I dont think i passed interview....

[Mark_KyotoPA]

You could call it a 'gaikoktoroku' which is what a few of the ALTs around here call it.... not sure where it started from exactly... but -shrugs-

Probably because the name of the card in Japanese is the 外国人登録証明書, or Gaikokujintourokushoumeisho.

No, I know that part of it... I'm just not sure who decided to shorten it to gaikoktoroku, and then use that name for it.

Probably someone who knew its full name, and thought it was too long.

It's the most important card you ever have in Japan. You could probably get by calling it "the card".

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

But...but...'gaijin card' has style dammit.

[Mark_KyotoPA]

I myself also prefer the term "gaijin card".

[Spencer]

I think I actually prefer Alien card. OR Alien registration card.
But thats because I would find it amusing to refer to myself as an Alien.


Side note, Has anyone seen the show Ancient Aliens....? So retarded. they get these authors on, who are supposed to be like... Experts, but they just wrote, like, one book, and they are all like... look at the pyramids, they are so Symetrical, It must be that Aliens came and helped us create them.....
So stupid. On History Channel, In the form of a documentary. Probably the funniest show you will ever watch. Ever. Just because the conclusions they make are so outlandish. "The detail in this statue is so advanced. It must have been aliens, there is NO other explanation" Thats my rant.

[megandd]

I've been doing a ton of reading since my interview. I wish I could go back and correct some responses I gave in my interview now that I am slightly wiser. Then again, I'm betting most people are in the same boat as me when it comes to this. Hindsight is 20/20, or so they say.

[Spencer]

I've been doing a ton of reading since my interview. I wish I could go back and correct some responses I gave in my interview now that I am slightly wiser. Then again, I'm betting most people are in the same boat as me when it comes to this. Hindsight is 20/20, or so they say.

IMy interview was on Feb 15th. Not a day has gone by where I dont wish I gave different answers. Keep tellling myself, Next time, Im gunna PWN it tho...but if I do it next year....then....I am sure ill end up second guessing that stuff too

[Ertai87]

I've been doing a ton of reading since my interview. I wish I could go back and correct some responses I gave in my interview now that I am slightly wiser. Then again, I'm betting most people are in the same boat as me when it comes to this. Hindsight is 20/20, or so they say.

IMy interview was on Feb 15th. Not a day has gone by where I dont wish I gave different answers. Keep tellling myself, Next time, Im gunna PWN it tho...but if I do it next year....then....I am sure ill end up second guessing that stuff too

Yup, you will. Take it from someone who's in his second year already.

[AmberBear]

I've been doing a ton of reading since my interview. I wish I could go back and correct some responses I gave in my interview now that I am slightly wiser. Then again, I'm betting most people are in the same boat as me when it comes to this. Hindsight is 20/20, or so they say.

I had my interview 2 years and a month ago. Wish I could go back and change answers. But hey I passed and did my time! Came home... did an interview to go back with a private company. Man, wish I could have changed my answers there sometimes too. But I leave in 10 days to work for them so I don't have time to think about what I coulda done differently... :p

[gaijin01]

Here's the explicit good news: teaching shogakko is awesome. It really is. I know the idea of teaching kids is kinda bleeuch, because it was for me too - but since I've been doing it seeing my elementary kids is often the highlight of my week. Back in Oz I couldn't stand the horrible little beasts, but I love my shogakko kids here to bits. For the most part they're way easier to deal with than my chugakku kids, they learn faster and retain more, they're usually better behaved, they hardly ever sleep in class, and above all it's more fun. With shogakko classes it actually feels like you're making a difference, whereas for chugakku and koukou you're really bound by the structure of the education system - it's ultimately all about the tests, which really limits what you can do as far as real English instruction goes.

Really, at least in class Japanese kids aren't nearly as bratty as the Western kids I've known (with the occasional exception), and if you do get assigned an elementary class or two you'll soon see how you actually got lucky. Wait and see, the kids are alright.

Well, I'll take your word for it I guess. I'll honestly be content teaching any age group just so long as I get shortlisted. I really want to refine my Japanese skills and travel to all those awesome places I've only seen in Japanese movies. I'm sure I'll be fine since I'm pretty resilient (you have to be if you're going to work w/the backstabbing hags I work with lol) but I just wasn't sure what I could expect form the younger kids. I hope I enjoy working w/them as much as you have.

[Siyris]

Well, I'll take your word for it I guess. I'll honestly be content teaching any age group just so long as I get shortlisted. I really want to refine my Japanese skills and travel to all those awesome places I've only seen in Japanese movies. I'm sure I'll be fine since I'm pretty resilient (you have to be if you're going to work w/the backstabbing hags I work with lol) but I just wasn't sure what I could expect form the younger kids. I hope I enjoy working w/them as much as you have.

Honestly, my days with my elementary school kids are my favorites. That's where you get the 'rock star' treatment... they love English, and they love the ALTs. The Junior high kids are pretty chill but they're more shy, and the classes are way more structured so the kids are more serious, less playful, and less willing to mess around with you. The guys are at the point of 'I'm too cool for this crap' and the girls are at the point of 'if I look too interested in school the guys won't like me'.... which I've heard only gets worse at SHS.
The ES kids are awesomely fun -- especially when you have control of the class for yourself and can do things like year end parties or parties to celebrate your holidays from your home country. My Halloween parties I did with my kids were amazing. Spider web (aka human knot), Ghost hunt (aka treasure hunt), worm race, and hide and go seek.... all while in class. It also lets you feel more like you do something worth while because all of the ALTs I know have a LOT more control when it comes to ES classes than they do in JHS or SHS classes.

[Ertai87]

Here's the explicit good news: teaching shogakko is awesome. It really is. I know the idea of teaching kids is kinda bleeuch, because it was for me too - but since I've been doing it seeing my elementary kids is often the highlight of my week. Back in Oz I couldn't stand the horrible little beasts, but I love my shogakko kids here to bits. For the most part they're way easier to deal with than my chugakku kids, they learn faster and retain more, they're usually better behaved, they hardly ever sleep in class, and above all it's more fun. With shogakko classes it actually feels like you're making a difference, whereas for chugakku and koukou you're really bound by the structure of the education system - it's ultimately all about the tests, which really limits what you can do as far as real English instruction goes.

Really, at least in class Japanese kids aren't nearly as bratty as the Western kids I've known (with the occasional exception), and if you do get assigned an elementary class or two you'll soon see how you actually got lucky. Wait and see, the kids are alright.

Well, I'll take your word for it I guess. I'll honestly be content teaching any age group just so long as I get shortlisted. I really want to refine my Japanese skills and travel to all those awesome places I've only seen in Japanese movies. I'm sure I'll be fine since I'm pretty resilient (you have to be if you're going to work w/the backstabbing hags I work with lol) but I just wasn't sure what I could expect form the younger kids. I hope I enjoy working w/them as much as you have.

Admittedly my experience is Eikaiwa, but I'll second Ode's answer. I taught ES and JHS students at Eikaiwa, and the ES students were by far more awesome than the JHS. They're a lot more energetic, a lot more fun, and they like to laugh and make jokes. When they decide to work, they work harder and it makes you feel more productive as a teacher. According to TESL theory, it's also more acceptable to play more games in class when your students are younger, and games are always fun =D