Help Me

[Danzaiver1]

As of now, I am a sophomore in high school, and I know that this may sound overly ambitious to those who reply to this thread, but I'm planning on learning Japanese, applying for a job (maybe teaching english or something), and, eventually, moving to Japan. So, I was wondering if I could get some tips and information from people already experienced in what I want to accomplish, as a matter of fact, even a "try your best!" would be appreciated. Just help me in some way, please?

[Glenski]

What country are you in?
You need a bachelor's degree (or many years of experience) to get a work visa. Many native English speakers don't need a degree to qualify for a working holiday visa. Americans are not eligible for the WHV.

Look at the visa web link on this site for info on other visa requirements.

You don't need Japanese to teach English. It's usually prohibited in the classroom anyway. Japanese will be needed more for your daily life events.

Read the FAQ section on www.eltnews.com Teaching Guide links and on the www.eslcafe.com/discussion forum for Japan to give yourself some starting background material. You might also want to look at the JET programme site for post-college opportunities.

[paulh]

As of now, I am a sophomore in high school, and I know that this may sound overly ambitious to those who reply to this thread, but I'm planning on learning Japanese, applying for a job (maybe teaching english or something),

IF you plan on doing something other than teach English you need

1. the proper visa that allows you to do jobs that dont involve teaching. Your visa dictates what you can and can not do in this country.
2. A high level of fluency in Japanese. There are millions of bilingual Japanese doing all kinds of jobs in this country and they dont need to import foreigners to do jobs they can do.

teaching is about the only thing a majority of foreigners do in Japan because 1. their visa only allows them to teach 2. its a job that most Japanese can not do as there are no Japanese native speakers of English.

Your options are limited on the working holiday visa (available to people over 18 from canada, Australia, Great britain and New Zealand, no degree required) but you cna only work in Japan for up to a year. Any longer than that you will need a degree.

I would also recommend the FAQs page in http://www.teachinginjapan.com

If you are interested in teaching as a career, or simply to get a working visa, you will likely need a degree anyway, and some training or background in the ESL/EFL teaching field would be an advantage. Knowledge of Japanese is not a requirement to get a teaching job here as japanese is usually banned for use by foreigners in the classroom- students are paying to learn English, not hear foreigners' bad Japanese.

[Kent Brockman]

As a sophomore in high school, your number #1 priority should be in trying to get laid.

Indeed, my high schools days were reduced to mere intervals between when I could "extradite the plaintiff" again*.

This accumulated data bank of carnal knowledge and it's concurrently amassed quiver of womanly** manipulatory skills will serve you better than any sheath of papers.

In summary; "Charm the pants off the bastads at the interview and any job could be yours".

righto.

Carry on.



Kent.




*cue dude-ish Lo Com Denom "so what's changed, heh heh heh" garden variety retort.
**or "blokely" as the case may be.

[the dude]

*cue dude-ish Lo Com Denom "

what does that mean?

Anyway, your:

#1 and above all priorities in life should be to get laid! Not as a sophmore, I mean FOREVER!

#2 is a job but whatever job you do get, make sure you have enough time and energy to get laid.

So, you'll definately need

#3 an education
cause any job w/ job security requires an education. And w/o an education you might not sound articulate enough to pick up chicks. PLUS you don't want any chicks that are impressed with coors lite Monday night football bar flies anyway.

There you go bro! You're whole life spelled out for ya right there!

[person]

"Kent Brockman" and "the dude" - Assuming the person who posted the question is, in fact, a sophomore in high school, your "advice" is wholly inappropriate. You wit and/or sarcasm is probably not what the individual hoped for. How sad that you can't refrain (for once?) and actually do your best to help someone who appears to legitimately want it. Try your best not to scare him off from coming to Japan.

[Bugboy]

what can be more relaxing than the sweet sound of a violin......???

[person]

Bugboy - Is your comment in response to my post? If so, sorry, I don't get it.

[Bluedog]

Hold that very useful opposable thumb about 2cm away from your 1st finger. That's the size of a tiny violin, and it's playing just for you.

(You did ask...)

[person]

Unfortunately, your brilliant response doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense. Insofar as I know, you make such a gesture when you are indicating you have little sympathy for someone. Since my post has NOTHING to do with that, your post is...pointless. My original post has to do with the - again - pointless rambling of individuals. Apparently, you are choosing to align yourself with such "advice". Good on ya, mate.

[the dude]

person,

did you ever think about getting laid when you were 15??? If not, then I think we need to start a "Help Me" support thread for YOU!

Everyone, and I mean everyone has thought about gettin laid at that age and I'm just trying to help the young man orientate his career goals to acomplish that, and a secure life!

Keep your bible-belt-corn-fed-wal-mart-shopping morals to yourself!

[Bluedog]

"Apparently, you are choosing to align yourself with such "advice". "

I'm not aligning myself with anything. I just explained what he was talking about with the violin. You asked him, I answered. It has nothing to do with your original post, or aligning oneself with the dark side. Good on me, mate.

[Bugboy]

....the real question isn't what but where....

[person]

"the dude" - thinking about "getting laid" when you are 15 is one thing; continuing to make it the subject of your conversation/posts at your age is, well, something all together different. As for keeping my "morals" to myself - could not the same be said for you?

The whole point to my original post - assuming it was lost on you, boys - was that there's a time and a place for your "commentary". A 15-year-old boy, who is clearly asking for advice of a different nature, should not have to have your "morals" inflicted upon him. Yes, certainly, that's the beauty of a forum. As evidenced by your posts, anyone can write anything. However, don't you think it gets a little old? Particularly when it's clearly irrelevant to the topic at hand?

Say anything you want; you have the right. However, use some discretion, won't you? It's the least we could ask for.



Post Edited (03-23-04 12:48)

[Bugboy]

.....nothing can beat the sound of violins...

[the dude]

person,

"It's the least we could ask for"

I'm assuming the "we" is me, myself, and I? Or are you just not brave enough to state your opinion with out insinuating you have support behind you?

His post may have been for something else, but being a 30 year old remembering back when I was his age, I was trying to give the young man a bit of direction in life.

Keep my morals to myself? I never stated anything that has anything to do with morality. Just reality. The young man wants to get laid, just as I did at his age. He also wants to come to Japan, and him skiping out on an education is not going to help him in the long run.

Get an education, get a job with high job security, get chicks. My solution was perfect for him in Japan or no matter where he goes in life!

[person]

Bugboy - please find a new line.

The dude - I don't think I've had any difficulty expressing myself. "We" is the general, collective public reading this thread. I trust I speak for many. Regardless, let me be clear, I need no "support" for my opinions. If you prefer to assume I am alone in my opinion, please do.

I have no desire to argue with you (the plural "you" just in case you are curious). Again, my point was that - JUST SOMETIMES - we have to act like the adults we may or may not be. Please try. It has NOTHING to do with morals. It has to do with being on topic, helpful, and, oh yes, an adult (seems to be a theme). I don't think this is too much to ask.

As an aside - I read nothing in the original post that even remotely speaks to skipping out on an education. Further, the poster says "eventually" and even mentions that this might seem overly ambitious (I'm assuming because of his young age).



Post Edited (03-23-04 13:30)

[the dude]

Wow! Look how "try not to scare him off" turned into "being an adult".

Hmm... Sucks when you're argument doesn't make much sense so you change your mind to
" have no desire to argue with you"

and THEN change what you're argument actually is.

Tisk tisk tisk...

Do you have built up anger towards people that like to enjoy life?

[Bugboy]

sweet sweet sweet violins..............

[Kent Brockman]

"your "advice" is wholly inappropriate. You wit and/or sarcasm is probably not what the individual hoped for"
------------------------
Good grief. The self appointed arbiter of right and wrong! Who woulda thunk it, he's right here on the gaijnpot! All hail random person!

From (hazy) memory, through sagely deploying the manly divining rod, the moratorium of adolescence was gradually eschewed for identity achieved. With this comes the gradual confidence THAT CAN OPEN MANY A DOOR FOR THIS YOUNG MAN.

That (F__KIN' OBVIOUSLY) was my point. "Person".

PULL YA F__IN' HEAD IN.





edited to say; Bluedog's first post of this thread is the funniest damn thing I 've read all day.



Post Edited (03-23-04 14:07)

[the dude]

so,

what does:

*cue dude-ish Lo Com Denom "so what's changed, heh heh heh" garden variety retort.
**or "blokely" as the case may be.



mean?

[person]

You guys are too smart for me...

I think it's time to let this rest now (at least from my end). I really can't follow YOUR logic so I will end here.

For the record though - person is a "female". Makes no difference really; however, since I'm the "self appointed arbiter of right and wrong" (according to Kent), I thought I'd correct you. Seems it's my duty.

Now, let's see what fun the boys have with "the girl" comments...

[the dude]

I knew your gender when you wrote the other posts. I also thought you are a grade school marm based somewhere in the bible belt of America.

Was my latter assumption correct too?

[person]

No, just like your argument above, your assumption is not correct. But, again, and this time meaning it, time for me to let this rest. My "fun" is over.

[Mahou]

person,

I used to rebutt some similar posts, but then I realized that it is just a waste of effort.
Most people in general live with tunnel visions, just with varying diameters. I myself am working on turning my tunnels into cones, (A dome would be ideal, and would be a lot tougher)

In most cases, if a person had made up his/her mind about something, nothing that other people say would likely change it.

Won`t even have replied here if not for you.
I know how it itches to ignore such posts, but it is better when I try to just let it slide pass.

[the dude]

"Most people in general live with tunnel vision,"

I hope this statement refers to yourself and person.

None of my comments were inappropriate and rather than giving a valid reason why they're inappropriate she changes the subject and cruises. Now you say something about tunnel vision?

What kinda forum is this anyway? Where the hell is the violin and what the hell does

*cue dude-ish Lo Com Denom "so what's changed, heh heh heh" garden variety retort.
**or "blokely" as the case may be.

mean?

[person]

Thanks for your comments, Mahou. I appreciate them.

[Kent Brockman]

Dude, both * and ** are sh_thouse footnotes from one of my previous sh_thouse posts.

Lo Com Denom=Lowest common denominator.

"Person", sorry I lumped you in with the blokes. Presumably you've never been a bloke, particularly a 15-year old bloke, therefore your "your "advice" is wholly inappropriate. You wit and/or sarcasm is probably not what the individual hoped for" remark is negligible.

As does the Dude, I stand by my advice.

"No, just like your argument above, your assumption is not correct."

wait wait, waaaaiiitt, in these nebulous amorphous matters of the heart, HOW CAN ANY ARGUMENT BE "CORRECT"?



Post Edited (03-23-04 23:57)

[Bugboy]

the violin can not move by itself...........................I know that and person knows that.............but where is it then?????...........HHHhhhaaa

[Danzaiver1]

Er...maybe i should have elaborated a little further on my subject. Anyway, to clear things up, I AM still continuing my education, I didn't intend to make it seem liike I was going to drop out. Also, I think "the dude" is right, I should be worrying about getting laid, I just want to make my future the priority I should focus on. Plus, do you have to have certificcation to teach english, or do they just let you teach if you apply (that is, if all the slots aren't full at the time)?

[paulh]

You just need a degree for the work visa.

Certification and experience preferred if you plan to work at a high school.

[Bluedog]

"Also, I think "the dude" is right, I should be worrying about getting laid,"

Lol. From the mouths of babes...

Right on Dan, you're obviously a good multitasker, and if you can put up with the kind of crap that gets posted on these boards, I'm sure you'll be able to handle life in Japan. Keep up the quality work.

[Danzaiver1]

Well, here's another problem I have. I've been trying to learn some simple Japanese (stuff that will get me to the supermarket and back to wherever), but the book I'm learning it out of is Japanese for Dummies, and at times the actual meanings of words, or what context to use a word in, or the use of a partical can go unexplained at times. For now, I just want to know when to use the particle(I'm guessing it's a particle) 'yo' and the actual meaning of 'gozaimasu' by itself.

[Dennis]

Dainvaiver1,

Many people who first come to Japan know little or no Japanese or anything about teaching anything before coming here. If you haven't done so already, learn hiragana and katakana. Get a better book than Japanese for Dummies. If you want to learn something about teaching English before coming to Japan I recommend going to Jeff Mohamed's English International site.

[blooper]

I have just bought Japanese for dummies I know I know call me a dummy.
But is it not good for the basic common words like good morning afternoon etc?

[Danzaiver1]

Dennis, what is the URL for the Jeff Mohamed site?

[kurogane]

Welcome Back, Kent. Have you gotten rid of your worms?

Person,

This is the coming to Japan thread. The sanctimonius Bible Belter F'wit thread is on another website. Go there, and leave us alone to corrupt fifteen year olds in peace.

[Dennis]

Danzaiver1, the address is,

http://www.english-international.com/

To be honest, I haven't seen the dummies guide and it's probably better than nothing. Some beginning books only use Roman letters and I think this is a bad way to get started.

BTW a good site for learning kana and kanji is,

http://www.kanjisite.com/

Hope this helps

[the dude]

Dainvaiver1,

good on ya bro! Don't drop outta school! Well your problem is, you can't get a working visa without a college degree. You can come to Japan and get a degree. (I did) or you can get one in the States and get a job after that which will be about 7 years from now if you're still a sophmore.

About gettin laid, if you come here and try to get laid you probably can. Unfortunately the 17 & 18 year olds in Japan (the age you'll be when ya graduate from high school and come here to get a degree if you chose to do so) are usually pretty imature. In that case if you want to have a stimulating conversation, you're gonna have to try to pick up older chicks. So you'll need to sound articulate and the only way to do that is to study!
Hell bro! We'll cross that bridge when ya get to it! First thing is first:

1) Education

2 & 3 Ballin/employment

(You can choose which is 2 and which is 3) Enjoy bro!

[Danzaiver1]

First of all, I'd like to say thanks to both The Dude and to Dennis.

Second of all, the reason why its been taking me so long to reply to the posts is because I don't own a computer, I've been using the school's computers and that complicates the whole learning from kanjisite.com thing (and yes, it is a good site indeed), which brings me to my question: Can anyone recommend some Kanji/Kana books that I can learn Japanese from?

Oh, and how does a foreign exchange program work? Can you apply for something like that or does it just happen?



Post Edited (03-31-04 07:01)