jakeinbalance

A xenophobic person was once a curious child. A child that would wake up and search for anything that does not resemble normalcy. Children search for the unique so life keeps feeling like an adventure. Those who are allergic to foreigners were once magnetized by them. Children do not avoid eye-contact but rather instinctively double-take any time they see a non-familiar sight. It is these qualities instilled in us that we must cherish. Most notably during this time of distress. We should never assume that what is foreign is dangerous. What is foreign provides a chance to expand our viewpoint of the world. An opportunity to shift perspective about humanity. An opportunity to cure the sick stereotypes we may have. An opportunity to gain appreciation for one another.      Stay safe, Stay home, but Stay curious, J.S

During my first six month s as a Native English Teacher, I've made a conscious effort to create musical class activities.  I've been crafting lesson plans that incorporate music as a language learning tool.  Here is a list of English topics that are teachable through music. Not all of my ideas have worked so far, but these most definitely have. Emotions It was a special day when I implemented this with my Kindergarten class. First, I instructed each student to draw 5 different facial expressions on paper circle cutouts (happy, sad, angry, excited, and calm).  I then played 5 different excerpts on my viola and had the students hold up a paper face after each excerpt. They were matching a facial expression with the music they heard. The results were incredible. Nearly all 14 kids (with the exception of a few pranksters) agreed that the Israeli National Anthem was sad, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star was happy, the Allegro from the Telemann Viola Concerto was exciting, Amazi...

1. If you're not Asian, you will stand out. This is a given because the population is 98% Japanese. It is important to realize, before relocating, that you will be a minority. Other people will not be used to seeing someone like you. They will stare. They might cough. Your presence alone may offend them. This is even more prevalent in rural areas, where you may be the first Westerner your neighbor has ever seen. 2. Your students will be smart. The sound of broken English is often associated with low intelligence, but this could not be further from the truth. People who make an attempt at learning a second language are actually enhancing their brainwaves. You will be teaching people who have a life-time of knowledge and acquired skills. Language learners are taking lessons to increase their intellectual abilities, not to be treated like a baby. 3. Your English fluency will not make teaching easy. A native speaker of English does not know how they originally learned gramma...

After four months in Japan, I feel alive. It has been the most incredible experience of my life. Although I came here with no clue of what to expect, I thought I'd share the stuff that has really surprised me about the nation so far. #1. Televisions in cars. Yes, I literally have seen people driving vehicles while staring at TV screens (located in the center of the two front seats). "How can that be legal?" was my first question, followed by "How is that person able to control the vehicle?". My curiosity spurred some research and I discovered that although some cars are automated, most are not and people literally watch reality TV while they are driving. #2. Car Vending Machines. No need to find a parking spot, just pull into the machine, get out, and it will lift your car up like a bag of chips, securely storing it until you return. This style of parking garage has recently been introduced in the U.S, but in Japanese cities, it seems like they ...

My 20's feels like the part of the movie when the audience is on the edge of their seat. It's a blessing to have this opportunity, as we approach the next decade, to write the remainder of my script. Three months in Japan and I've had a ton of time to think. I've thought about my past and made it digestible, I've thought about my incredible present circumstances, and I've thought about what I can contribute to the future. December has taught me about what is needed for my personal peace and what is a pure waste of energy. I've learned how to both utilize and rest my mind, helping me fulfill my daily desire to create. I've been anchored in Kakamigahara this month, solely focused on creating English lessons. Each student is different and requires a tailor-made plan. The themes of these classes are what keep them so interesting. Some lessons are centered around the many ways to answer the ever-so important question of "How are you?", while o...

Moving to Japan hits you in stages. I think I'm past the initial "culture shock" stage and have moved into the “gratitude” stage. I'm fully aware that I've moved across the world and stick out like a sore thumb, but at the same time I know that this place has everything I could possibly need. I’m aiming for consistent daily growth. Japan is the ideal country to spend my 24th year. It sort of feels like a bubble, though. The people here are disciplined and seem to have this killer instinct to protect the countries pureness. Almost like they know that the rest of the world is toxic. What has been the most unbelievable to witness are the universal similarities between the people of our world. We all eat, sleep, and have our inner thoughts. It's terrifyingly beautiful how similar we are. Children are explorers. All kids bask in their wandering minds. Everyone has emotional struggle and success, it’s just a matter of which wave you’re currently riding. The...

I feel like I'm "growing my teeth" as a teacher. I'll be honest, there have been many many growing pains, but I know that the experiences I'm gaining each day will be invaluable in the long run. The students at my school are extremely diverse, which makes the job incredibly challenging. I've been working with 8 year old's who are intelligent, multi-lingual kids. Then there's the 60 year old's who rely on a digital translator for nearly every sentence spoken but are purely happy to converse with a foreigner. Often times, these two lessons happen within the same hour. I've also been training business men who work for major companies and groups of children who can hardly contain their excitement when they see my unfamiliar-looking features. As my teeth grow in, I'm learning how to bite with discipline when necessary, explain advanced concepts in the cleanest of terms, and most importantly, floss out all of my unnecessary words during a l...