If you're read the book, get ready to finally meet 'Roy'. Never thought I'd sit down with a man who's been so influential on my time in Japan, my studies in Japanese and my life as an English language teacher, so this was an absolute treat. Enjoy!
I think those who would qualify for Jet, or any similar program, should be those with humility, humor, willingness to embarrass themselves and a love for other humans. Just wanting to build bridges to a life outside yourself. That's my sappy answer to it. Either way, much love and inspiration and respect to you both, and everyone behind the scenes. Now go F yourself. ❤
And then there's me going, "No, don't get me wrong, I AM happy to see you, I just have a whole bunch of Whiteboard markers stuffed in my pocket that I'd forgotten about!"
My answers to the JET Programme’s “where do you want to work in Japan” question: 1. Sapporo 2. Hokkaido 3. Yokohama I got Sapporo, spent time sightseeing in Hokkaido, and now live in Yokohama. Mission accomplished.
u could argue that Sapparo is the first big colonial city of Japanese Empire onto Ainu land and therefore distinct from the upper parts of Hokkaido@@RadenWA
Been teaching for over twenty years. The salaries are shockingly low in Japan. Although I wanna get out of Viet am I'd have to take a 50% cut with a higher cost of living.
Really great video. The slow, calm chat, the jazz music and the real conversation. Very not UA-cam and all the better for it. Really fascinating getting a glimpse behind the current of Abroad in Japan too.
I work in an academic library, just put in a request to order Dan's book, we'll see if it gets accepted. A note, certainly for students and staff at UK universities, there's generally a place on the library website where you can request to order books in which are not in stock, and it does work 9 times out of 10! Get to it!
As I play the waiting game for a JET Programme interview, this is a really timely episode. Thank you both for some great insights into the culture of the ALT job and your experiences with it.
Character who is part of the Broad lore. Thanks, Dan. I read something I happen to agree with. “Most Japanese students will never leave Japan. Little to no incentive to learn English.”
When I see all the stories you have to share and the great people you've met, I am always inspired by the scale of your success. It's hard to see your life as anything other than a wonderful adventure and I'm gald you are willing to share pieces of it with all of us.
Also ended up on the waitlist for the JET Program before getting off of it. Ended up declining to pursue another avenue. They seem to really want to make sure that you can handle living in rural areas - so future JET applicants make sure you emphasize that in the interview/application (however don’t lie if you actually can’t handle that!)
Genuinely very interested in Roy, I mean Dan, I mean Roy’s book. My daughter is in immersion education. The experience has made me very interested in language acquisition and teaching. I think I’ll be picking this up.
Our son started on the JET program in Hachioji in September but luckily he had already had about 5 trips to Japan by that point and a degree in Japanese so the cultural shock was not that great, having to work a Japanese workday less so.
Sounds like he's doing great for himself after the JET program. It's amazing to see ALTs who go on to become full-fledged licensed teachers. Makes me all the more excited to apply for the JET program when I graduate university next year.
Very interesting episode. As someone who teaches writing for non-native English speakers at a US university, I'd love to hear more about Dan's experience. Maybe I'll grab that book...
Currently adjusting my five year goal to go back and finish my bachelor's so I can properly go through the JET program This has reinvigorated my dream of being an english teacher, thank you
what great timing for this video to come out! I just started reading Chris’s book and it’s nice to see a face for your ALT senior. i’ll definitely enjoy reading the passages that include both of you even more now :)
Very cool! I got to your channel when it still grew, as you showed interesting places in Japan. I think, the first video I saw from you was about Ginzan Onsen. Now, over a year later, I own your book, I have visited Kamakura and Kyoto, drank cocktails with strangers in your bar, even rewatched some of your old videos. You now have come full circle by meeting Dan (Roy) again. And I am already planning my next trip to Japan, which will be in 2026, due to the expo next year. Maybe our paths will cross one day, maybe never. But I will stay a devout fan of your content. Greetings from Germany, Sven
Thank you for that video Chris! Dan seems like a great and funny guy.. especially if you are working together with him hahaha Hope you are having a great time, Chris!
OMG it's Roy! The chapter with him is my fav so far!!! When you said Dan I was a bit sad it wasn't Roy haha Most welcomed surprise! happy holidays indeed!!
I was lucky enough to end up in Osaka. It's a great place and you have a good chance to get picked! We have over 80 ALT's so I highly recommend it. I am struggling as it is my first time teaching english and I was given 1st graders. It's hard and my support isn't that great. I'm glad to hear that it's not so much that I am just failing, I am going to keep trying and look at getting a job in japan in the next year.
I believe in a country like Japan, the best outcome of being a JET is to make the students curious about the outside world and encourage travelling. But of course it can be tough in rural areas.
Listening to this while walking to my school workplace now 😂 7:38 Yes this is true! Hiroshima HAS places to ski! It's usually in the northern part though
Count your blessings - I live in Osaka now, and Kansai is fantastic, but I LOVE North Japan - even years on, the cover of my book is from Sakata, Yamagata. Go back as much as I can - hope you find as much joy in it as I did!
my ex is in yoichi, hokkaido and loving it. small community, heaps of snow, 3 ALTs… but a lovely, friendly town with people who are curious to interact with foreigners, maybe because of the relative isolation ? i wouldn’t worry too much as long as you put the effort in to connect with locals :)
I almost applied for the JET program back in 2017 after having been watching your videos since maybe 2013/14 (I think I came from Rachael and Jun and Sharla to yours so I'm not sure on the dates!) and I was teaching at the time in the UK (16-18yr olds in college). I'd finished my MSc in 2017 and was looking to escape the UK teaching profession as it was destroying me. So I had all the forms done, all the signed recommendations etc collected and it was ready to send off, but I'd also applied for my first science position as well. I'd made the choice to wait and see if I got offered that job before sending off the JET application. I did indeed get offered the job so I never carried on with the JET stuff. I'm still in science albeit it 2 jobs along but maybe one day I'll get bored of moving liquid around and playing with viruses and decide to apply for the JET program.
I know Chris love doing documentaries. I'd suggest making a documentary of an ALT teacher in Japan. Like, finding a newbie teacher then following their day to day activities in Japan and both Chris & Dan will narrate the documentary.
Really great conversation here, I don't want to formalize it as an "interview" because it is so casual but well focused. I also really like the set, both sides of the bar are getting some use.
Interesting podcast. The 'E' in the JET Programme = Exchange. I'd travelled around the world before applying and that seemed to be the topic my interview panel focused on. Unfortunately, many host Borad of Educations were more focused on the 'E' = English in my 6 years (JET 3, independant 3). More interviews like this please, Chris.
Applied for the JET program in the US around 2003-2005. I was already working as an English lit teacher in an American high school, and was convinced to apply by my girlfriend at the time. She desperately wanted to get away from the US and I applied along with her. She didn't make it to the embassy interview, but I did. I remember sitting in my office at school and getting that call saying I was accepted into the program. Faced with that life-changing decision, I froze and panicked and declined the offer. So many "sliding doors moments" since then for me wondering how my life would have evolved if I'd had the courage to go.
When you mentioned the previous ALT, I suddenly thought of my friend, but he was in Sakata back in the mid-1990s. He had some interesting stories about Sakata. My experience on the JET Programme started in 1989, in a town that was a recruiting area for the yakuza. At least I could tell the misbehaving kids that I would tell their fathers. Again, interesting stories. But the thing that puzzled me was about the absence of the Exchange part. I mentioned in a speech I gave before the teachers in my area, that the best thing to help English language teaching in Japan, would be to send the teachers overseas for experience, rather than bringing in foreigners. I don't think my Board of Education was impressed with that.
I was a JET in the 90s and came to the same conclusion - they have English teachers who can't speak English and have sometimes never been abroad. Rather than spending a fortune flying thousands over business class, they should, they should seend trainee English teachers to foreign countries for a year, ideally to work as well as study.
I'm in Brazil, and I remember years ago looking up information about the JET program, and at least here in Brazil, one of the prerequisites for the applicants was to be fluent in japanese.
That's because they aren't looking for people to assist in the teaching of Portuguese as ALTs, but looking for CIRs to work on international relations in city halls.
seeing this video and after both reading the book and having heard more from Chris about the JET. I wonder how do the people in the ministerie that organise the JET see that the program is going. As you are saying in a way they are missing a lot of opportunity to use that program it self as a springboard for others they manage to get to the more rural areas to keep them there and be like a ambassador to that region.
There are plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in the local culture AND socialize with other ALTs/CLRs. A great chance to not only learn about Japan but learn about people all over the world if you are in JET.
i found a channel in here by a guy who is a doctor in language, language jones, i don't know anyone IRL that would be interested in the book, but I'll leave a comment on one of his videos about it cause its something he would buy.
Praise the almighty algorhythm! I just saw an older podcast from you on your other channel, Chris "Bored", the one with the jelly pot story 🤣🤣 And now i'm here again.
I really enjoyed this. But at the same time does it really answer the subject. Lots of interesting stuff about the Jet Program structure and the structures of application which would help calm a lot of applicants. But not so much about school dynamics in a generalised way. Dealing with students, dealing with other teachers and dealing with Admin - there is a little bit of that, but more about incidents rather than a general sense of "reality" for teachers. Still very interesting! And I did enjoy it very much and was insightful in its own way.
A great episode Chris; and hi Dan.. you may even have sold a copy of your book to me. Is it available in paperback yet, or is it digital for a while? A fellow teacher by choice here (30 years and counting) who has themselves moved away from monolingual teaching to a pluralingual approach over 3 decades (driven mainly by a combination of increasing positive feedback from the chalk-face of the classroom and a, what I consider now to be essential, far deeper ability to genuinely perceive life through the lens of a speaker/reader/writer/listener of the students L1). I think you both give a realistic insight into how life in Japan as an English teacher may pan out over the first few months and years... and as you both say, carving out a niche for yourself in Japan beyond any initial contract(s) is a challenge, but not one that is insurmountable. If you are considering a life abroad in Japan and see teaching English as a gateway, then I'd say watch and listen to this episode at least twice, then send in your application forms. 30 years in and I am still finding ever deeper layers of the nation.
Wow, thanks for the interest, and the super comment (this is Dan)! As I'm writing this I still haven't had word that the book has actually been published lol - should be today some time, waiting on that, but no, paperback will only eventuate if enough copies sell, I guess (hoping enough libraries will pick up a copy...). As for now, the digital version is the most reasonable. Rather than the book though, thanks for the endorsement!
Hmm, Chris is really dialing up his warm, intelligent, insightful side in this one. Something we don't often see in his buddy act with Pete D. If I had a choice, I would much rather see more of the former rather than the latter. But hey, I'm weird, and my algorithm isn't going to pay the rent. Dr M
11:09. I once had a teacher call me from the other building for class I was not scheduled for 5 minutes into the class starting. And I got to the class he looked at me and said Eriku-sensei yoroshiku onegaishimasu. Then he disappeared into the back of the class on a cell phone. I improved an entire class by drawing the lunch tray on the board and teaching from the menu. At this point in my career I could barely read the katakana on the menu. Be ready folks because if you want to be an English teacher in Japan it's always Showtime
English education in Japan is indeed not efficient as I experienced in junior high school and high school. My school was one of the Lutheran schools founded by missionaries. The ALTs were all sent from Lutheran churches. My school had a lof of classes focused on speaking English and ALTs had a great authoriry in class. Somehow my English improved a lot in high school because I took an English course consisted of girls only. Girls do so much better and become more confident when there's no boys around. I was lucky to have been in such an environment where I didn't need to be hesitant of speaking English. I graduated from a bilingual university in Tokyo, but most of friends use only Japanese at work. I use English only for documents of imports and exports. We don't really need English proficiency unless we work for tourism or belong to foreign companies.
I was a JET in Shimane from 2004 to 2009. While I loved my time as an ALT, I do think that some of the money the Japanese government spends on programs like JET would be better spent sending young English teachers to live abroad in Canada or New Zealand, etc. for one year before they start teaching to actually get some experience in the language.
The reality of life is that most people will live or want to live near where they grew up. That is true not only for japanese ppl but for everyone else as well. In that context, 2nd language is often a skill that is never used unless we are talking about europe where the countries are literally mixed and job opportunities are split among many different countries. In japan, there is not a lot of practical need for english, unless the person knows that they are not going to stay/live in an english speaking country. The most rational reason is that Japan's GDP growth will likely rely more and more heavily on tourism as its technological superiority decreases due to not being a manufacturing/research hub anymore, so by knowing english, they can probably sale their products better; other than that, on a person level, it will just give a person more career opportunities. Aside from culture studies, all STEM fields are English dominate when it comes to literature and cutting edge research, so a highly educated person will inevitably have to learn english along the way, so having a good solid start is more beneficial than not having one, but again, if a person is that motivated, it doesn't really matter in the long run anyways. The more paradoxical idea is that the more "other" culture is mixed into Japan, the less "japan" it will be in the future, so by actively trying to spread english and western culture, the less "japanese" japan will be relatively. I believe that is an interesting topic to discuss; ofc my perspective is more about globalism in general rather than just Japan. Another point is that UK as an island nation with very limited natural resources and small population base is rather similar to Japan; only ~30% of the population knows a 2nd language, while in Japan that figure is also around 20-25%. From this perspective, I think the main motivation of japanese ppl learning english is more historical and practical based than say for "culture", so if we don't honestly examine that, we are essentially beating around the bush to why we even teach english in Japan to begin with. In conclusion, rural japanese students should learn english, because the US, the most dominant country in the world is english speaking, and that if they want any better life opportunities than just staying in their birthplace/country, then they should learn english.
I understand that the primary stated aim of the JET programme isn't internationalisation or language assimilation at all, but to endear English speaking foreigners ... to Japan, the Japanese and Japanese culture! In other words, by giving English speakers gainful (albeit temporary) employment in Japan, the Japanese government makes large numbers of friends abroad. And of course, it works.
Honestly the question "Why should I learn any language" is just an excuse. Why do anything? But English of all languages is extremely useful nearly everywhere and it never hurts to learn it. I love going to Norway for example, almost everyone speaks English there. Knowing one or more languages just opens up the world more and gets people interested in different cultures.
Learning the languages are just wasting irreplaceable time and money. Humans are not designed to learn foreign languages, so it is literally teaching a bear to dance. 'It opens up the world' is one of the worst possible motivations; no one cares about different cultures because it is the same crap repacked in a different way.
This is so cool. I love stories from "old times" like this. I've been wondering; is it at all possible for a foreigner to get a work visa and a job in Japan without a university degree? I did Japanese Studies at university before the '08 financial crisis, but I never completed my Bachelor's before I dropped out. At the time I enjoyed learning about modern society and the language and working part-time at the faculty's library, but I just couldn't find the motivation for classical Japanese and literature studies. After I dropped out I started as a machinist's apprentice, got my diploma as a skilled craftsman, and I've now gotten a fair amount of work experience with CNC machinery and programming - do practical skills count for anything or does it all come down to signed papers from a university?
I've been to both Japan and China and while I had some culture shock in Japan it was always surprisingly pleasant and interesting whereas in China I felt like I woke up in a strange and unsettling alternate reality.
I agree. I never felt the culture shock arriving in Japan, but when I nipped over to the then British colony of Hong Kong, it was so different to Japan, and even during a short stay, I felt the shock.
I'm a Hokkaido JET and that was my first preference on the list. There are a couple other Alaskans here too. I think they stick us up here bc they know the cold and dark won't bother us lol
I'm really excited to start my journey. I got hired by Interac in June of this year and start March of 2025. I have every intention of fully integrating in the culture and staying long term. I've even started a vlog of the journey.
Have fun. Japan looks amazing. Clean and respectful. I ride the bus a short distance to work. I’m in Arcadia, CA. It’s a nice area. Yet the recording on the bus reminds people that they’re being recorded and not to attack anyone. That would sound insane to a Japanese person. I taught English a short time in Thailand.
Joshua ben Joseph: "What can I say? Biff introduce me to sushi, and let me tell you: that thing is so delicious that Its adictive. And finding It in Palestine It's imposible... and if you ask about seafood in there, they will think that you are very weird!" 😁😁😁
interesting to see PIAAC 2023 results. did they recover from the 1990s-2008 yutori shift? their two-pronged approach in university exams certainly is very interesting. excluding English ofc. once you include English, the picture looks more grim, but can machine translation guarantee that you basically have to be reasonably deply trained in one language only and from there LLMs will help you change course?
I was headhunted in the UK and went to Japan in 2004 not knowing the language b4hand. In my first month of watching the sunrise out of a very small, thin window I developed a very close relationship with a vending machine. It was that time of year when the hot drinks suddenly became cold. I lasted 3 years. I think the vending machine is still there.
That book of Pluralist sounds really good in a college course. Read a similar sounding book along the lines of (Multicultural Education in a Pluralistic Society). Anywho, I am not in education anymore. Its not for me, but kuddos to those who stay teaching.
Interesting that fewer Japanese students are travelling overseas to be educated. In my neck of the woods in England, there is a Japanese boarding school called Rikkyo just over the Surrey border which I think has full classes every year.
I live in Surrey and have heard about that - I even met the son of my wife's friend who was studying there. No idea why it exists. Perhaps for Japanese expats from across the country who wants to keep a Japanese education for their kids before returning to Japan.
All this talk about the JET Program, but the reality is that JETs only make up 25% of all ALTs in Japan these days. The 75% NON-JETS have really poor conditions (compared to the pampered JETs). JETs are decreasing (as a proportion) in Japan as the race to the bottom continues. Kyoto Prefecture just dumping JETS in favour of dispatch ALTs, who were procured by tender with the lowest bidder winning the contract. ALTs now are not deemed "teachers", but a "service" in the contract. For a more realistic view of what it is like to be an ALT in Japan, he should probably be talking to a NON-JET ALT
I agree it is complex, and I think we need to be careful on saying it is down to testing, as even if we compare Japan to comparable places such as Taiwan, it scores do not come out as high as one might expect.
In Japan, there is little onboarding of new people. The belief is that new hires will either figure things out on their own or be let go. There is a lack of clear expectations of what you should do, and new people often wonder if their seniors are simply offloading tasks on them that they simply don’t want to deal with.
If you're read the book, get ready to finally meet 'Roy'.
Never thought I'd sit down with a man who's been so influential on my time in Japan, my studies in Japanese and my life as an English language teacher, so this was an absolute treat. Enjoy!
I think those who would qualify for Jet, or any similar program, should be those with humility, humor, willingness to embarrass themselves and a love for other humans. Just wanting to build bridges to a life outside yourself. That's my sappy answer to it. Either way, much love and inspiration and respect to you both, and everyone behind the scenes. Now go F yourself. ❤
When you see 2 different color ball pens in shirt pocket, you know that person is 200% a teacher
Or a very high level nerd.
And then there's me going, "No, don't get me wrong, I AM happy to see you, I just have a whole bunch of Whiteboard markers stuffed in my pocket that I'd forgotten about!"
Or the AVGN
My answers to the JET Programme’s “where do you want to work in Japan” question:
1. Sapporo
2. Hokkaido
3. Yokohama
I got Sapporo, spent time sightseeing in Hokkaido, and now live in Yokohama. Mission accomplished.
Sapporo is already in Hokkaido 😂
It was awkward when people asked why I chose Osaka and then I said "I didn't they just put me here"
Places to visit in the USA for film enthusiasts.
1. LA.
2. California.
3. New York city.
u could argue that Sapparo is the first big colonial city of Japanese Empire onto Ainu land and therefore distinct from the upper parts of Hokkaido@@RadenWA
Been teaching for over twenty years. The salaries are shockingly low in Japan. Although I wanna get out of Viet am I'd have to take a 50% cut with a higher cost of living.
Chris’ Japan origins story. Dan is Gandalf the wise.
dandalf
This is 'Roy' (Dan), but my lord... as a MASSIVE Tolkien fan I think this is the best praise I've had in my life! I've reached my peak!
And little Bilbo Broad as his underling. Perfect analogy
Currently waiting for JET application results to see if I scored an interview, so this feels like an appropriately timed episode.
Same! I’m Autistic too, so it was extra perfect!
Out of interest where did you/ will you put down as the 3 places you’d want to be sent to teach?
And good luck!
Really great video. The slow, calm chat, the jazz music and the real conversation. Very not UA-cam and all the better for it. Really fascinating getting a glimpse behind the current of Abroad in Japan too.
I have to re-read all the chapters with 'Roy' in them now, what a great chap!
I was a JET in Shimane in 1988-89, and a sister city ALT in Kurashiki, Okayama from 1990-99. I love hearing how things are going with that these days.
Currently an ALT with a dispatch in Shimane. Still beautiful here.
I'm amazed seeing pictures from where I taught where things look exactly the same, after decades.
@@Hairaluia I was in Masuda. My area of school visits included Tsuwano and all the way down to Muikaichi and Hikimi. Great memories.
You do videos detailing your story about that time. Photos and videos too.
I work in an academic library, just put in a request to order Dan's book, we'll see if it gets accepted. A note, certainly for students and staff at UK universities, there's generally a place on the library website where you can request to order books in which are not in stock, and it does work 9 times out of 10! Get to it!
I'm in an Irish university at the minute and found only this feature when I was doing my MA. It's very handy
Love hearing about your early days in Japan. More like this, please!
As I play the waiting game for a JET Programme interview, this is a really timely episode. Thank you both for some great insights into the culture of the ALT job and your experiences with it.
Character who is part of the Broad lore. Thanks, Dan. I read something I happen to agree with. “Most Japanese students will never leave Japan. Little to no incentive to learn English.”
The AIJ universe just got broader.
Oh christ, I'm part of 'lore' now. Actually, I guess that's kind of cool.
@@bojanglingpearce You're canon now, Roy.
When I see all the stories you have to share and the great people you've met, I am always inspired by the scale of your success. It's hard to see your life as anything other than a wonderful adventure and I'm gald you are willing to share pieces of it with all of us.
Also ended up on the waitlist for the JET Program before getting off of it. Ended up declining to pursue another avenue. They seem to really want to make sure that you can handle living in rural areas - so future JET applicants make sure you emphasize that in the interview/application (however don’t lie if you actually can’t handle that!)
Great guest! This felt so organic.
As another person with the 'tism, rock on Dan
Not easy is it? Still, it sometimes has its benefits (maybe, lol!)... hope the culture shock point resonated, but you keep rockin' on too, @shaeker!
Genuinely very interested in Roy, I mean Dan, I mean Roy’s book. My daughter is in immersion education. The experience has made me very interested in language acquisition and teaching. I think I’ll be picking this up.
Our son started on the JET program in Hachioji in September but luckily he had already had about 5 trips to Japan by that point and a degree in Japanese so the cultural shock was not that great, having to work a Japanese workday less so.
As someone else who is on the spectrum, making the boss move to decide not to make an effort with people is so classic 👌🏻
What a cool guest. A must watch episode for all who have read your book Chris!
Lovely talk. Sat here with a smile and getting affirmation that there is good on the internet.
What great insight into your history! Would love to hear more stories like these.
Please have "Roy" appear a few more times. Really enjoyed his take on things.
That was awesome, bringing an old jet programme buddy on. Enjoyed this one!
Sounds like he's doing great for himself after the JET program. It's amazing to see ALTs who go on to become full-fledged licensed teachers. Makes me all the more excited to apply for the JET program when I graduate university next year.
Fantastic Guest!
Excellent guest, very much enjoyed the interview, thank you both.
What a great episode. Thanks for having Roy/Dan on for the amazing perspective and also shout outs to the pounamu bro
YESSSS! That pounamu IS my soul! So glad someone picked up on it!
We got the Sensei episode.
Very interesting episode. As someone who teaches writing for non-native English speakers at a US university, I'd love to hear more about Dan's experience. Maybe I'll grab that book...
Dan is the most teacher-looking teacher I’ve ever seen
Maybe do another one with Dan about learning Japanese to a very high degree!
❣️💌❣️ Two extremely likable guys having a good conversation, ideal.
It's nice to see a book character comes to life. Dan played the role of Roy perfectly
Currently adjusting my five year goal to go back and finish my bachelor's so I can properly go through the JET program
This has reinvigorated my dream of being an english teacher, thank you
Nothing is ever too late, and going off the beaten path more often than not becomes a strength. Wishing you all the best to get where you want to be!
what great timing for this video to come out! I just started reading Chris’s book and it’s nice to see a face for your ALT senior. i’ll definitely enjoy reading the passages that include both of you even more now :)
Dan hit the nail on the head with the Autistic experience: “everyday’s a culture shock” 😂 Thanks for this, guys!
As someone else who is ND, I actually often find things easier in East Asia, possibly as people just assume I am going to do things differently! 😂
Absolutely love the ALT stories! Definitely need more!
Nice to put a face to the middle name after reading The Book 🙂
Could have listened to much more of that. Dan is a great guest!
Very cool!
I got to your channel when it still grew, as you showed interesting places in Japan. I think, the first video I saw from you was about Ginzan Onsen. Now, over a year later, I own your book, I have visited Kamakura and Kyoto, drank cocktails with strangers in your bar, even rewatched some of your old videos. You now have come full circle by meeting Dan (Roy) again. And I am already planning my next trip to Japan, which will be in 2026, due to the expo next year. Maybe our paths will cross one day, maybe never. But I will stay a devout fan of your content.
Greetings from Germany,
Sven
Definitely a relatable episode for teachers
Thank you for that video Chris! Dan seems like a great and funny guy.. especially if you are working together with him hahaha
Hope you are having a great time, Chris!
OMG it's Roy! The chapter with him is my fav so far!!! When you said Dan I was a bit sad it wasn't Roy haha Most welcomed surprise! happy holidays indeed!!
Happy not to disappoint you!
This video looks really sharp, did anything change with the cameras & lighting? Love it.
The Abroad in Japan media empire has accumulated immense wealth, we can only expect more improvements.
The iphone vid looks great!
@@frutato7498 that Sharla sugar momma money is ramping things up
New Zealand represent. When are we gonna see Abroad in New Zealand.
I was lucky enough to end up in Osaka. It's a great place and you have a good chance to get picked! We have over 80 ALT's so I highly recommend it. I am struggling as it is my first time teaching english and I was given 1st graders. It's hard and my support isn't that great. I'm glad to hear that it's not so much that I am just failing, I am going to keep trying and look at getting a job in japan in the next year.
I believe in a country like Japan, the best outcome of being a JET is to make the students curious about the outside world and encourage travelling. But of course it can be tough in rural areas.
only for a pleeb who doesnt know japanese like you maybe.
Listening to this while walking to my school workplace now 😂 7:38 Yes this is true! Hiroshima HAS places to ski! It's usually in the northern part though
YUP! I live in a small town about 2 hrs away from Hiroshima and there are ski places on the road to Hiroshima.
Give your love to 恐羅漢！
Perfect timing. Considering I got assigned to work in North Japan, but in the way that I have no idea WHERE exactly I am being assigned.
Count your blessings - I live in Osaka now, and Kansai is fantastic, but I LOVE North Japan - even years on, the cover of my book is from Sakata, Yamagata. Go back as much as I can - hope you find as much joy in it as I did!
@@bojanglingpearceYears ago I was assigned to the north of Niigata prefecture, and have even been to Sakata. Definitely a beautiful part of Japan.
my ex is in yoichi, hokkaido and loving it. small community, heaps of snow, 3 ALTs… but a lovely, friendly town with people who are curious to interact with foreigners, maybe because of the relative isolation ? i wouldn’t worry too much as long as you put the effort in to connect with locals :)
Hi, I'm Japanese who live in and grew up in Miyagi, I don't know about can JET people chosen free there where stay in Tokyo.
I almost applied for the JET program back in 2017 after having been watching your videos since maybe 2013/14 (I think I came from Rachael and Jun and Sharla to yours so I'm not sure on the dates!) and I was teaching at the time in the UK (16-18yr olds in college). I'd finished my MSc in 2017 and was looking to escape the UK teaching profession as it was destroying me. So I had all the forms done, all the signed recommendations etc collected and it was ready to send off, but I'd also applied for my first science position as well. I'd made the choice to wait and see if I got offered that job before sending off the JET application. I did indeed get offered the job so I never carried on with the JET stuff.
I'm still in science albeit it 2 jobs along but maybe one day I'll get bored of moving liquid around and playing with viruses and decide to apply for the JET program.
I suddenly have the urge to go to Kyoto just so I can approach Japanese teenagers and ask them for directions.
Excellent comment. What dedication.😂
Ahhh Roy/Dan from the book!!
As a scientist I love the step back and looking at different patterns of testing to potentially explain systematic differences
Hi Chris 😊 🎉
I just finished my application for the JET program last month. I am really hoping to get selected for the program.
I enjoyed the collab you should invite more people!
I know Chris love doing documentaries. I'd suggest making a documentary of an ALT teacher in Japan. Like, finding a newbie teacher then following their day to day activities in Japan and both Chris & Dan will narrate the documentary.
Really great conversation here, I don't want to formalize it as an "interview" because it is so casual but well focused. I also really like the set, both sides of the bar are getting some use.
Hopefully see you Chris in 12 days or so at Lost! 🙏
Interesting podcast. The 'E' in the JET Programme = Exchange. I'd travelled around the world before applying and that seemed to be the topic my interview panel focused on. Unfortunately, many host Borad of Educations were more focused on the 'E' = English in my 6 years (JET 3, independant 3). More interviews like this please, Chris.
Applied for the JET program in the US around 2003-2005. I was already working as an English lit teacher in an American high school, and was convinced to apply by my girlfriend at the time. She desperately wanted to get away from the US and I applied along with her. She didn't make it to the embassy interview, but I did. I remember sitting in my office at school and getting that call saying I was accepted into the program. Faced with that life-changing decision, I froze and panicked and declined the offer. So many "sliding doors moments" since then for me wondering how my life would have evolved if I'd had the courage to go.
Moved to Japan in September, currently doing English teaching. Really good insight here
When you mentioned the previous ALT, I suddenly thought of my friend, but he was in Sakata back in the mid-1990s. He had some interesting stories about Sakata.
My experience on the JET Programme started in 1989, in a town that was a recruiting area for the yakuza. At least I could tell the misbehaving kids that I would tell their fathers. Again, interesting stories.
But the thing that puzzled me was about the absence of the Exchange part. I mentioned in a speech I gave before the teachers in my area, that the best thing to help English language teaching in Japan, would be to send the teachers overseas for experience, rather than bringing in foreigners. I don't think my Board of Education was impressed with that.
I was a JET in the 90s and came to the same conclusion - they have English teachers who can't speak English and have sometimes never been abroad. Rather than spending a fortune flying thousands over business class, they should, they should seend trainee English teachers to foreign countries for a year, ideally to work as well as study.
I'm in Brazil, and I remember years ago looking up information about the JET program, and at least here in Brazil, one of the prerequisites for the applicants was to be fluent in japanese.
That's because they aren't looking for people to assist in the teaching of Portuguese as ALTs, but looking for CIRs to work on international relations in city halls.
I like Dan. He seems like such a cool guy.
seeing this video and after both reading the book and having heard more from Chris about the JET. I wonder how do the people in the ministerie that organise the JET see that the program is going. As you are saying in a way they are missing a lot of opportunity to use that program it self as a springboard for others they manage to get to the more rural areas to keep them there and be like a ambassador to that region.
There are plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in the local culture AND socialize with other ALTs/CLRs. A great chance to not only learn about Japan but learn about people all over the world if you are in JET.
i found a channel in here by a guy who is a doctor in language, language jones, i don't know anyone IRL that would be interested in the book, but I'll leave a comment on one of his videos about it cause its something he would buy.
Dan has GOT to be a south islander - haven't lived in NZ forever now either but I swear that's a south island accent
Auckland born and bred! But, mum will love that - my parents and everyone beyond are Otago. Looking forward to visiting Oamaru again on my next chance
@@bojanglingpearce Oh I could have sworn I heard the R's!I grew up 3hrs north of Auckland though, so everywhere is pretty much south of us hahaha
@@mum_moth You probably did - I spent plenty of time down there growing up!
Praise the almighty algorhythm!
I just saw an older podcast from you on your other channel, Chris "Bored", the one with the jelly pot story 🤣🤣
And now i'm here again.
I really enjoyed this. But at the same time does it really answer the subject. Lots of interesting stuff about the Jet Program structure and the structures of application which would help calm a lot of applicants. But not so much about school dynamics in a generalised way. Dealing with students, dealing with other teachers and dealing with Admin - there is a little bit of that, but more about incidents rather than a general sense of "reality" for teachers.
Still very interesting! And I did enjoy it very much and was insightful in its own way.
Great vlog. Dan appears to be someone from your past who was instrumental in shaping your life in Japan. He is a good guy👍
A great episode Chris; and hi Dan.. you may even have sold a copy of your book to me. Is it available in paperback yet, or is it digital for a while?
A fellow teacher by choice here (30 years and counting) who has themselves moved away from monolingual teaching to a pluralingual approach over 3 decades (driven mainly by a combination of increasing positive feedback from the chalk-face of the classroom and a, what I consider now to be essential, far deeper ability to genuinely perceive life through the lens of a speaker/reader/writer/listener of the students L1).
I think you both give a realistic insight into how life in Japan as an English teacher may pan out over the first few months and years... and as you both say, carving out a niche for yourself in Japan beyond any initial contract(s) is a challenge, but not one that is insurmountable. If you are considering a life abroad in Japan and see teaching English as a gateway, then I'd say watch and listen to this episode at least twice, then send in your application forms. 30 years in and I am still finding ever deeper layers of the nation.
Wow, thanks for the interest, and the super comment (this is Dan)! As I'm writing this I still haven't had word that the book has actually been published lol - should be today some time, waiting on that, but no, paperback will only eventuate if enough copies sell, I guess (hoping enough libraries will pick up a copy...). As for now, the digital version is the most reasonable. Rather than the book though, thanks for the endorsement!
Hmm,
Chris is really dialing up his warm, intelligent, insightful side in this one. Something we don't often see in his buddy act with Pete D.
If I had a choice, I would much rather see more of the former rather than the latter. But hey, I'm weird, and my algorithm isn't going to pay the rent.
Dr M
11:09. I once had a teacher call me from the other building for class I was not scheduled for 5 minutes into the class starting. And I got to the class he looked at me and said Eriku-sensei yoroshiku onegaishimasu. Then he disappeared into the back of the class on a cell phone. I improved an entire class by drawing the lunch tray on the board and teaching from the menu. At this point in my career I could barely read the katakana on the menu.
Be ready folks because if you want to be an English teacher in Japan it's always Showtime
This was very interesting, thanks
English education in Japan is indeed not efficient as I experienced in junior high school and high school. My school was one of the Lutheran schools founded by missionaries. The ALTs were all sent from Lutheran churches. My school had a lof of classes focused on speaking English and ALTs had a great authoriry in class. Somehow my English improved a lot in high school because I took an English course consisted of girls only. Girls do so much better and become more confident when there's no boys around. I was lucky to have been in such an environment where I didn't need to be hesitant of speaking English. I graduated from a bilingual university in Tokyo, but most of friends use only Japanese at work. I use English only for documents of imports and exports. We don't really need English proficiency unless we work for tourism or belong to foreign companies.
I was a JET in Shimane from 2004 to 2009. While I loved my time as an ALT, I do think that some of the money the Japanese government spends on programs like JET would be better spent sending young English teachers to live abroad in Canada or New Zealand, etc. for one year before they start teaching to actually get some experience in the language.
The reality of life is that most people will live or want to live near where they grew up. That is true not only for japanese ppl but for everyone else as well. In that context, 2nd language is often a skill that is never used unless we are talking about europe where the countries are literally mixed and job opportunities are split among many different countries. In japan, there is not a lot of practical need for english, unless the person knows that they are not going to stay/live in an english speaking country. The most rational reason is that Japan's GDP growth will likely rely more and more heavily on tourism as its technological superiority decreases due to not being a manufacturing/research hub anymore, so by knowing english, they can probably sale their products better; other than that, on a person level, it will just give a person more career opportunities. Aside from culture studies, all STEM fields are English dominate when it comes to literature and cutting edge research, so a highly educated person will inevitably have to learn english along the way, so having a good solid start is more beneficial than not having one, but again, if a person is that motivated, it doesn't really matter in the long run anyways.
The more paradoxical idea is that the more "other" culture is mixed into Japan, the less "japan" it will be in the future, so by actively trying to spread english and western culture, the less "japanese" japan will be relatively. I believe that is an interesting topic to discuss; ofc my perspective is more about globalism in general rather than just Japan. Another point is that UK as an island nation with very limited natural resources and small population base is rather similar to Japan; only ~30% of the population knows a 2nd language, while in Japan that figure is also around 20-25%. From this perspective, I think the main motivation of japanese ppl learning english is more historical and practical based than say for "culture", so if we don't honestly examine that, we are essentially beating around the bush to why we even teach english in Japan to begin with.
In conclusion, rural japanese students should learn english, because the US, the most dominant country in the world is english speaking, and that if they want any better life opportunities than just staying in their birthplace/country, then they should learn english.
I understand that the primary stated aim of the JET programme isn't internationalisation or language assimilation at all, but to endear English speaking foreigners ... to Japan, the Japanese and Japanese culture!
In other words, by giving English speakers gainful (albeit temporary) employment in Japan, the Japanese government makes large numbers of friends abroad. And of course, it works.
Honestly the question "Why should I learn any language" is just an excuse. Why do anything? But English of all languages is extremely useful nearly everywhere and it never hurts to learn it. I love going to Norway for example, almost everyone speaks English there. Knowing one or more languages just opens up the world more and gets people interested in different cultures.
Learning the languages are just wasting irreplaceable time and money. Humans are not designed to learn foreign languages, so it is literally teaching a bear to dance.
'It opens up the world' is one of the worst possible motivations; no one cares about different cultures because it is the same crap repacked in a different way.
This is so cool. I love stories from "old times" like this.
I've been wondering; is it at all possible for a foreigner to get a work visa and a job in Japan without a university degree?
I did Japanese Studies at university before the '08 financial crisis, but I never completed my Bachelor's before I dropped out.
At the time I enjoyed learning about modern society and the language and working part-time at the faculty's library, but I just couldn't find the motivation for classical Japanese and literature studies.
After I dropped out I started as a machinist's apprentice, got my diploma as a skilled craftsman, and I've now gotten a fair amount of work experience with CNC machinery and programming - do practical skills count for anything or does it all come down to signed papers from a university?
I've been to both Japan and China and while I had some culture shock in Japan it was always surprisingly pleasant and interesting whereas in China I felt like I woke up in a strange and unsettling alternate reality.
What made it strange and unsettling? I’m curious because I’m Chinese
I agree. I never felt the culture shock arriving in Japan, but when I nipped over to the then British colony of Hong Kong, it was so different to Japan, and even during a short stay, I felt the shock.
@@ohmygodlawlChina feels louder and more chaotic. As someone from Britain, Japan doesn't feel that different in some ways.
Some prefectures are currently testing replacing the JET program with cheaper alternatives.
Sadly I was a JET reject, but I think I'm still gonna try to be an ALT next year! Whether through JET Program or not.
I'm a Hokkaido JET and that was my first preference on the list. There are a couple other Alaskans here too. I think they stick us up here bc they know the cold and dark won't bother us lol
Hi Abroad, what mics are you using for these podcasts? Cheers
I'm really excited to start my journey. I got hired by Interac in June of this year and start March of 2025. I have every intention of fully integrating in the culture and staying long term. I've even started a vlog of the journey.
Have fun. Japan looks amazing. Clean and respectful. I ride the bus a short distance to work. I’m in Arcadia, CA. It’s a nice area. Yet the recording on the bus reminds people that they’re being recorded and not to attack anyone. That would sound insane to a Japanese person. I taught English a short time in Thailand.
Never forget Isukiri Christ. Jesus Christ's younger brother who casually took his place at the cross so Jesus could escape to Japan.
Joshua ben Joseph: "What can I say? Biff introduce me to sushi, and let me tell you: that thing is so delicious that Its adictive. And finding It in Palestine It's imposible... and if you ask about seafood in there, they will think that you are very weird!"
😁😁😁
interesting to see PIAAC 2023 results. did they recover from the 1990s-2008 yutori shift? their two-pronged approach in university exams certainly is very interesting. excluding English ofc. once you include English, the picture looks more grim, but can machine translation guarantee that you basically have to be reasonably deply trained in one language only and from there LLMs will help you change course?
I was headhunted in the UK and went to Japan in 2004 not knowing the language b4hand. In my first month of watching the sunrise out of a very small, thin window I developed a very close relationship with a vending machine. It was that time of year when the hot drinks suddenly became cold. I lasted 3 years. I think the vending machine is still there.
That book of Pluralist sounds really good in a college course. Read a similar sounding book along the lines of (Multicultural Education in a Pluralistic Society).
Anywho, I am not in education anymore. Its not for me, but kuddos to those who stay teaching.
1:21 where did they say they lived in?
Interesting that fewer Japanese students are travelling overseas to be educated. In my neck of the woods in England, there is a Japanese boarding school called Rikkyo just over the Surrey border which I think has full classes every year.
I live in Surrey and have heard about that - I even met the son of my wife's friend who was studying there. No idea why it exists. Perhaps for Japanese expats from across the country who wants to keep a Japanese education for their kids before returning to Japan.
Plurilingual Education in a Monolingualised Nation: Exploring New Frontiers in Language Teaching in Japan ..... snappy title!
I might Have to get the chris broad book now
All this talk about the JET Program, but the reality is that JETs only make up 25% of all ALTs in Japan these days. The 75% NON-JETS have really poor conditions (compared to the pampered JETs). JETs are decreasing (as a proportion) in Japan as the race to the bottom continues. Kyoto Prefecture just dumping JETS in favour of dispatch ALTs, who were procured by tender with the lowest bidder winning the contract. ALTs now are not deemed "teachers", but a "service" in the contract. For a more realistic view of what it is like to be an ALT in Japan, he should probably be talking to a NON-JET ALT
AGREE! He uses "JET" as an umbrella term but JET and Dispatch ALTs are not the same.
I agree it is complex, and I think we need to be careful on saying it is down to testing, as even if we compare Japan to comparable places such as Taiwan, it scores do not come out as high as one might expect.
In Japan, there is little onboarding of new people. The belief is that new hires will either figure things out on their own or be let go. There is a lack of clear expectations of what you should do, and new people often wonder if their seniors are simply offloading tasks on them that they simply don’t want to deal with.
Sounds like my experience with a study abroad program...
As this post is specifically about being a JET, you clarify if you are referencing JET or Japanese corporate culture in general.