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 very common questions I encountered as an ALT for six years:

1. Why did you come to Japan? Students are curios why a foreigner is in their country. Although some students are just influenced or just copy the question from a famous TV show (You wa nanishini Nippon e).

2. Do you like Japan? To which you always ( I suggest) answer Yes, I do. I like Japan. Imagine if you say no. Lol. Like, why are you even here?

3. What Japanese food do you like? To which most students expect you to say I like sushi. And if you do, you’ll make their day. Especially the elementary students.

4. Do you like sushi? Just to confirm if you really do like sushi. Make the students happy-say Yes.

5. Which do you like better, your country or Japan? This is one of the difficult questions smart and curious students ask. I usually say I like both. Which is true. They’d love it if you provide reasons for your answer.

6. What things surprised you when you came to Japan? Another surprising question usually asked by junior high school students. Be prepared.

7. Can you speak Japanese? If you say yes, they might just just speak to you in Japanese. Why bother when you understand their language anyway. I never said no so I don’t know their response. I always say “A little” with the hand gesture and they always want a proof. They giggle when they hear you speak Japanese.

8. What is your favorite place in Japan? Most Japanese are proud of their country and they want to hear from you what place/s in Japan are indeed beautiful and worth visiting.

9. What are famous places in your country? Some students are also very interested in foreign cultures that they want to know your country.

10. What color do you like? And everything under the sun. Just replace the word color and be ready to answer. This is one of the elementary students’ favorite question.

11. Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend? This is the junior high school students’ favorite question. They always wanna know. They get more interested when you say yes. And if you say no, they might be disappointed.

Are you an ALT? What other questions have you encountered from your students?