Results and More Waiting

So... I'm an alternate. Which, I guess, means that I must have given some decent advice over this year. It's good to know that what I did didn't result in failure, so hopefully this blog is a good reference for everyone else.

Now, I guess I can start blogging about the rest of this as an alternate, not just an applicant. I guess I now wait for my paperwork to fill out and mail back. I need to renew my passport with my name change (the worst part is I have that all done and ready to go but I need to fax my marriage license to Sallie Mae for them to change my name, they are a bunch of assclowns) and do some other stuff for the official things.

I'm going to be honest that this sucks balls. I mean, realistically "Alternate" means accepted just no position available yet. However, it also sort of means putting life on hold some more. If I get upgraded in like September and I've gone back to school to finish my teaching license, then that kind of sucks... And it means I don't want to make any real plans because spending money on something that I may not end up doing and can't get the money back also sucks... So, the waiting is rubbish... And the not knowing you are rejected and not getting it at all until December also sucks... But, no matter how crappy it seems, it does mean that I was good enough this year, just not necessarily as good as other people, and I am happy enough with that.

I Keep Finding New Things About Japan

I assume that it is really obvious that I love Japan and am a silly fangirl for the country. I'll admit that a large part of my interest stems from a love for manga. I'm a manga addict. However, I also find that as time progresses, I am coming to love more about the history of Japan. I have mentioned before that I am trying to read through Genji Monogatari (and I must admit, that I haven't been super successful, just because it's so long... maybe in the winter I'll curl up with my book), but I am currently learning more of other things too. I just thought that maybe I'd talk about some of why that is, which, sorry, is not terribly JET related, but is a little bit.

Firstly, I have to thank JET and the SCA for getting me to really look more into Japan's reality. A large part of why I want to do JET is because I want to see the real world that inspired and created the world's I have found in manga because clearly manga and real life are nothing alike. But, in applying for JET, I have found that I want to start learning more about Japan either way and have begun searching out more things on my own. The SCA has been a large part of this. It was an easy decision to have a Japanese persona because I find Japan the most interesting because it is so different from what I got stuck learning throughout my educational career. So, I picked a name, but I had no idea who "Oguri Tatsuko" would be. I lacked a career, a family, a history for my persona and this has encouraged me to learn more. Now, I sort of want to talk about the different subjects that this has opened for me ^_^

-I like bento a lot, so I started looking into historical bento and learned a lot about when bento really started and what its predecessor was like.
-I wanted to be able to make medieval Japanese garb, so I started looking up patterns to sew my own kosode. Now I want to improve my garb, so I have started looking into Japanese embroidery and medieval patterns and prints for clothes
-I'm really excited to try and learn Japanese embroidery, it is GORGEOUS. Before I start to try and search more about nuido, I am learning Western-style embroidery to build up the basics.
-I will be modeling my garb at the Fort Know Demo in Maine on September 8 (though I don't think I'm a decent model, I'm excited to share my garb attempts) because I decided to chase after Japan's history. This is something I never imagined I could share with people, try and teach a little bit about the construction of old Japanese clothing.
-I have been asked to teach a short Arts & Sciences class on Momiji-Gari at the Endewearde Hunt. And though I don't know a lot about it yet, I am learning more and looking forward to building up a base to continue finding out more about it ^_^
-I want to find out more about festivals of all sorts, so that we can set up our own festival event in Endewearde. Maybe set up a yearly Momiji-Gari event during the Hunt or possibly celebrate snow-viewing or so many other options.

Really, I have encountered so many new things as I try to find out more about who someone might have been in medieval Japan. But I am doing all this because of the SCA and JET. I am taking JET as a cultural exploration and getting to participate in the program would help add so much to my knowledge that I couldn't begin to explain how cool it would be. I am also working, slowly, on learning Japanese and I hope to keep working on that too.

Basically, it's wicked cool to get into more about something you love. And, please, take it a step further and build up your knowledge in things you want to know about. In fact, if you don't quite know exactly what you want, google some of the things I've talked about or google something you are generally in and follow all those tangents and ideas that you come upon so that you eventually find something to set your sights on. If I get into JET, I want to find a class in Japanese embroidery and one of my eventual goals will be to make a folding screen that I embroidered ^_^

Also, it's getting closer and closer to JET application time! I hope everyone is getting prepared okay ^_^

Good News About TEFL/TESL and JET

So, I know a lot of people want to beef up their JET application in any way they can and a lot of people think TEFL or TESL certification is a good way to go. The sad news is that it really isn't. If your application is borderline between an interview and not, it could push you over into getting an interview, but it isn't worth a ton of points in the grand scheme of things. So, don't get a TEFL/TESL certification, unless you think it will help you later on in life or you are legitimately interested in the program that you are about to poor tons of money into.

However, I have good news! It is disheartening, when you really want to get your TEFL/TESL cert and everyone tells you how useless it is and how JET doesn't actually care about it and how you'll never actually be teaching, so it really doesn't matter. I know. I really wanted my cert, so I'm getting it anyway because I think it will help me in the future. And then someone was asking about a TEFL Advantage on the forums. The usual slew of depressing statements about how it won't matter and don't waste your money ensued, but a bright light of hope appeared. This is what was said, so take heart and know that though TEFL/TESL won't definitely get you an interview, it is something that some places in Japan do want and look for.

Re: TEFL Advantage?

by ZacharyFukuiPA » Wed Jun 20, 2012 10:04 pm

I can't speak for how TEFL will affect your chances in applying to JET, but as someone involved in deciding where to place JETs within my prefecture, I can speak of its influence once you're on JET. Higher level academic focused schools request ALTs with experience in teaching and some kind of certification, so if you have TEFL it can help your chances of being placed in a school with high level English learners. It's not a guarantee, of course, but it certainly is a big help. In my prefecture, the government is seeking ways to improve the quality of education and the skills of educators, and the board of education is told to seek ALTs with certification such as TEFL, CELTA, or a teaching license.

Best of luck.

Teaching Courses vs Teaching Experience

So, anyone who has gone to college for education probably had to do observation hours. Technically, observation hours are course related and, yet, they are not for credit. Last year, I listed my observation hours in my education classes; after rereading my app, I am going to list my observation hours as in-class experience. The reason for this is that you are getting more hands-on experience and, in my case, I participated and worked with students directly during that time. If you have ed classes and observation hours, make sure you list all of them and to your best advantage.

Now, when dealing with teaching courses and teaching experiences, there can be other issues. To finish my secondary ed minor, I took an internship. In my internship, I started a writing center at the high school I graduated from and ran it for the spring semester. Now, the problem becomes how to list this because it is a class and teaching experience. What I will be doing is listing it twice. This is because the internship was a class, we had time to meet and talk and learn. But, it was also work as an educator; I spent hours in the high school and worked with students individually, in groups, and had a few classes. Obviously, I want credit for the class part, but, even more than that, I want to get credit for working at the school, even if it was an internship.

No matter what, make sure you put down all applicable classes and experiences. Also, make sure that you put it in the best place you can and list it twice, at worst they only count it once.

The TEFL/TESL Question

So, we all want to get in and being TEFL/TESL certified will clearly get us in. Not true. In case anyone hadn't gotten that from the forums or wherever else, but it doesn't. However, it could be helpful in JET and a regular classroom, if you plan on other teaching in the future. But, whatever you are going to do, do NOT get your TEFL or TESL just for JET. It is a waste of money. If you think it is interesting, a good way to spend your time and money, or you plan to continue teaching in the future, it is probably worth it. I am trying to get into a program to get my TESL certification and have looked at a few ways to do that.

I looked online and found a course I really like for less than $400. It seemed to specialize in teaching for going to Asian countries, but online makes me nervous. I like being able to ask questions and be a part of a class.

I am hoping to do a program through UMaine that will give me a week-long intensive and a certification. There is a TESOL Plus program with a practicum that I really want to do and would make this program much better in my eyes. Also, I like that I can be there and do it in person.

So TEFL/TESL is good. But only if it is something you are REALLY interested in. And make sure you really trust and like that program so that you can enjoy the learning experience ^_^

All the Small Things

No, not the Blink 182 song. I am talking about the little things that give you surprising experience for anything involving children or jobs.

Last year, I did not put down a lot of things I probably could have and should have because it just didn't cross my mind as important (like MASSPIRG or a pre-college class I took years ago). Years ago, I prepared a resume for theatre tech work; one of the main things we talked about is that you put down everything you can fit in your skills. "I am comfortable on ladders." "I can lift heavy things." "I don't mind sweeping." Most likely, JET doesn't care about your love for cleaning paint brushes, but they very well may care about other things you've done. Ever babysat? Good experience with children. Ever worked your church nursery? Also counts as experience. TA in college? Awesome. Ran the study group? Good. Trained new co-workers (brilliant suggestion from the boards)? Perfect. It may seem stupid (and if the thing is really inane, don't include it), but there is a good chance that the little things matter. You may not want to teach elementary, but the willingness to do it and experience to help you do it may make the difference in whether or not someone in Japan wants you. So put down that babysitter's club you're a part of :P Just do it!

Things to Do in the Interim

Some smart suggestions from the Miami_Coordinator on the JET Forums (in that questions thread that I mentioned) included things that you can and maybe should be doing, if you are getting a head start. These are things that make you a better applicant, but are not 100% necessary. But, they are all good things to do ^_^

-study Japanese (it's cool, you know you want to)
-volunteer
-attend some cultural classes/events (specifically for Japan would be good)
-study for a TEFL/TESL certificate (especially good if teaching ELLs is something you are interested in)
-work with international students
-assist with kids clubs or classrooms

All good things ^_^ Just some advice for passing the time. I'm currently studying Japanese, interning at a high school, looking into a TESOL program (with a practicum which is awesome!), and built a Writing Center. If I can do it, anyone can do it ^^; I promise it's not SOOO hard... Eheheheh... Heh... It may be harder once I have a place to live and a job, but for now, it's working okay >.>

Experience, Experience, Experience

If I want to level up from JET Wannabe to JET Participant, I need the experience to earn that level. Every gamer knows about leveling up of some sort. Levels have prerequisites, new skills require old skills. The basic class requirement for JET Participants are a Bachelor's Degree (high Int, I suppose). This is misleading because there are a lot of needed skills to make the final class-change. You also need to be interested in cultural exchange and in Japan (this seems like Wis to me) and pass an interview (definitely Cha). But, no matter the specific prerequisites, leveling up is all about the experience.

So, now I'm done with my absurd D&D/RPG paragraph. But seriously, experience. Experience with a capital E. Sure, plenty of people get chosen that may not have actual classroom teaching experience and maybe even lack job experience, but these things make you look good. At least, I think I look good wearing all my experience (sorry, if you are reading this, I am apparently in a strange mood and thus am writing strange things). Get experience where you can and realize that even small experience is experience (enough 5pt exp moments eventually equals 100pts and so-on and so-forth).

I am an English major (graduating on Saturday!!!!! w00t!) and a Secondary Ed minor. I have wanted to teach since I was just under three-years-old. Literally, I walked out of the first day of preschool and told my mum that I'm going to be a teacher. I was awesome. Anyways, this gives me some experience, but not that much. This means that I am a pro at grammar and editing and English (well, this is what it should mean). I'm in love with grammar. If I have poor grammar somewhere, it's because I was either super lazy or it was actually intentional (yeah 1337 and internetspeak make me look n00bish in my writing sometimes... on the computer anyways). So, Grammar & Style was my favorite course for English; I'm weird. Then I have Ed classes. Well, they are and are not as useful as they might seem. Honestly? Observation hours are a lot of watching and rarely interacting. Lesson and unit plans in class are not usually executed, so how do we know if they are actually any good?

But! There is hope for me yet! I do have an internship. I recommend boring hours of interning to everyone. Mine is for college credit and volunteerism. I started a Writing Center at my high school. Fortunately, I started it, so it also shows initiative, leadership, and perseverance. Well, perseverance because parts of it have been a flop. ^^; Working with students is good, working with English is good, and working in a high school is good.

This is not enough. At least, I want more experience before I get to level my stats up and celebrate becoming a JET Participant. (Every time I type this, I sort of want to go Pokemon about it... and say I evolve into it... Weird morning...) So, I'm looking for more things to do. I've found a few interesting programs for TESOL certification Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. I have to figure out exactly what I'm going to do, but I really want to do this... I'm super interested in teaching non-English speakers and I think it's really important to be able to do this no matter where I end up teaching, at home or Japan.

I'm also looking to find a way to volunteer my time as a writing or English tutor or other teaching things. As well as find work that is somewhat relevant. Conveniently, any work that I WANT to do is fairly relevant because I want to teach. So, that's where that is at. I'm sorry this post rambled so much... I'm trying to keep things useful and semi-entertaining; today, I seem to just be a bit crazy...