S is for School lunch (the food)
For many schools (elementary and junior high) you may find yourself able to join for school lunches. School lunches in Japan are quite healthy and are often created with local ingredients. As a result, you can feel good eating food that is helping the local community. However, they are a little carb-heavy. If you are the type of person who likes having healthy meals for training or if you are the type of person who wants one meal that lasts the whole day, then school lunch is the best thing since sliced bread (which you will also eat a lot of). Also, look out for the once a year school lunch, usually, this is something special like ramen or curry. It is quite fun to see how excited the students will get, and it can give you something to look forward to too! Be aware of Natto.
T is for Training
Whether you are a direct hire ALT in Japan, a dispatch ALT in Japan or a JET you should always be engaging in activities that seek to improve your knowledge of what you do. For your first year as an ALT, you can probably get away with Criss-Cross, but if you are still playing this after 3 years, it may be time to think about how you can skill up to give the best lessons to your students. Have you done a TEFL, CELTA, DELTA or maybe even a master’s degree? How many workshops do you attend? There is always an opportunity to learn. As a language teacher, you will need to skill up even more often than some of your teaching peers, as language is a dynamic human skill.
U is for Upstairs why are there so many levels to schools, and why is 1st grade in Junior high on the 3rd floor? There are many mysteries that even we cannot answer. In all seriousness, U is for Utilize. As a teacher make sure to utilize all senses, skills, and tools you have available. What works for one student, or one class may differ to the next, so being able to make adjustments on the go and teach succinctly is important to your success as an ALT.
V is for Vision.
What is your vision for the class? What is the school’s vision for it’s students? What is your Homeroom teacher’s vision for theacademic year? The big vision is likely quite similar (learning English in a fun way that can be produced by the student fluently). However, sometimes what one group wants and what we want (or envision) are a little different. Being able to work towards both personal targets and the other’s targets is essential to being professional in not only teaching but life. It is important to pursue your own goals, but choose your battles, life is a marathon, not a sprint. What’s more, we must always remember we are a guest, a very valued guest. Try to work with your other and look at setting goals you can achieve personally without them, as well as setting professional goals that you will achieve for them.
W is for World.
Although you have likely come from one country (maybe two?), as an ALT in Japan you will be seen as the resident expert of not only your culture but also all the other foreign cultures of ‘Gaikoku’. It is a big undertaking but you can do it! Incidentally, did you know Link Japan Careers is licensed to recruit from over 15 countries? We have South African, French, Australian, Vietnamese, Filipino, American, Spanish, Jamaican, English, Canadian and many more teachers join us every year!
X is for X-ray.
Haha but seriously, did you know it is quite common in Japan to get an x-ray done for every health check. It is usually done on the chest to check for TB. Be sure to look after yourself and if you have any doubts speak to your doctor or supervisor.
