Recommended Reading

[iyo_alum]

Hi all! I just wanted to recommend a great book that I wish I had read while I was an ALT. It's called Educating Hearts and Minds: Reflections on Japanese Preschool and Elementary Education. It's a fascinating exploration of the philosophical differences between Japanese and American education and will probably answer a lot of your burning questions, like "Why doesn't the teacher ever discipline the students?!"

If anyone else has a book that they found useful as a JET feel free to share!

[dave_kath500]

I'm looking for the same. Can their admins help us for this? I believe they know everything.

[sheilaM_usa]

You should both try it!

[caro0802]

I just ordered The Tale That Wags by Tim Murphy.

The following is taken from https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/22663

"The Tale that Wags is an engaging tale that lays bare the fundamental unfairness of the university entrance examination system in Japan. Much more than that, it takes on broader issues within the Japanese educational system: lack of gender equity, the backwardness of yakudoku, the place of foreigners in the Japanese educational system, and the passive acceptance of the system by Japanese students, their parents, and most teachers."

I'm looking forward to reading it... after 4 years of going through the university exam prep and the recent kyoto university cheating scandal, I am itching for this book to be delivered.

-Caro-

[G-Frame]

I just finished with A Modern History of Japan: From Tokugawa Times to the Present by Andrew Gordon. It's a fairly entertaining and very informative book that will bring you up to date on current events in Japan and put them into a historical context. The book talks about the usual politics and wars, but also gives consideration to the arts and culture. If you are a history buff like me, check it out!

[Norsehawk]

I will start with books that I own, and finish with one that I am going to be picking up soon:

http://www.amazon.com/Importing-Diversi ... 0520216369 Importing Diversity, it's a pretty good view of what the goals of the JET program is about.

http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Both-Feet ... pd_sim_b_3 stories from individual JETs, the stories do get a bit repetitive in some ways and are a bit dated, but still worthwhile.

http://www.amazon.com/Ganbatte-Means-Be ... pd_sim_b_7 Not fully focused on the JET program, but instead English teaching in Japan generally.

http://www.amazon.com/Live-Work-Japan-P ... pd_sim_b_2 Practical information on overview of getting to Japan and working there.

http://www.amazon.com/Living-Abroad-Jap ... pd_sim_b_3 I have a previous version of this book, I found this one to have a lot of good practical information about the actual business of living in Japan.

Now this is a book that I will be picking up eventually:

http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-Tractor ... pd_sim_b_2 He is a former JET who wrote about his experiences out in the inaka. The reviews make it sound like it will be a great read.

[nicklar]

There's a new kindle book out called "For Fukui's sake". Gets some very good reviews.

Exploring Japan’s culture and cuisine, as well as its wild places and wildlife, For Fukui’s Sake is an adventurous, humorous and sometimes poignant insight into the frustrations and fascinations that face an outsider living in small town, backcountry Japan.

[Norsehawk]

There's a new kindle book out called "For Fukui's sake". Gets some very good reviews.

Exploring Japan’s culture and cuisine, as well as its wild places and wildlife, For Fukui’s Sake is an adventurous, humorous and sometimes poignant insight into the frustrations and fascinations that face an outsider living in small town, backcountry Japan.

And the author himself of the last book on my suggested reading list checks in. I really need to pick up your book soon!

[AllDiablo3]

For Fukui's Sake!!!!!!!!!!

OMG I've read that book!!! I never anticipated I see a reading recommendation for it here but... ... wow. That book is NOT humorous it's FUNNY!!!