Learning Japanese Conversation, as Familiar as Sony
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The Japanese Doctor is a recurring feature written by Friend Of JET, Jon Hills, who maintains the blog for Hills Learning (www.hillslearning.com).
Hills Learning is a NY-based language learning services company offering customized and personal Japanese and Chinese language learning options. Their main service is private one on one language lessons in the NYC area.
Japan is both a thrilling and exotic, yet familiar culture. When people hear “Japan” they think of a faraway country in the East, with Kimono’s, Anime, and Samurai. Although Japan has these culturally different aspects that make it seem exotic, they also have household names such as Sushi, Nintendo, Toyota, Panasonic, etc. Learning the Japanese language also at first might seem exotic. The grammar structure is actually quite different than English, and learning the characters and vocabulary for conversation also might seem like a daunting task. However once a student acquires some basic grammatical patterns the Japanese language can also become familiar, well almost as familiar as Sony!
Before explaining the basics of Japanese conversation a disclaimer will need to be added to this article. First of all it is not recommended to…
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Job: ESL teachers for Saudi Arabia Universities
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This is via HCC News Today
International Training Consulting Group (ITCG) is seeking qualified faculty candidates who would like to teach college-level courses in English as second language.
ESL teachers are needed for two public Saudi Arabia Universities, King Addul-Aziz University in Jeddah and Tibaah University in Al Madeenah, starting September 26, 2009.
ITCG is seeking 40 Male teachers and 30 Female teachers in Al Madeenah and 40 Female teachers and 35 Male teachers in Jeddah, with great opportunities for spouses. They require U.S. citizens and native English speakers only.
The contract includes 5 to 6 days a week with a maximum of 30 hours and options of earning extra hours in tutoring; furnished accommodation with basic utilities, plus local transportation provided from residence to work and back; and health insurance covered by employer.
ITCG will provide an airline ticket from country of residence to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) at the beginning of the contract, and a return ticket to country of residence at the end of the contract.
This is a twelve month contract with one month holiday included. The KSA entry visa will be provided by employer. The contract is for one year and can be renewed upon the acceptance of both parties. Salary range is negotiable. Saudi Arabia is a tax free country.
Requirements:
1. Bachelor Degree in English or similar with at least 1-3 years of experience or Master Degree.
2. Any of the following Certification courses will be a plus: ESL, TESL, ESOL,
TESOL, EFL, TEFL, CELTA, DELTA.
3. Middle East experience will be a great plus.
Interested candidates are advised to apply with their CV/Resume in MS-Word format and a scanned copy of their academic transcripts and ESL-related certificates.
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Email requested documents and inquiries to: Deanna.Teel@hccs.edu or call 713.718.5873.
Job: Senior Manager of Development (Mumbai, India)
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Via Asia Society:
Location: Asia Society India Centre, Mumbai
Position: Senior Manager of Development
Purpose:
The Senior Manager of Development works directly with the Executive Director and Board to establish and execute the strategic direction and overall management of fundraising initiatives, both corporate and individual, including planning annual and long-range strategic plans. Responsibilities include: budgeting, monitoring, implementation of development, membership, marketing, managing development interns and volunteers, and coordinating special events. Working in this capacity requires experience in strategic planning, donor cultivation and stewardship, public relations, audience development, and event planning. Successful candidates must be at ease in cross-cultural settings, comfortable working with board members and senior level executive officers, able to communicate effectively with a wide range of people, and able to implement events that strengthen relationships between the peoples of Asia and the US. The Senior Manager also represents the organization at philanthropic-related programs, meetings, and networking events.
Job: JET Programme Coordinator for the Consulate-General of Japan (Calgary)
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A job with JET via JETAA British Columbia:
The Consulate-General of Japan in Calgary is currently accepting applications for the JET Programme Coordinator position. This is a full-time position (9am-5pm, Mondays to Fridays) beginning early October.
Duties include, but are not limited to:
- Answering inquiries regarding the JET Programme (by e-mail and in person)
- Actively promoting the JET Programme in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba
- Budgeting of the Programme (yearly and by event) and bookkeeping
- Coordinating the JET interviews and Training
- Correspond with other JET Coordinators in Canada and make incremental improvements to the Programme
- Working with JET Alumni Associations and process their budget requests and payments
- Other duties related to Information and Cultural Affairs Read More
Job: Bilingual Account Manager – OSG Tap and Die (Cincinnati, OH)
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Job listing received direct from the company’s HR Dept:
Bilingual (Japanese/English) Account Manager
Cincinnati, OH
Company
OSG Tap and Die, Inc. is an industry leader in the manufacture and sale of high end cutting tools. OSG Tap and Die, Inc. is part of the OTD family of companies that have worldwide operations and 70 years experience in the cutting tool industry. OSG is a great place to work! OSG is concerned about the wellness of its employees, the community and the environment. OSG is an equal opportunity employer.
Job Description
The position will entail establishing new business, maintaining existing sales and increasing our market share by working closely with a network of distributors. Conduct periodic sales meetings and technical training seminars for distributors and end-users. Also, provide support to troubleshoot end-user application problems and identify new prospects and opportunities. Read More
Japan Times review of Chin Music Press book “Oh!” by Jeff Kingston
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The Japan Times has a nice review of the novel Oh! A mystery of ‘mono no aware’ by Todd Shimoda, and published by JET alum Bruce Rutledge’s Seattle-based publishing company Chin Music Press.
The review describes “an emotionally numb and alienated technical writer” who “suddenly decides to bolt Los Angeles and visit Japan, his ancestral home.” The main character subsequently stumbles into an exploration of teenage suicide clubs as well as “mono no aware” (the pathos of things), one of those Japanese emotional concepts that tend to baffle us gaijin.
Go here for more information about Oh!: http://www.ohthenovel.com
Go here for more information about Bruce Rutledge and Chin Music Press: http://chinmusicpress.com
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You may have read recently about Eleanor Robinson (CIR Aomori-ken, 1999-2002) and her work with the new Doshisha Global MBA Program which begins in September. Thanks to Eleanor, we’ve also learned about another JET alum, Dr. Andrew Staples (Fukuoka-ken, 1996-99), who is a Special Visiting Professor at Doshisha Business School with a number of published writings that should be of interest to the JET alumni community.
Here’s more about Andrew and his career path so far:
JetWit: We understand your work has been published. Can you tell us what and where?
Andrew: I’ve published a few times with Palgrave in the Asian Business Series including the chapter in the new textbook (we are in the process of making PowerPoint slides to accompany the book, which has been selling well), a chapter in an edited volume titled Emerging Multiplicity, and my own single authored text published last year, Responses to Regionalism, which was based on my PhD thesis.
Publications by Andrew Staples:
- Asian Business and Management: Theory, Practice and Perspectives (see chapter 4)
- Responses to Regionalism in East Asia – Chapter titled “Japanese Production Networks in the Automotive Sector”
- Emerging Multiplicity – Integration and Responsiveness in Asian Business Development
JetWit: What was your path from JET to academics?
A: I was an ALT for two years in a senior high in Fukuoka prefecture before becoming the ALT prefectural coordinator in Fukuoka City for the final year. After JET I enrolled at the School of East Asian Studies (SEAS), University of Sheffield, U.K. to study for an MSc in East Asian Business (1999-2000). I funded this, by the way, with my pension and tax refund and a bit of university English teaching here and there, which is something other JETs could consider doing. Read More
The Japan Foundation of New York Newsletter Vol. 7 8.18.09
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NEWS FROM THE JAPAN FOUNDATION NEW YORK AND CGP
VOL. 7: August 18, 2009
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Online Application for Japanese Studies Fellowships (Deadline: Nov 2)
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The Japanese Studies Fellowship program gives scholars, researchers, and professionals the opportunity to conduct research in Japan.
We are now introducing an online application system for the Japanese Studies Fellowship program. Please note that hereafter, application forms will only be available online.
The deadline for submissions is November 2, 2009.
http://www.jfny.org/japanese_studies/fellowship.html
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Performing Arts Japan (PAJ) Program (Deadline: Nov 2)
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The Japan Foundation is now accepting PAJ grant proposals for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. The PAJ Touring Grant assists the presentation of Japanese performing arts in the US and Canada, emphasizing locations outside major metropolitan areas, and the PAJ Collaboration Grant allows collaborating
artists to create new works with the potential to develop into a touring project.
Applications are due by November 2, 2009 for projects taking place between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2011.
http://www.jfny.org/arts_and_culture/paj.html
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Introducing the US-Japan Network for the Future (Deadline: Oct 1)
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The Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership (CGP) and the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation (MMMF) are pleased to announce a new program: US-Japan Network for the Future. We are currently recruiting up-and-coming Japan scholars and practitioners in the US to participate in this program to nurture the next generation of Japan Specialists.
The program will include sustained networking through workshops and meetings in Washington, DC, Montana, and Japan. Please note that applications must be submitted to MMMF.
http://www.mansfieldfdn.org/programs/networkforthefuture.htm
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2009-2010 Abe Fellowship Program (Deadline: Sep 1)
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The Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership (CGP) provides support to individuals through the Abe Fellowship, which is designed to encourage international, multidisciplinary research on topics of pressing concern.
The Abe Fellowship program seeks to foster the development of a new generation of researchers who are interested in policy-relevant topics of long-range importance and willing to become key members of a bilateral and global research network. Please note that applications must be submitted to SSRC (Social Science Research Council).
Abe Fellowship applications are due by September 1, 2009.
Abe Fellowship Journalist applications are due by September 15, 2009.
http://www.ssrc.org/fellowships/abe-fellowship/
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Announcing the Japan Travel Program for US Future Leaders
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The Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership (CGP), in collaboration with the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA), is implementing the Japan Travel Program for US Future Leaders to foster a new generation of future leaders in the US with a greater understanding of Japan and its roles in global affairs.
Thirteen graduate students are traveling to Japan from August 15-25 to acquire first hand knowledge of Japan and how it is fulfilling its shared global responsibilities. Students will meet with experts in politics, economics, and civil society and visit relevant institutions including government ministries, think tanks, policy institutes, businesses, and non-profit organizations.
An Activity Report will be forthcoming on the Japan Travel Program in the next newsletter issue.
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THE JAPAN FOUNDATION NEW YORK AND CGP
152 West 57th Street, 17th Floor
New York, New York 10019
Tel: 212.489.0299 ; Fax: 212.489.0409
Inquiries: info@jfny.org
As an ex-pat with nothing but obsessive affection for my former digs, I remain ever vigilant for any infinitesimal sign that Japan may be in the house. Any attempt to promote and dignify Japanese culture attracts me. When I see it, I am honor-bound to share. Dakara, I rec-o-mmend-o…
Show me a more definitive symbol of Nippon than a samurai and I will show you Hello Kitty 味 curry.
Have you dudes heard of Samurai Sword Soul?
Well, why the S not? ^_^
Serving up the 和風 to audiences since 2003, S.S.S is a highly professional TATE or sword-fighting theatrical group in New York. Fast becoming a staple of the Japanese event scene, their action-packed stage shows attract crowds for a reason. Who can possibly say no to samurai?
For those of us raised on the monosyllabic, unbalanced Belushi incarnation or the schizophrenic charms of Ruroni Kenshin, allow the adroit members of SSS to prove in the flesh that samurai embody a far wider range than bow, grunt and boldly confront death.
They slash. They parry. They emote.
Formed by producer, Yoshi Amao and artistic director, Y. Kuwayama, in addition to advancing the badassery of Japanese culture through performance, SSS also offers classes on sword techniques ranging from basic to advanced.
It is highly possible more than a few of you attended this year’s fully-packed Sakura Matsuri at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. Do any of you recall a group of performers yielding katana onstage like bats outta hell?
That, friends, may have been your first encounter with Samurai Sword Soul. The Japanese artistic community of Nueva York is a fairly tight-knit outfit. Rather like a corset. There’s overlap and tie-ins and everyone seems to know just about everybody.
One of the members from my yosa-koi dance team also lends his talent to this worthy endeavor. As providence would have it, SSS is taking part in this year’s Fringe Festival!
So what are you waiting for?
CHECK THEM OUT! More righteous stage combat and samurai bushido-ing than you can shake a bokken at. Plus, any physical art that can waltz gracefully with camp is good eats in my book. ^_^ If you are a fan of kendo, samurai, hakama or just lovely ladies and the blades that wear them, dont just seiza around! 走れ and see SAMURAI SWORD SOUL on da Fringe!
Scattered Lives postcard
*MAKE PLANS QUICK! They’ve got 3 performance days left! However, SSS performs fairly frequently at events around the city so if you miss your chance this month, stay tuned…
Job: Fine Dining Server with Kitchen Experience (Lake Forest, IL)
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Thanks to JETAA Chicago for this delicious job listing:
The Green Teaist is looking for a person who is willing to cross train as a fine dining server and also be experienced in the kitchen. Kitchen work consists of light prep, making tea sandwiches, poached pears, and very light menu items.
The ideal candidate should have a genuine interest in green tea, and a passion for Japan and the Japanese culture. We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and should speak Japanese. French would be a plus! Should have at least one year experience in fine dining. Should be willing to and interested in reading educational books regarding Japanese Green Tea
For consideration, please include cover letter, resume and references
Email to lgarofalo[at]thegreenteaist[dot]com oradiaz[at]thegreenteaist[dot]com
Phone is 847-735-0400
The Structure of the Japanese Proficiency Exam, the Main Hurdle to Passing
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The Japanese Doctor is a recurring feature written by Friend Of JET, Jon Hills, who maintains the blog for Hills Learning (www.hillslearning.com). 
Hills Learning is a NY-based language learning services company offering customized and personal Japanese and Chinese language learning options. Their main service is private one on one language lessons in the NYC area.
The Japanese Proficiency Exam, like any other exam, tests your ability to take the test. Of course people that are fluent in Japanese also can take the exam and pass without prior knowledge of how it works, but for the rest of us who are non-native speakers learning the structure of the Japanese Proficiency Exam is key to passing. Learning the structure and taking practice tests beforehand also calms the nerves, so on test day you will be much less intimidated while undergoing your 5 hour exam.
The best way to pass the Japanese Proficiency Exam is first learning which section is the easiest to pass. The good news is on the Japanese Proficiency Exam, the easiest and lowest counting sections…
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From the Summer 2009 “1/4 Cheap Trick” Issue of JQ (JETAA NY Quarterly) Magazine:
Like Japanese Girls? Then You Need This Book
By Rick Ambrosio (Ibaraki-ken, 2006-08)
There I was again, outside my apartment, in the car with Hitomi. Again, at this awkward moment where we both fidget and she puts the Toni Braxton CD in. This is of course, about 10 months ago now, back in Japan. Even after living in Japan for a year and a half, I still had moments like this; social impasses as I liked to call them. We both didn’t know what to say, what to do. Well, in reality, I didn’t know what to say or do. This was before I understood what “nan demo ii” really meant, before I could fully understand all the silent cues. This was before I read David Radtke’s Understanding Japanese Women.
I know I know, you’re thinking, “oh no, not another pick-up line book. Not another cheesy how-to.” It’s what I feared before I started reading it, too. However, I was delightfully surprised that Read More
J-News Mini-Roundup: The Swine Flu Returns
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J-News Mini-Roundup is a recurring feature written by Friend Of JET, Jon Hills, who maintains the blog for Hills Learning (www.hillslearning.com). Hills Learning is a NY-based language learning services company offering customized and personal Japanese and Chinese language learning options.
Background: Earlier this year in May, the first fatal case of the swine flu was reported in Japan. The man was 57 years old, and he lived in Okinawa. Although panic set in to the point where Japan had to be split off into different zones (infected areas, not infected areas, areas that are starting to be infected), over the summer the excitement died down. People stopped wearing masks, department stores started to see customers coming back to shop, and salarymen went back to their daily routines.
That could all change now with the second fatality from the swine flu now confirmed in Japan. Each newspaper had a different take on how exactly the man died, and the circumstances surrounding the return of the swine flu.
Yomiuri “A 70 Year Old man died in Kobe from the Swine Flu while undergoing Dialytic Treatment” The Yomiuri describes the 70 year old man being infected in the city Kobe, the first city to be hit by the swine flu…
(CLICK HERE for the rest of the article, that includes Japanese News Summaries)
The Japanese Proficiency Exam – How to sign up and secure a seat
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The Japanese Doctor is a recurring feature written by Friend Of JET, Jon Hills, who maintains the blog for Hills Learning (www.hillslearning.com). 
Hills Learning is a NY-based language learning services company offering customized and personal Japanese and Chinese language learning options. Their main service is private one on one language lessons in the NYC area.
So here’s the scenario, you’ve been studying for the Japanese Proficiency Exam. Maybe you need it because you’re interested in pursuing a job with Japanese and you want to communicate to employers that you have Japanese ability. Maybe you’re a prospective student trying to enter university in Japan, and doing well on the Japanese Proficiency Exam is your ticket to a good scholarship. Or probably it’s just a personal goal of yours to get official recognition for your Japanese abilities. At any rate, the secret to securing a seat on the Japanese Proficiency Exam is signing up in a timely and organized manner, don’t put it off.
Don’t believe me? Here are some examples…
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Job: Attorney who is fluent in Japanese (Northern Virginia)
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Great opportunity for an attorney who is fluent in JAPANESE!
A hi-tech company in Northern Virginia needs an attorney with at least four years of experience who can modify and negotiate contracts in Japanese. The contracts include content licensing, distribution and other technology related agreements.
The position is expected to begin in Mid-September and should last for at least six months. The work must be done on-site. Please apply on-line at www.AssignedCounsel.com. If you have any questions, please call Alisa Austin of Assigned Counsel at 301-924-0368. Thank you very much!
See the direct job posting on Assigned Councel HERE.
