Aspiring South African JETs 2012

[eFred]

You know 'analyse' changed to 'analyze', 'organise' to 'organize', 'realisation' 'realization' ... etc, you get the picture. I think using 'z' instead of 's' is an American thing.

[Yumz27]

@eFred, I don't understand the 'neutral accent' thing either. It goes without saying that clarity and fluency is the name of the game but our accents are what make us unique. If everyone who is chosen has the same accent then my word it defeats the purpose of lessening the homogeneous nature of Japan.

So the one week countdown to our interview has begun (for the CPT applicants). I'm not sure what I'm suppose to do in the two hours between my test and interview?! I think that's really silly...to have such a big gap between the two.

[eFred]

@eFred, I don't understand the 'neutral accent' thing either. It goes without saying that clarity and fluency is the name of the game but our accents are what make us unique. If everyone who is chosen has the same accent then my word it defeats the purpose of lessening the homogeneous nature of Japan.

Haha, yep. This doesn't seem to be an issue though. I just mentioned it because I was reading through my application stuff. I'm sure that we have nothing to worry about.

So the one week countdown to our interview has begun (for the CPT applicants). I'm not sure what I'm suppose to do in the two hours between my test and interview?! I think that's really silly...to have such a big gap between the two.

We could pee? And walk off some nerves after finally getting over the initial 'OMW-we-finished-The-INTERVIEW' stage. Alternatively, you could find a nearby cafe and eat (XD) and calm down so that your high from the interview doesn't affect your test results (sometimes we make silly mistakes when we're jittery). It could also be a chance to clear our heads and maybe talk to people lurking around the floor. Sometimes other people's interviews go over the given amount of time, so maybe that 2 hours is like a safety net thing, since we write the test in groups of 3.

Or maybe that 2 hours is the space in which they secretly monitor us wringing our hands (Joke)

[Teishou]

You know 'analyse' changed to 'analyze', 'organise' to 'organize', 'realisation' 'realization' ... etc, you get the picture. I think using 'z' instead of 's' is an American thing.

Ah. Because of the pronunciation... I thought British-English was rather odd because of the random "u" and "s" placed here and there in words. Lol That's how the ball bounces I suppose.

[Yumz27]

Hahaha lmao @eFred, yeah the peeing and walking off the nerves sounds like a good idea! But yup will probably end up in a coffee shop nearby. My test is before my interview and I prefer it that way.

[eFred]

As for accent, don't worry too much. I've met Jamaican JETs who's accent was so thick that it was all but unintelligible, and the Irish accent... well, let's just say that it is an acquired taste. Personally I find it very soothing, but I've heard a number of JETs asking Irish JETs to, "Please say that again, but this time at a quarter speed and in English." .

I know it's been repeatedly said that JET does not randomly select applicants BUT surely someone with a super thick accent is not exactly ALT material (please don't shoot). I think for a CIR it might be different though. Viva diversity and all.

[RoBot]

As for accent, don't worry too much. I've met Jamaican JETs who's accent was so thick that it was all but unintelligible, and the Irish accent... well, let's just say that it is an acquired taste. Personally I find it very soothing, but I've heard a number of JETs asking Irish JETs to, "Please say that again, but this time at a quarter speed and in English." .

I know it's been repeatedly said that JET does not randomly select applicants BUT surely someone with a super thick accent is not exactly ALT material (please don't shoot). I think for a CIR it might be different though. Viva diversity and all.

I think it is an important part of learning English that you are subjeted to a number of different accents. No one has the same one and for true internationalisation you need to be able to understand a variety of accents. In my mind, the more accents you are exposed to the better!

[Deveire]

I think it is an important part of learning English that you are subjected to a number of different accents. No one has the same one and for true internationalisation you need to be able to understand a variety of accents. In my mind, the more accents you are exposed to the better!

Agreed! But sometime thick can be a little too thick. Our first holiday in Ireland my mother had to "translate" from English to English for the rest of us because wow; sometimes you know what's coming out of someone's mouth is supposed to be English, but it might as well not be for all the sense it makes. Hahaha. So I think a clear accent close to neutral is probably more important for someone learning a language for the first time than exposure to the heavier wonderful and myriad accents us native-speakers can produce.

[RoBot]

I think it is an important part of learning English that you are subjected to a number of different accents. No one has the same one and for true internationalisation you need to be able to understand a variety of accents. In my mind, the more accents you are exposed to the better!

Agreed! But sometime thick can be a little too thick. Our first holiday in Ireland my mother had to "translate" from English to English for the rest of us because wow; sometimes you know what's coming out of someone's mouth is supposed to be English, but it might as well not be for all the sense it makes. Hahaha. So I think a clear accent close to neutral is probably more important for someone learning a language for the first time than exposure to the heavier wonderful and myriad accents us native-speakers can produce.

Ahhhh now I'm worried!! Irish accents thaaat hard to understand?!?! At least the people interviewing me were Irish so probably knew what I was talking about!!

[SakuraHoshi]

I actually said in my SOP that I'd be interested in introducing Japanese students to the fact that there are lots of different British dialects. As well as different pronunciations between counties, some words are different. For example, that round piece of bread that you spread with jam is called a cob in my county. In the south it's called a bread roll. In the far north I've heard it referred to as a bap... all sorts of words. I think dialects and accents are really facinating and it would be great to give students of english language as appreciation of that.

I do agree about the idea of accents that can be a little too thick though. I once had a call centre job and there were certain parts of the UK where I literally couldn't understand a word of the english that the callers were saying!

[RoBot]

Quite apart from accent issues almost every native speaker will have to slow down considerably. Depending who I'm talking to I have to slow down anywhere from 25 to 50%, and after nearly 6 years I automatically adjust my sentence complexity and vocabulary choices (for example most high schoolers are completely nonplussed by a question like, "What kind of music do you like?", but will understand "What type of music do you like?"). This is an issue where I think South African JETs have an edge, since we're accustomed to communicating with non-native English speakers, and so adjusting speed and vocabulary is not necessarily condescending, but rather an accomodation for someone who is doing us the courtesy of speaking English (as opposed to their mother tongue).

This is true- I used to live abroad and communicating with non native english speakers is something you get used to. I work part time in a call centre too and have a lot of different nationalities calling in so I have to adjust my way of speaking so that the other person understands. Good advice William

[eFred]

Quite apart from accent issues almost every native speaker will have to slow down considerably. Depending who I'm talking to I have to slow down anywhere from 25 to 50%, and after nearly 6 years I automatically adjust my sentence complexity and vocabulary choices (for example most high schoolers are completely nonplussed by a question like, "What kind of music do you like?", but will understand "What type of music do you like?"). This is an issue where I think South African JETs have an edge, since we're accustomed to communicating with non-native English speakers, and so adjusting speed and vocabulary is not necessarily condescending, but rather an accomodation for someone who is doing us the courtesy of speaking English (as opposed to their mother tongue).

This is true- I used to live abroad and communicating with non native english speakers is something you get used to. I work part time in a call centre too and have a lot of different nationalities calling in so I have to adjust my way of speaking so that the other person understands. Good advice William

My only fear is that I'll keep saying "excuse me?" during the interview since I have a hard time picking up accents (blame the internet). As for me and MY accent, I'm considering switching to the 'UCT accent' - apparently it's slightly European sounding - so that I come of as ridiculously charming and educated.

[hatefulsandwich]

My only fear is that I'll keep saying "excuse me?" during the interview since I have a hard time picking up accents (blame the internet). As for me and MY accent, I'm considering switching to the 'UCT accent' - apparently it's slightly European sounding - so that I come of as ridiculously charming and educated.

Embarrassingly I couldn't understand exactly what the Japanese guy was saying at one point, partly because he was quiet. Ryan just clarified for me. I don't think you're going to be considered absolutely terrible for not being able to understand someone's accent completely. Especially if it's not an accent you're exposed to regularly. I reckon after being in Japan for a while you get much better at understanding.

Use the charming and educated accent as long as it doesn't sound "put on". If I'd gone in all rough 'n' Southern Suburbs accented, they probably would have thought I was unfit to teach English even though I often speak that way with my friends. Adapt to your environment .

The Irish accent can be quite thick, I agree. When I went to Ireland, I often felt "OMG, I can't tell if they're speaking English or Irish!" And if you know anything about Irish, it's NOTHING like English. Watching Spongebob Squarepants in Irish was quite a surreal experience.

[Deveire]

I don't think you're going to be considered absolutely terrible for not being able to understand someone's accent completely. Especially if it's not an accent you're exposed to regularly. I reckon after being in Japan for a while you get much better at understanding.

Yeah, sometimes you just need a little while to "tune in" to a new accent. My cousins used to have thick Afrikaans-English accents, so whenever we came back from overseas there'd be a day or two of blank stares and miming to get any point across. Haha.

[RoBot]

Watching Spongebob Squarepants in Irish was quite a surreal experience.

THIS. Hahahahaahahaahaaaa! Almost laughed out loud in the library when I read this.