From Countryside to City: My Journey and Growth in Japan

Hi guys! Just want to update you. I have been so busy lately that I haven't had the time to update. I plan on posting more in the future. So here's a recap and teaser.

The Journey So Far

Over the past few years, "Silak Randomness" has chronicled my adventures and experiences as a language student in Japan. This blog has been a platform for sharing insights, offering advice, and documenting the highs and lows of living abroad. From cultural tips to financial advice, we've covered a lot of ground together.

Cultural Insights

One of the most enriching aspects of my time in Japan has been understanding and embracing the concept of "omoiyari" (consideration for others). This cultural cornerstone has profoundly influenced how I interact with others and navigate daily life. Learning about and practicing these societal norms has provided a deeper appreciation for Japanese culture.

Financial Management

Managing finances as a student abroad is a crucial skill, and it's something I've shared extensively on this blog. From the initial costs of moving to Japan to monthly budgeting and strategies for sending money home, these financial insights have been invaluable. The practical advice on balancing part-time work with studies has helped many of you navigate similar challenges.

Work Experiences

Working part-time in Japan has been a significant part of my journey. The stories and tips about finding and excelling in part-time jobs have resonated with many readers. Whether it's the first part-time job experience or the nuances of working within Japanese labor norms, these posts have provided practical guidance and support.

Career Transition

Recently, my career has taken exciting turns. I transitioned from an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) to a direct hire teacher, and now, I am proud to share that I am a science teacher. Each role brought unique challenges and learning experiences, which I plan to chronicle in future posts. These transitions have not only advanced my career but also deepened my understanding of Japan's educational landscape.

Personal Growth and Relocation

Living in Japan has been transformative. It's not just about learning the language or understanding the culture but also about personal growth. The challenges and triumphs of daily life have taught resilience, adaptability, and a broader perspective on life. From cooking my first gyoza to navigating social norms, every experience has contributed to personal development.

Additionally, my journey has seen a significant geographical shift. I started in the countryside, immersing myself in the serene and traditional aspects of Japan. Now, I am transitioning to Tokyo, a move that promises new adventures and experiences in the bustling heart of Japan.

Future Directions

Looking ahead, there are many exciting topics to explore. Advanced language learning techniques, transitioning from student life to a professional career in Japan, and travel diaries featuring hidden gems and popular destinations are just a few areas I'm eager to delve into. These future posts aim to provide even more value and insights for readers at different stages of their journey.

Closing Thoughts

Reflecting on the past year and beyond, it's clear that this journey has been one of continuous learning and growth. The support and engagement from readers have been incredible, and I'm excited to continue sharing and learning together. Stay tuned for more updates and stories as we embark on new adventures.

Must-Have Apps for the Japanese Language Student

 Learning a new language can be challenging, but fortunately, there are many resources available to make the process easier. Whether you're a beginner or advanced Japanese language student, there are apps that can help you improve your skills, learn new vocabulary, and practice your reading, writing, and speaking abilities. Here are some of the must-have apps for Japanese language students:

Duolingo

Duolingo is a popular language-learning app that offers courses in many different languages, including Japanese. The app is free to use and provides a gamified experience to make learning more engaging. Duolingo includes lessons on grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, as well as reading, writing, and speaking exercises. The app is perfect for beginners who want to start learning Japanese or for those who want to review and reinforce their skills.

Tae Kim's Guide to Learning Japanese

Tae Kim's Guide to Learning Japanese is a free app that offers a comprehensive guide to the Japanese language. The app includes lessons on grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, as well as practice exercises and quizzes. The app is great for intermediate to advanced students who want to improve their grammar and writing skills.

Japanese Dictionary - Jisho

Jisho is a free Japanese-English dictionary app that provides a comprehensive and user-friendly database of Japanese words, phrases, and expressions. The app includes features such as handwriting recognition, kanji lookup, and example sentences to help students learn new vocabulary in context. Jisho is an essential tool for any Japanese language student who wants to expand their vocabulary and improve their reading and writing abilities.

Kanji Study

Kanji Study is a popular app for learning kanji, one of the most challenging aspects of learning Japanese. The app includes lessons on reading and writing kanji, as well as practice exercises and quizzes. Kanji Study is a great tool for any Japanese language student who wants to improve their kanji skills and gain a better understanding of the Japanese writing system.

Anki

Anki is a popular flashcard app that helps students memorize new vocabulary and grammar rules. The app uses spaced repetition to optimize learning and offers a range of customizable options to suit different learning styles. Anki is a great tool for any Japanese language student who wants to improve their memory and retention of new information.

In conclusion, these five apps are must-haves for any Japanese language student who wants to improve their language skills. Whether you're a beginner or advanced student, these apps provide a range of resources and tools to help you learn and practice Japanese in a fun and engaging way. Try them out and see which ones work best for you!

Silak's JST Series: Introduction to Silak's Japan Survival Tips

Hello Everyone!!!

I have been thinking of some things to post and I really wanted to share how I am learning to survive in Japan. Yes, I may have a little bit of Nihongo under my belt but not nearly enough to understand everything that goes on around me.

And so I came up with this!!!

Silak's JST (Japan Survival Tips) series

This will be basically short posts on practical tips and tricks I've picked up along the way. I will be sharing stuff that I learned and am still doing that makes my life so much easier.

This will be anything and everything under the sun from post rescheduling, inquiries, groceries, and many, many more!

And, good news to the introverts out there like me that want to minimize their human contact as much as possible, these, are going to help you a lot! (As much as possible I do most of my stuff online and I only call if, and when I really need to.)

I will try to make the posts as educational as possible with as many picture illustrations as I can.

So as for now, this is all the free time I have, I will keep you guys posted, and please share the word so we can help as many people as we can!

So as our introductory, inaugural post, let's get to our first survival tip

Silak's JST #1: Japan Wi-Fi Auto-Connect

I recently went home to the Philippines for a long-awaited summer vacation. Needless to say, with the little money I saved up for a mini splurge, this homecoming was a success and I successfully gained 3 kgs due to the amount of eating I did while I was there.

On my trip back, as I was fighting back the tears (I guess leaving home is never really easy no matter how many times you do it) I couldn't help but overhear a nice couple (I will be assuming and assume that they are newlyweds as the wedding rings look fairly new) discussing their roaming plans. When we got on board I thought they were frequent fliers to Japan so I didn't really talk their ears off with tips, but for the internet connectivity thing, I knew how hard it is not being connected.

Where art thou, oh Wi-Fi

And so I gave them the tip I used to survive the initial days in Japan when I didn't have a mobile wifi device yet. When traveling to Japan, try to download this app (for android users) before leaving the free wifi areas of the airport.

It's called Japan Wi-Fi auto-connect and I have provided links here:

Website 
Google Play
Apple App store

Basically, what this does is connect you to available wifi spots (including those that are sometimes locked or requiring logins under the NTT Docomo network) It's a cheaper alternative to getting the rental hotspots from the airport, and if you will be staying longer like us, a means to an end till you can get your own phone plan.

And, it's easy!

Simply install and register! The app will automatically connect you to wifi hotspots all over Japan. 

If you prefer being in control of when you connect rather than automatically connecting to hotspots, you can instead download the sister app, Japan Connected-free Wi-Fi instead.

Website 
Google Play
Apple App store

Both apps are powered by the NTT Broadband Platform and the only difference is the first one connects you automatically once a hotspot is available, and the other one you will have to manually connect.

Although, the downside is, when there are no wifi spots available, you will not be able to connect to the internet and the next thing to do is to look for a convenience store. Most likely, they will always have wifi. But not to worry! The company is adding more wifi spots with time.

This is the first tip I can share and this is usable by all, tourists and first-timers alike! Feel free to share and if you have questions or tips you might want to share, feel free to comment below or message me on Facebook or Instagram so we can all make our Japan stay more fun!

Ja ne~

Just Another ALT Post - Silak Version!

Happy Sunday Minasan!!!

The weather is slowly cranking up and it's getting more and more difficult to step out especially when you don't have a car and will have to walk to destinations. The dangers of heatstroke are real people!

So today I want to talk a little bit about my life as an ALT in Japan.

What is an ALT?

Time and again, people from outside Japan would ask me: "What work do you do there?", to which I reply, "I'm an ALT." Wait, what?

To people who have been interested in Japan as I had been before coming here, you would know that ALT stands for Assistant Language Teacher. Now, this takes different meanings as well depending on where you're teaching and I will discuss the role in detail in a Junior High School perspective as this is where I am assigned. I am basically an assistant to a Japanese Teacher of English.

 I will try and get Jerome, Richard, and Leizel to talk about their experience in the Elementary school front so we can have insight into that area as well as soon as I can.

Okay! Let's get started!!!

ALT in JHS

JHS- Junior High School. In Japan, JHS is equivalent to grades 7-9 or middle school in some countries. The major age demographic are kids ranging from 12-15 years of age. So mainly, my students comprise of tweens and early teens.

Teenagers!!!

I remember being a teen myself and let me tell you, they change moods as often as the weather. One day they will be bright and sunny and all smiles the next you're facing faces grim as district 12 in the hunger games.

My Role

So, what exactly do I do?

I am a part of a two-person team teaching an English class. I always join the class with a Japanese English teacher and mainly do the warm-ups, pronunciation, reading drills, and occasionally playing games with the kids. In JHS, this is the norm as this is the time where the kids start learning about English grammar syntax. This is when they start learning the use of the English language. From what I know, mostly in Elementary school, they learn about vocabulary and the basic greetings and counting.

So once they enter JHS, they start learning the significance of the subject-verb agreement, past-present-future tenses, and all the structures that makes the English language what it is. And this needs to be explained in Japanese first to facilitate understanding. And, unless you are flawlessly fluent and can speak Japanese correctly, you can not handle the class alone.

Although from time to time I do conduct a class in English, although these are usually fluff pieces like writing fan letters but no major grammatical lesson.

Class Clown

I'm okay, I swear

Teenagers have this air of superiority about them. They feel like they are so grown up and simply refuse to be treated like children. (Oh honey, you are far from being an adult, and believe me adulting is ^#% hard). So there will be days where you are met with the cold dead stare of the cool kids.

So what do I do?

As for me, it was hard for me to get the kids' comfort and I really had to earn their smiles. What I try to do is to act a little bit funny (I am not a funny person so this was a big challenge). I learned to let go of my feelings of embarrassment and wore my Pierrot nose with pride. I tend to act like I'm stupid to elicit reactions from them and once the initial tension is broken, I started being more comfortable being in front of them.

Perfect

One thing to remember when you are teaching, you don't have to be perfect. You have to be prepared to the best of your ability but if you do make mistakes, simply admit and turn it into something you and the kids can laugh about. I think having fun and making the class enjoyable for everyone is more important than conducting a perfect class. Reason: It allows the kids to relax and be more open to trying the language. Japan is a country of perfection that kids are so scared of making mistakes. And you need to let them know that the time to make mistakes is now as experience is the best teacher. This relaxes the classroom atmosphere encouraging the kids to try using English.

Working with Japanese Teachers

Ohayou Gozaimasu!

Working with other people is always a challenge and the language barrier does little to help. Working with other teachers can be difficult at times especially if they refuse to listen to you or to reason. I am lucky enough to have kind teachers (to my face at least :P). I think it would be best to just do your best to be a contributing part of the faculty offering assistance when you can and showing an effort to learn their language. Remember the golden rule, respect begets respect, if you treat everyone kindly, even the most difficult teacher will have no choice but respond in kind. The Japanese culture demands nothing less.

Well, these are some of the things I have on the top of my head about my work. This, by no means, justifies what we do exactly, but if you have questions, please feel free to comment to reach out to me via the page.

See you soon!!!