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These are the (non-scientific) results of the SESJ Teachers' Newsletter survey, with nearly 100 current teachers giving their answers.
1 > Top 20 Places
to visit in Tokyo
2 > Top 20 Things to Eat
3 > Top 10 Cheap Night Out
4 > Top 20 Leisure Time Activities
5 > Top 20 Things Done during Last Holiday
6 > Top 20 Personal Tips for Teachers Coming to Japan for
the First Time
7 > What Teachers found most difficult in their First Week
of Teaching
8 > The Best Thing about Living and Working in Japan
9 > Negative Things about Living and Working in Japan
10 > Adjectives Which Sum Up Life in Japan
11 > What Has Been your Most Memorable/enjoyable Experience
in Japan so far?
12 > Professional Tips for Teachers Coming to Japan for
the First Time
13 > What would you say your experience in Japan has done
for you?
1 > Top 20 Places to visit in Tokyo
1. Harajuku
2. Shibuya
3. Shinjuku
4. Aoyama / Omotesando / Daikanyama
5. Asakusa
6. Yoyogi Park
7. Odaiba
8. Ueno Park
9. Shimokitazawa
10. Ebisu
11. Akihabara
12. Baseball stadia
13. J-League grounds
14. Ginza
15. Kamakura / Enoshima
16. Roppongi
17. Akasaka
18. Tokyo Disneyland / Disney Sea
19. Yokohama / Chinatown
20. Kichijoji
Bubbling under:
Meiji-jingu, Saitama, Kasai Rinkai, Tokyo, Shimosa Nakayama, Hachioji, Hamarikyu Gardens, Mt Takao, Koenji, Nippori, Tsukiji Fish market
Top
2 > Top 20 Things to Eat
1. Sashimi / Sushi
2. Yakinuku
3. Ramen
4. Tempura
5. Yakitori
6. Sukiyaki
7. Curry Rice
8. Vegetables
9. Shabu-shabu
10. Okonomiyaki / Monja
11. Onigiri
12. Nabe
13. Soba
14. Gyoza
15. Yakisoba
16. Delivery Pizza
17. Tofu
18. Takoyaki
19. Inarizushi
20. Pocky
Bubbling under:
miso soup, Mosburger, bento, konbini sandwiches, rice, teriyaki, Yoshinoya, Matsuya, tonkatsu, fried fish, cakes, mushrooms, dango, bibinba, pickles, teppanyaki, omuraisu, oyakodon, kareman, pizzaman
Top
3 > Top 10 Cheap Night Out
1. Nomihodai (unlimited drinking for a set price within a set time limit)
2. Karaoke (preferably with nomihodai)
3. Izakaya (preferably with nomihodai)
4. Tabehodai (unlimited eating for a set price within a set time limit)
5. Rent a DVD / Video
6. Picnic
7. Convenience Store alcohol
8. Ramen
9. Yakitori
10. Friend's house/J-League match
Specific bars mentioned:
300-yen bar, Ginza and Nishikasai
BLDY, Nerima (500-yen all-night nomihodai)
Sala, Tsudanuma
Farm Grill, Ginza
Clubhouse, Shinjuku
Melting Pot, Gyotoku
Shirokiya (chain of izakayas)
Hub (pub chain)
Lexington's, Roppongi
Top
4 > Top 20 Leisure Time Activities
1. Karaoke
2. Eating out / Izakaya
3. Drinking / local bars
4. Socialising / meeting friends
5. Doing sports (football, martial arts, running)
6. DVD / Video / movie
7. Gym / swimming
8. Watching sports
9. Gigs
10. Cycling
11. Sightseeing
12. Shopping
13. Pool / darts
14. Museums / galleries / exhibitions
15. Hiking / walking
16. Playing / recording music
17. Learning Japanese
18. Horse racing
19. Chilling out
20. Onsen
Bubbling Under:
Reading, J-Sky Sports, DJing, surfing, coffee shop, clubbing, parks, PlayStation, massage, barbecue, Print Club (purikura)
Top
5 > Top 20 Things Done during Last Holiday
1. Kyoto
2. Izu peninsula / islands (camping, beaches, surfing)
3. Other countries in Asia
4. Travelled with friends and family
5. Hakone
6. Nikko
7. Went back home
8. Kamakura
9. Relaxed / chilled out in Tokyo
10. Climbed Mount Fuji
11. Skiing
12. Onsen
13. Studied Japanese
14. Guam
15. Disneyland
16. Nara
17. Kiso Valley
18. Hokkaido
19. Shikoku
20. Museums / galleries
Top
6 > Top 20 Personal Tips for Teachers Coming to Japan for the First Time
1. Learn Japanese / katakana / hiragana
2. Bring essential toiletries (deodorant, toothpaste, tampons, condoms, medicine)
3. Bring plenty of clothes / shoes for all weathers
4. Don't just hang around with teachers / make Japanese friends
5. Good financial management
6. Get out of Tokyo, explore Japan
7. Bring plenty of money for your first month
8. Try karaoke (even if you can't sing!)
9. Immerse yourself in Japanese culture, get used to Japanese cultural etiquette
10. Buy a BRASTEL phone card
11. Open your eyes and mind, stay positive
12. Go to 100-yen shops
13. Get out and enjoy yourself
14. Talk to people
15. Get the most out of every day
16. Make plans for your holidays and days off
17. Try anything at least once
18. Air your futon regularly
19. Don't moan / worry about work in your free time
20. Leave the past behind
Also:
Pack essentials - buy the rest here, bring a guide book/phrase book / dictionary, get a bike, bring lots of books, be prepared for extremes in weather, bring a hot water bottle, avoid Roppongi, be patient, use common sense, be nice to Japanese reception staff, join an English library, be prepared for cramped space, maintain your hobbies, don't teach on a hangover, ask experienced teachers for help/advice
Top
7 > What Teachers Found Most Difficult in their First Week of Teaching
1. Using a wide range of new text books and resources
2. Using trains and finding your way round
3. Teaching children
4. Long hours / lack of free time
5. Lesson planning
6. So much to take in and remember / information overload
7. Recovering from jetlag / exhaustion
8. Adapting your teaching to meet students' needs and personalities
9. Lack of experience / confidence
10. Time management
11. Remembering everyone's names
12. Photocopiers and extra resources in head offices, not in schools
13. Heat / humidity in summer
14. Starting and finishing work late
15. Thrown in at the deep end
16. Deciphering handover notes
17. Difficult grammar questions in advanced classes
18. Settling in
19. Difficult to relax
20. Negative attitudes of one or two teachers who have been here too long
Top
8 > The Best Thing about Living and Working in Japan
1. The people
2. The food
3. Lots to do, new experiences
4. Clean and punctual transport
5. Clean and safe
6. Social life
7. The culture
8. Variety within the job
9. Convenience
10. Karaoke
11. The teaching / the students
12. Opportunities to travel and explore
13. Good pay
14. Shopping
15. The language
16. Good holidays
17. Lots of challenges
18. Cool mobiles
19. Music
20. Late starts
Also:
Own apartment, hospitality, onsen, lack of stress, vending machines, neon, the buzz, the weather, snowboarding, baseball, low tax
Top
9 > Negative Things about Living and Working in Japan
1. Language barrier
2. Finishing late / working long hours
3. Expensive / easy to spend money
4. Humidity in summer
5. Landlords and cramped apartments
6. Crowded trains
7. Noisy and crowded city
8. Never feel part of culture / easily stand out
9. Banks
10. Some 6-day weeks
11. Long way from friends and family
12. Reserved and indecisive nature of the Japanese
13. Oral hygiene
14. Cockroaches / insects
15. Lack of romantic action for western women
16. Work
17. Travel time
18. Feeling isolated
19. Working weekends
20. Other gaijin
Top
10 > Adjectives Which Sum Up Life in Japan
1. Fun
2. Challenging
3. Different
4. Frenetic / hectic
5. Interesting
6. Weird / strange
7. Varied / diverse
8. Expensive
9. Safe
10. Amusing
11. Crazy
12. Eclectic
13. Enjoyable
14. Crowded
15. Convenient
16. Rewarding
17. Surprising
18. Cute
19. Unforgettable
20. Busy
Also:
Unpredictable, tiring, easy, friendly, smelly, respectful, efficient, small, full-on, shiny, frustrating, magical, mind-blowing, perplexing, indescribable, cool, tasty, smug, fantastic, comfortable, worth it, modern/traditional, urban, tidy, forgiving, enlightening, insular, claustrophobic, fascinating, impermanent, fluid
Top
11 > What Has Been your Most Memorable/enjoyable Experience in Japan so far?
"Climbing Mount Fuji" (several people answered this)
"Staying in a Japanese inn in Nikko for 2 nights"
"The dodompa in Fugi Q"
"Meeting my girlfriend"
"Hitch-hiking in Hiroshima"
"Sado island (off Niigata)"
"Going to the top of Tokyo Tower"
"Going to Kyoto, Nara, Kobe and Okinawa"
"A trip to Kyushu, staying in a farmhouse and lighting a fire in the morning to heat the bathwater!!"
"Dressing up as a Geisha in Kyoto"
"Camping in Kamakura"
"Eating whale meat"
"Visiting my previous host family in Osaka"
"Getting married, becoming a father"
"Travelling around"
"Swimming with tropical fish and whale/dolphin watching in the Ogasawara islands"
"Cycling past my local shrine everyday in spring, smelling the fragrant tree blossoms"
"Tokyo Designers' Week - container exhibition in Odaiba"
"Travelling to Osore-zan in the Shimihita-hanto"
"Otomo Yoshide's New Jazz Quintet and Shinjuku Pit Inn"
"Going to an outdoor Onsen in Kami Kochi (outside Tokyo)"
"Cousin's wedding"
"Skiing in Hokkaido - big powder, empty slopes, long runs, great weather"
"Getting involved in cultural events and festivals"
"2002 World Cup"
"Travelling to Sendai in the truck full of Japanese people - very amusing"
"Going to Kyoto"
"Wearing my Yukata on the Tokyo Bay Cruise (organised by the school)"
"Watching drunken salarymen trying to get home"
"Going camping near a beach in Izu in the summer with other teachers and making Japanese friends there"
"Eating teppenyaki at the Roppongi Prince Hotel"
"Thankyous from parents and kids, cheery blossom picnics, playing football, meeting friends, surfing, onsen, Kyoto, Kamakura…"
"Sapporo road trip - 3000km with a tent and 4 men"
"Visiting Kamakura"
"Watching the sunset on Miyajima"
"Visiting Nikko"
"Seeing Mount Fuji"
"Getting hopelessly lost on my bike and meeting some lovely Japanese whoc cycled me all the way home!"
"Disneyland"
"Having friends and family come to stay"
"Shonan beaches in summer"
"Going to an onsen in Izu"
"Onsen/dinner at a ryokan in Hyogo"
Top
12 > Professional Tips for Teachers Coming to Japan for the First Time
"Japanese people are usually very shy in the classroom - be prepared for this. Remember that English is very difficult for the Japanese, just as Japanese is very difficult for English speakers, so be understanding. Be relaxed and friendly in classes."
"Use teachers' notes until you are familiar with texts. Relax. Bring photos."
"Don't bring any materials, everything you need is here. Don't stress on your first planning day as you have enough time to prepare lessons during the week."
"Grade your language. Share ideas and talk about lessons with other teachers. Always look to try new things in the classroom, don't get stuck in a rut and avoid aimless free-con."
"Get adult students talking as much as possible. Review and play familiar songs and games with children. Look smart and smile to students and parents."
"Be nice, be patient, be natural."
"Read the literature carefully. Be patient. Plan your lessons carefully."
"Bring supplementary materials, pictures of your home to introduce yourself with and smart clothes."
"Bring a grammar book, prepare well for lessons and ask others for help if you are worried."
"Expect the unexpected and prepare for randomness."
"Learn the phonemic alphabet and bring a good dictionary."
"Enjoy yourself with the kids and bring photos for the adults."
"Always have a back-up plan for your lessons. Start and finish lessons on time. Be polite."
"Don't bring over loads of resources. Read as much about the SESJ set up as you can."
"Learn a little Japanese, wear nice clothes, be polite."
"Be patient, get to know your students, try lots of activities."
"Be punctual, dress smartly, speak clearly."
"Make the most of training. Don't crowd your students. Learn IPA."
"Students appreciate cheerfulness usually"
"Take a deep breath and count to 10. Brings as many photos from home as you can. Smile."
"Give it time. Don't bring lots of bulky/heavy teaching materials - a lot's here already. Be aware that CELTA training may not directly apply to Japanese students, especially kids."
"Bring 'Practical English Usage' by Michael Swan. Prepare well for your lessons and speak slowly."
"Take advice from other more experienced teachers. Try to enjoy your lessons - a sense of humour goes a long way!"
"Always smile in class. Prepare well for classes. Talk to someone about any problems."
"Don't bring many resources - there are loads at Head Office. Own a good grammar book. Don't stress!"
"Be enthusiastic and your students will too. Don't be scared of the kids…they smell fear! Jump in boots'n'all. Make friends with the Japanese staff - it makes a HUGE difference."
"Bring papers, magazines, etc to use in lessons. Bring photos of home (they love to see them)."
"Be prepared to work hard and enjoy it. Have a diary - you'll need it. Always check your pay slip and question anything you are unsure of."
"Try and bring lots of photos and authentic materials. Have fun."
"Don't panic, be patient with students. Keep kids' classes fun and lively. Try to work out trains ASAP."
"The more trouble you make, the more trouble you'll get. Be good to your receptionists. Be organised."
"Get organised early, go early to work until the planning is easier, get a decent night's sleep."
"Teaching on a bad hangover is not fun. Try to find a good side to each student, even if you don't like them. Learn the different types of train."
"Time management is the key, don't stress - it gets easier, relax."
"Don't stress about teaching young kids. Bring stuff from your home country/town. Personalise your lessons."
"Be flexible. Be well prepared. Make a real effort to get to know and help Japanese Reception Staff."
"Be prepared for information overload at the beginning. Don't take anything too seriously."
"Don't worry. Be as friendly as possible to all your students and staff. Remember that work is only one part of life."
Top
13 > What would you say your experience in Japan has done for you?
"Ultimately, it has taught me about people and communication - how to get on with so many different people"
"Given me a perspective on a different way of life"
"Made me more independent and introduced me to some great people"
"1. Made me become a lot more independent; 2. Karaoke: My singing voice has improved"
"The job's helped me to get organised and Japan has given me perspective into a different way of life and living. I'll never forget it."
"Given me experiences, professional and personal, which will stay with me and be valuable throughout my life."
"Built my confidence, given me time to stay back and plan my next moves"
"Made me a better teacher, whilst enjoying myself doing 'normal' things"
"First time I really lived alone - coping with that"
"It's given me a really good grounding in my teaching and added variety to my life"
"It's been really rewarding learning about a new culture and language, and I've improved my teaching a lot"
"Given me the chance to understand a culture far different to my own and to met some lovely people"
"It's opened my mind to a new culture and taught me more about myself"
"Broadened my mind / made me appreciate a real bed and roast dinners!"
"Broadened my horizons and made me more polite"
"It has enriched my life in that I've met new friends and learnt new things about another culture that will stay with me forever"
"Taught me the meaning of the word 'gambaru'"
"Got me married"
"Improved my language, record collection and alcohol tolerance"
"Space to think about religion - Buddhism, Christianity. Creativity with vegetarian food. An 'Eastern' perspective on the world."
"It's cured me"
"Made me the well-rounded person I am"
"Made me see the good and bad points of both countries"
"Made me into a man! Made me interested in linguistics and learning a foreign language"
"It's given me a chance to see how other people live"
"Improved my knowledge of Japanese culture and teaching"
"It has taught me to respect and appreciate a different culture and set of values"
"A change of perspective"
"To be patient and resourceful"
"Good experience teaching all ages of people"
"It has given me an incentive to travel around Asia more"
"Opened my eyes, improved my teaching, given me an experience I am proud of"
"Had a calming affect"
"It's a good way to understand more about Britain by seeing similarities and differences"
"Given me opportunities to develop professionally, broadened my teaching experience"
"Improved my English"
"I remember to laugh at the small things. I've made some great friends. It's broadened my mind"