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11 Common Questions Students Ask the ALT
In Japan, being the only foreigner in school, an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) gets the attention other regular teachers normally don’t. In the beginning of the school year when you do your self-introduction, during lunch time or when junior high school students practice their English, many questions are raised to the ALT. Here are some…
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Rainy Season English Bulletin Board
It is September already. I know. Rainy season in Japan is around late May to June. But a co-teacher told me that there are two rainy seasons in Japan. The first one I mentioned and this month, September. In fact, today, as I am writing, it is raining. And also this season is typhoon season.…
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School Lunch in Japan
School lunch in Japan is such a very organized system. It is either prepared in the school by the school lunch teachers and the school nutritionist or in some area, in a school lunch center serving a group of schools. The school nutritionist makes the menu for the whole month and distribute it to each…
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My first apartment as an ALT in Japan
When I got a job in Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT), my company helped me find an accommodation. The company that I worked with had a contract with this apartment chain that I am not gonna name….okay, I changed my mind. I`m just going to tell you. It is Leo Palace. Here you…
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Elementary School Recognition in the Philippines compared to Closing Ceremony in Japan
In the Philippines Elementary School Recognition in the Philippines is always treated like a festival, a big event for honor students and a busy day (and days prior to it) for teachers. It is also being looked forward to in the beginning of class by students whether one can receive awards (and rewards) from parents.…
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English Bulletin Board for February
The English bulletin board for this month, February, turned out to be the most interactive board so far and also the easiest one to make. We say that “Plan your work, and work your plan” , but this time, I really did not make a lot of planning for this board. I was scanning for…
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English Bulletin Boards
One of the not so many tasks of an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) in Japan is updating the school’s English Bulletin Board. In my school where I’m assigned, in fact, the only school I am assigned (normally ALTs are assigned to more than one school), I make sure to update our English Board every month.…
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Why is summer vacation in Japan not a vacation for students at all
Most kids around the world look forward to summer vacation. For most of them, it is the best time of the year. Free from the tiring things in school, listening to the teachers sermon, doing projects and endless homework. But, not in Japan. Although summer is fun in Japan with so many festivals that you…
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Setsubun and Risshun: Say Goodbye to Winter and Hello to Spring
The freezing cold of winter makes people long for spring. Spring, the time when flowers bloom. It is when the temperature goes up gradually. It is when people start going outdoors again. The weather is not too cold. Just “choudo ii”, as the Japanese say, meaning just right. The cold turns to cool. Everything turns…
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Japanese Elementary School Tour Part 1
Japan is a highly educated country. It’s government invest a great amount of its resources on the education sector which is evident on the school resources and facilities. Educational institutions all over Japan are fully equipped and is therefore a very good training ground for schoolchildren. In this article, I will take you inside a…