead, make several small poster board montages with photos arranged based on theme (I use 'my family', 'my friends', 'California', and 'college'), cover them with clear plastic, and give them to the students to pass around. If you have a home video, save it for a later class (unless you really need it to fill time or you're doing a one-shot visit). My experience has been that the kids appreciate it more after they've had some time to get to know me.

If you do have a question and answer session after your self-intro, which you should, you will invariably be asked personal questions such as "do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?" which you may find objectionable. Don't be offended. Remember, the students are teenagers, and their interests may somewhat be limited as such. If you really don't want to answer, just turn the question back at them and they'll get the message.

Most schools have slide projectors, although they may not be used to using them. My first lesson went rather badly for a number of reasons, not the least of which were entirely ineffective curtains which did little to enhance the image's washed-out non-appearance on the screen. I haven't tried to show my slides since.

The SEA (Sports Exchange Advisor) type of CIR position was introduced in the 1994-95 program year. SEAs engage in international exchange through sports.

Student Silence
Although I still occasionally find the lack of response disrespectful, I have learned to realized that lack of response is itself an acceptable response in this culture. Whereas in an American school such a student would most likely be coaxed or scolded into providing some sort of verbal acknowledgement to a question, Japanese teachers seem to accept the blank stare as a legitimate 'pass' on a question. Yes, it drives me crazy, but we all learn to deal with it.

When, on occasion, a student does choose to verbally acknowledge a question, it will almost always be preceded by a brief meeting (oh, don't mind me, I'll wait) with surrounding students. This stems from the Japanese decision-making model (implicit consensus --> formal proposition --> adoption instead of proposition --> debate --> decision), and tends to strike us Westerners as something akin to cheating. Well, I suppose they don't do it during tests.

Related to this is the great difficulty experienced in getting Japanese students to express themselves. I could write pages on this topic alone, but you'll all see for yourselves within a week of your first class. Suffice it to say here that any question without an obvious 'correct' answer -- or at least a limited range of set possibilities -- is likely to earn you a whole lot of confused looks.

Many of my students can manage something as innocent as "What sport do you like?", but anything more adventurous, say, "What do you think about (anything)?", is usually entirely confounding. Unfortunately for us, the truth is that many of the most important implements of language education, that is, questions and statements which easily generate interesting discussion, are quickly mitigated by cultural barriers.

CIRs must have good enough language ability for daily work in a Japanese office environment.

Any solutions?
Many teachers and education officials are aware of this problem, all the way up to the Ministry of Education. Proposed solutions are questionable, however. We recently learned that some genius at the Ministry of Education came up with the idea to introduce debate into the junior high English curriculum.

Although perhaps a seemingly good idea at face value, what the policymakers seem to have neglected is that most Japanese students can't even debate in their own language, much less English. Many of us suspect that the proposed debate curriculum will serve only to make English an even more foreign and less accessible subject to all but the most extroverted and liberally-minded students.

So anyway, when you come bursting into your first classroom with your goofy English and all that, don't be surprised when your kids don't quite burst out back at you. Don't be insulted, and above all, don't lose your temper. I guarantee that by doing so you will do nothing more than relegate yourself to that class of 'mean' teachers whose apparent respect from the students is nothing more than a mix of fear and contempt.

The JET Program currently has people from over 40 countries. 94% are from English-speaking countries (2001).

Student Silence
Although I still occasionally find the lack of response disrespectful, I have learned to realized that lack of response is itself an acceptable response in this culture. Whereas in an American school such a student would most likely be coaxed or scolded into providing some sort of verbal acknowledgement to a question, Japanese teachers seem to accept the blank stare as a legitimate 'pass' on a question. Yes, it drives me crazy, but we all learn to deal with it. When, on occasion, a student does choose to verbally acknowledge a question, it will almost always be preceded by a brief meeting (oh, don't mind me, I'll wait) with surrounding students. This stems from the Japanese decision-making model (implicit consensus --> formal proposition --> adoption instead of proposition --> debate --> decision), and tends to strike us Westerners as something akin to cheating. Well, I suppose they don't do it during tests.

Related to this is the great difficulty experienced in getting Japanese students to express themselves. I could write pages on this topic alone, but you'll all see for yourselves within a week of your first class. Suffice it to say here that any question without an obvious 'correct' answer -- or at least a limited range of set possibilities -- is likely to earn you a whole lot of confused looks. Many of my students can manage something as innocent as "What sport do you like?", but anything more adventurous, say, "What do you think about (anything)?", is usually entirely confounding. Unfortunately for us, the truth is that many of the most important implements of language education, that is, questions and statements which easily generate interesting discussion, are quickly mitigated by cultural barriers.

Married couples on the program can request to work close to each other but this is not guaranteed.

Any solutions?
Many teachers and education officials are aware of this problem, all the way up to the Ministry of Education. Proposed solutions are questionable, however. We recently learned that some genius at the Ministry of Education came up with the idea to introduce debate into the junior high English curriculum. Although perhaps a seemingly good idea at face value, what the policymakers seem to have neglected is that most Japanese students can't even debate in their own language, much less English. Many of us suspect that the proposed debate curriculum will serve only to make English an even more foreign and less accessible subject to all but the most extroverted and liberally-minded students.

So anyway, when you come bursting into your first classroom with your goofy English and all that, don't be surprised when your kids don't quite burst out back at you. Don't be insulted, and above all, don't lose your temper. I guarantee that by doing so you will do nothing more than relegate yourself to that class of 'mean' teachers whose apparent respect from the students is nothing more than a mix of fear and contempt.

The Japanese archipelago was designed by someone delighting in complexity. The islands have a total area roughly the same as the US state of Montana, but whereas Montana is very neat with square corners, Japan is scattered about in four main islands - Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. Japan extends about 3,000 kilometers from subtropical seas (Okinawa) to sub-arctic climes (northern Hokkaido) and takes up less than 0.3% of the earth's surface.

The land is very up and down, with lots of up. Plains account for only 13% and plateaus for 12% of the total land area; the rest is mountainous, and the mountains are steep. The graceful curve of Japan's highest mountain, Mr. Fuji (3,776 meters) is an exception. In Japan, 532 mountains are over 2,000 meters high. The landform that is today's Japan began its history 400 million years ago. There are three continental plates that intersect under Japan, and these are responsible for what the islands look like and how they behave.

In fact, they do not behave terribly well. There are 67 active volcanoes in Japan and thousands of hot springs, the latter being the source of much pleasure and one of Japan's greatest sports - sitting in hot water. Japan has a population of around 123 million people (7th largest in the world) and 75% of this population is concentrated in urban centers. Areas such as the Tokyo-Yokohama-Kawasaki conurbation are so densely populated that they have almost ceased to be separate cities, running into each other and forming a huge urban sprawl, which, if considered as a whole, would constitute the world's largest city.

For maps of Japan's prefectures and major cities, see the Maps of Japan section.

The Weather

The biggest topic of conversation here in Japan is the weather. Japan experiences 4 seasons that go unmistaken. Late autumn and winter generally are dry. Spring is a bit disappointing, being often hazy and vague, but May picks up this slack. Then comes the Rainy season, or tsuyu, when the islands become soggy for about a month. Tsuyu is a kind of limbo, emphasized by the gray skies, gray faces, and green-gray mildewed shoes in the entryway.

When the rain stops, it's summer. High humidity (97%) and high temperatures (30+ C). At this point one realizes that the earth's equator has snarled itself around Tokyo Tower (where it stays for about 6 weeks). In early September, Japan is back where it belongs in the temperate latitudes, experiencing comfortable temperatures. Generally winters are mild and dry, with light snows likely from mid January to early March. October and early November are considered, with May, to be the best times for traveling in Japan and the best times to invite visitors from abroad.

Click on the prefecture names below and it will take you to the English section (where available) of their respective official Web sites.

The population of Japan is approximately 126,580,000 (August 1999). The most densely populated areas are the Tokyo metropolis and its port cities of Yokohama and Kawasaki and the so-called Kansai area, made up of Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto. While the population of the 23 ku (wards) that make up the city of Tokyo is around 8 million, the metropolis is home to almost 30 million people. The population of the Kansai araea is around 16 million.

Click on the cities in the map below to go to their Web sites.

]]> http://www.eltnews.com/features/guide/2009/01/japan_maps.html http://www.eltnews.com/features/guide/2009/01/japan_maps.html Living in Japan Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:46:47 +0900 For the serious traveler, the number one rule in Japan is much the same as anywhere else - travel light. There's nothing more useful as more space in your bag. Travelling light is even more important for rail travelers as trains usually have little space for storing bags.

Money and Essentials
A supply of traveler's checks is essential to see you through your stay. Yen travelers checks are the safest and easiest and can be changed to cash at most local banks. Japan is a cash society! You will become used to carrying a wad of cash everywhere you go! If you are going to a rural area it may be best to either skip the travelers checks (take yen cash) or change them once you've hit Tokyo. U.S. traveler's checks are generally accepted, but expect to have to travel to the nearest large bank to change them. Other key things not to forget are your passport, visa, phone numbers (home and emergency), and an international drivers license (many jobs require it).

Clothing
Clothing will depend very much on where and when you are in Japan and what your are doing. You can buy all types of clothing in Japan, however they usually are not cheap and sizes can be a problem if you are not near a large city. Some people find that standard Japanese sizes do not fit them. Shoes and pants are likely to be most difficult. Men who wear over 27 cm size shoes and women over 24.5 are encouraged to bring what they will need from home. My shoe size is 30 cm and I have yet to find a pair here that will fit. One way around this is mail order catalogs. Many of which are on-line. L.L. Bean, and Eddie Bauer are most popular!

If you're a fitness buff, be warned: unless you're near a sports outlet, sports wear is very expensive. Generally Japan's climate is somewhat similar of continental USA; bring winter gear for winter (hats, gloves, boots, etc.) and nothing more than t-shirts and light pants for summer. Unless you're in Japan on business you are unlikely to meet situations where 'coat and tie' standards are enforced; casual clothing is all you'll need. There is a rainy season between June and July here in Japan. A rain coat may be handy. Umbrellas are cheap and can be found everywhere!

Medicines
Most things are available (certainly in Tokyo), though at a higher price than at home. You only need to bring brand names to which you are especially attached (Tums are really hard to find). You do not need any inoculations for entry into Japan. Please be aware of Japanese customs restrictions. Medicines that are sold over the counter in your home country may be illegal in Japan if they contain stimulants (i.e. medicines containing Pseudoephedrine such as Actifed, Sudafed and Vicks inhaler). Codeine is also illegal. Check cold, allergy, and sinus medicines extra carefully.

- Prescription Medications:
Bring unopened in original packaging.
Bring a copy of the prescription.
In principle, you can bring up to a month's supply. If you bring more, the medicine may be seized and you could be charged with intent to sell illegal substances. Once your supply has run out, take the prescription to a doctor in Japan and get a new prescription for an equivalent medicine sold in Japan.

- Non-Prescription Medications: (you can bring up to a 2-month supply)
Aspirin
Cold, allergy, sinus medicines (without stimulants)
Stomach medicine

- Sending Medications:
Up to a one-month supply of prescription medicines that are legal for import, including birth control pills can be sent. Be sure to include the prescription in the package and a note from you physician specifying the dosage.
Up to a two-month supply of non-prescription medicines can be sent.

Contraceptives
Lubricants are available but ones with spermicides (nonoxynol-10), are difficult to find outside of Tokyo. The pill is also difficult to get. Prescriptions are only for health reasons or severe menstrual pain (the dosage is quite high). Therefore, if you use it, bring your own supply along with the prescription. Condoms are the most widely used form of contraception in Japan. If size is an issue, it is recommended that you bring your own supply!

Miscellaneous to Bring
Dental products
Fluoride toothpaste is difficult to find, although a water fluoride mixture is available.
Vitamins
Japanese brands tend to be expensive and not quite as effective (you can bring up to a 4 month supply).
Cosmetics and hair care products
It may also be a good idea to bring your own, once again they are very expensive in Japan.

Presents (Omiyage)
Gift giving in Japan is a very popular custom in Japan. It helps new arrivals start off on the right foot. Rest assured that anything you bring will be greatly appreciated, so you do not have to bring large expensive gifts (note: It is customary in Japan to give a small gift to each of your neighbors.). Different ideas include: picture book of your country, tie pins, scenic calendars, sweets, key chains, stamps, letter openers and liquor. Anything will be appreciated but have the gifts wrapped or buy small bags to put them in.

What is a Visa?
You are now probably asking yourself, "What is a visa?". According to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs a visa can be stated as, "a recommendation that a foreigner should be allowed to enter Japan". In other words, it is a kind of certificate (actually officially refered to as "status of residence") issued by the ambassador or consulate verifying that the foreigner's passport is genuine and valid and that the application for a stay in Japan for the purpose and period indicated on the visa has been deemed appropriate. If you plan to come to Japan you must first decide whether you intend on a short-term or long-term stay in order to decide what visa you will need to apply for.

Short-term Visas
If you plan to come to Japan for a short-term period you will require a Temporary Visitor's Visa. A Temporary Visitor's Visa gives you permission to engage in the following activities:

Sightseeing; recreation; sports; visiting relatives, friends, or acquaintances; visiting a sick person; attending a wedding or funeral ceremony; participating in athletic tournaments, contests, etc. as an amateur; business purposes (such as market research, business liaison, business consultations, signing a contract, or providing after-sale service for imported machinery); inspecting or visiting plants, trade fairs, etc.; attending lectures, explanatory meetings, etc.; academic surveys or research presentations; religious pilgrimages or visits; friendship visits to sister cities, sister schools, etc.; or other similar activities during a short period of stay in Japan.

With a Temporary Visitor's Visa you are allowed to remain in Japan for a period (for most nationalities) of 90 days! In order to obtain this visa you will require the following material:

1. A ticket for boarding an airplane or a vessel to leave Japan, or a written guarantee issued by a transport company.
2. A valid passport which enables the foreign national concerned to enter foreign countries out of Japan.
3. Documents certifying that the person concerned can defray all expenses incurred during the stay in Japan.

You are not permitted to engage in work on a Temporary Visitor's Visa! If you plan to start work while on this type of visa you will need to "Request for a change of status of residence". This is a long, worrisome, complicated process that will require the help of the organization you plan to work for. In essence applying for a change in residency status is applying for a long-term visa.

Long-term Visas
If you wish to enter Japan for work or study, you will be required to apply for a diplomatic visa, official visa, working visa, general visa, or specified visa. Naturally, foreigners who enter Japan having acquired a working visa are able to work in Japan. Typical types of employment include the long-term assignment to Japan of foreign company personnel; employment in Japanese companies to make use of the foreigner's knowledge of other countries; entertainment activities, such as concerts, theater, and sports; and educational activities, such as foreign-language teaching.

It is also possible to get permission for long-term stays for some activities that meet certain criteria, such as Japanese university or college education or company training, although work is not permitted in these cases. Permission for long-term residence in Japan is also granted in the case of spouses of Japanese nationals and others who settle in Japan. For more information on what documents are required for each type of visa please visit Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs web site.

When applying for a visa for the above-mentioned activities, it is advisable to apply beforehand for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE, see below). If you submit a visa application to an embassy or consulate together with a COE, you will be able to obtain a visa in a shorter time than applicants without such a certificate. You will require the help of the organization willing to hire you as the application for the COE is to be made in Japan only!

Foreigners can apply for a visa without such a certificate at an embassy or consulate in the case of long-term stays also. But if the purpose of the stay is work, the application documents might be forwarded to a regional immigration authority in Japan for screening. In this case applicants are advised to leave plenty of time for their application to be processed.

Certificate of Eligibility
A Certificate of Eligibility is issued before a visa application by a regional immigration authority under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice. It acts as evidence that the applicant fulfills various conditions of the Immigration Control Act, including those certifying that the activity in which the foreigner wishes to engage in Japan is valid and comes under a status of residence (excluding Temporary Visitor Status).

The Certificate of Eligibility has the advantage of reducing the time required to obtain a visa and complete immigration procedures, since a foreigner in possession of such a certificate can probably acquire a visa at an embassy or consulate without any inquiries being made to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, by showing the certificate to the immigration officer, obtain landing permission more easily.

Please note, however, that even if a foreigner possesses a Certificate of Eligibility, an embassy or consulate will not issue a visa in certain circumstances. - For example, if there has been a change in the situation since the issue of the certificate (such as the company that was planning to hire the foreigner decided not to because of business difficulties) or if it becomes evident that the documents submitted to obtain the certificate were false. For more details concerning the acquisition of a Certificate of Eligibility and the time required, please inquire at the nearest regional immigration authority.

Working Holiday Visas
Citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Korea, France, Germany and the UK between the ages of 18 and 30 (25 for the UK) can apply for a working holiday visa. This visa allows a six month stay and two six-month extensions. The visa's aim is to enable young people to travel extensively during their stay and for this reason employment is supposed to be part time or temporary, although in practice, many people work full time.

A working holiday visa is much easier to obtain than a proper visa and is popular with the Japanese employers as it can save them a great deal of inconvenience. Applicants must have the equivalent of $2000.00 in funds and an onward ticket from Japan, or $3000.00 in funds without the ticket. For further information, contact a Japanese Consulate in your country or see the MOFA web site.

Customs
Customs allowances include the usual tobacco products, three 760 ml bottles of alcoholic beverages, 57 grams of perfume and gifts and souvenirs up to a value of 200,000 YEN or its equivalent. If you're a vodka or beer drinker there's no need to bring alcohol with you as these items are cheap and available everywhere (even on streets in vending machines for your convenience).

Alien Registration Card
Anyone, and this includes tourists, who stays for more than 90 days is required to obtain an Alien Registration Card. This card can be obtained at the municipal office of the city, town or ward in which you're living. Moving to another area requires that you re-register within 14 days. You will need your passport, two recent 4 x 3 cm photographs, and a completed application form (available at the office). If your official period of stay in Japan is valid for more than one year you will may also be fingerprinted.

Your Alien Registration Card contains the following information: Your name, your nationality and home state, the place and date of your birth, your passport number, when you first landed, your address in Japan, the name of your householder, your relationship to the householder, your visa status, your occupation, and the name of you sponsoring company or institution and its address.

If any of the variables in this list change, you must report back to your city or ward office within 2 weeks with necessary paper work to make the change. You must carry you Alien Registration Card at all times as the police can stop you and ask to see the card. If you don't have the card, you will be taken back to the station and will have to wait there until someone fetches it for you.

Extension of Stay
So you're just starting to have fun when -whammo!- your visa is about to expire. All conditions being equal you can apply for an extension of your period of stay. If you studies are not yet finished, wanting to stay longer to complete them is definitely a valid reason. If you would simply like to stay and continue working at your current job, that is also a valid reason. Of course permission can be denied, but if you've paid your taxes and/or dutifully attended your classes, there should be no problem.

In general, Japan's immigration laws are relaxing in relation to skilled workers, so occasionally some requirements are waived. This also depends on your and/or your sponsor's record with immigration. Students or teachers at small, unknown schools always get the most grief.

Reentry
If you leave the country within your allocated period of stay without a reentry permit, you will forfeit your visa. There is an immigration office at the airport, but you really have to bow and scrape to get them to issue you a reentry, and you certainly should not make it a habit. Reentries come in 2 kinds - singles and multiples.

If you think you will leave the country at least twice within your period of stay, then a multiple is the way to go. It costs double but gives you unlimited reentry. Reentry permits are valid for one-year, so to get the maximum value, you should apply for a reentry on the day you pick up your visa. Applications are available at all immigration offices throughout Japan. When you leave the country, you will need to fill out an embarkation/disembarkation card, half of which will be stapled into your passport. Don't lose it!

And Finally
Expect the unexpected and be prepared. Don't ever rely on only one source of information when it comes to visas, entry, passports and Japan. Think of the worst scenario, because in Japan, Murphy's law rules!

Japanese take pride in the amount of hours they work and for most, work comes first, family second. At the very least, the Westerner in Japan should be prepared to be reasonably flexible (flexible takes on a new meaning here) and try to discard any hard-edged preconceptions of what constitutes a working day. Surveys show that the Japanese work fewer hours per year than US workers, but the official figures don't reflect the levels of "unoffical", often unpaid overtime hours put in.

Company life is very different for men and women. For men, it has traditionally meant a lifetime commitment that will take up far more of their waking hours than will their family. For most men, the workplace is a nonstop commitment from the day they graduate to retirement. Even their annual two-week holidays are often forfeited because it would look like disloyalty to want to have a holiday from the company. The Japanese corporate world is becoming increasingly westernized and "ruthless", with economic hardship causing companies resorting to "risutora" - restructure, a euphemism for firing large numbers of employees. This has caused more and more, usually younger, employees to rethink their loyalty to any given company. But in Japan, change comes slowly. Very slowly.

For women, company-life experience is liable to be limited to four or five years of answering the phone and offering tea to visitors before retreating to a life of domesticity. Women who return to work after marriage, and more and more are doing so, are likely to be involved in small-scale industry that provides none of the benefits available to most Japanese workers. The gap between average female earnings is greater in Japan than any comparable advanced nation.

One thing that must be noted here is the foreigner in the workplace. Not wishing to step on anyone's toes, they often will nod and smile and do what is requested. Please be cautious. As a foreigner you were hired for one reason, your native speaking ability. If it wasn't for this they would have hired Japanese (it would sure be much easier for them to do so). In no way have you signed a contract to be abused or mistreated. Remember, you are quite special to your employer, and they need you as much as you need them. Leave all the Japanese etiquette and customs to them. Do what you know is honest and follow your heart. After all, are we not still human beings?