Ita Japanese

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Challenges of Teaching Japanese Students I think teaching is very rewarding, but teaching children are even more rewarding. Table of Contents Cultural Sensitivity Teaching Children and Adults Lesson Planning Teaching Pronunciation Challenges of Teaching Youngsters Teaching Teenagers and Adults Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: I don't think there's anything more beautiful in being able to be part of a child's growth by following the development of his mind and his abilities. The fact that our students are young do n' t mean at all that the teacher should underestimate or overlook something, rather it is one more reason to give the best of yourself. This post was written by our TEFL...  [Read more]

Thu, 19 Dec 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Common Pronunciation Mistakes of Japanese Students This piece will discuss the difficulties faced by Japanese learners of English regarding English pronunciation and suggest methods to help learners in different age groups overcome them. It posits that most difficulties stem from the differences in phonology between the English alphabet and the Japanese kana system. Table of Contents Differences in the Alphabetic Systems Ways to Overcome Difficulties Working with Adults How to Approach Young Students Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Niall M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of...  [Read more]

Japanese Customs SOURCE: www . businessinsider . com/japanese-customs-that-are-shocking-to-foreigners-2015-7?utm_content=buffer4f24d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook . com&utm_campaign=buffer Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Check out ITTT's Blog Posts  [Read more]

Japanese Holidays SOURCE: www . houseofgenjisanjose . net/blog/2014/december/highlighting-japanese-holidays-infographic- . aspx?redirect_referrer=https%3a%2f%2fit . pinterest . com%2f Register now & get certified to teach english abroad! Check out ITTT's Blog Posts  [Read more]

Fri, 13 Dec 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Motivation in the Classroom: Japanese Experience Having been an English teacher of high school students in Japan for the past 2 years, I have noticed that motivation in the classroom is as much dependent on the students as it is on me as the teacher. There are three aspects that I have identified and used in my environment to get the student motivated and engaged. The Japanese culture is largely conservative and group orientated and those are crucial to take into account if one is to succeed in their teaching career in Japan. The following plays a big role in setting a tone whereby students are motivated and engaged. Those aspects are culture, societal pressure, and peer pressure. Table of Contents Culture Societal perception...  [Read more]

Mon, 05 Aug 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Discipline in the Japanese TEFL Classroom My experience in teaching English to young learners is based in Japan. At the start of my time teaching, my student group consisted of two children of the same family. The siblings are a boy, age five, and a girl, age three, who participate equally in the English conversation sessions. Three main factors of this situation present difficult walls, preventing forward progress. Those three factors are distracting objects, counter-productive classroom philosophies, and personality conflicts. Table of Contents Lesson Duration Considering the Age Parents' Expectations Classroom Communication Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today! Related Articles: This post was written...  [Read more]

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Common Problems Japanese Learners of English Experience Japan is an island nation and is a recognized homogenous society with a very small percentage of foreign permanent residence and more than half of the adult population lacks the necessary skills to speak English proficiently. Because of this, English as a Second Language is in high demand with young learners being a focus group in Japan. English is taught in the school environment during nearly all of a child's primary education years, but this, unfortunately, doesn't translate to a proficient English-speaking Japanese population. Table of Contents Global Opportunities Differences in Language Structure Cultural Challenges Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course!...  [Read more]

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Why Japanese Students Struggle with Communicating in English During my stay in Japan, Japanese people often told me how they can't communicate in English despite studying the language for six or more years in school. In Japan, students in junior and senior high learn English grammar and vocabulary in compulsory formal English classes. English is also taught in elementary school as foreign language activities. Yet despite spending several hours in English classes, many Japanese people graduate high school with poor English communication skills. Table of Contents Education system Class culture Learning goals Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification...  [Read more]

Mon, 13 May 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Common Challenges in English for Japanese Native Speakers If you ever find yourself driving in French Canada, you will be stopped by stop signs that say 'arrêt', which is stopped in French. Almost all drivers in North America would know that this means stop because it's the same octagon red stop sign. In Japan it's very different, stop signs are triangular with Japanese script on them but, beneath the Japanese, you can find English subtitles which read 'stop'. In fact, if you travel anywhere in Japan, the majority of signs and announcements related to travel are offered in Japanese and English. English has been taught in Japanese schools since the American occupation after World War Two. However, according to an EF English...  [Read more]

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Typical Challenges for Japanese Native Speakers in ESL This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Daisy C. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Table of Contents Grammar Pronunciation Japanese schools Japanese culture Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: Grammar One problem facing many Japanese students learning English is differentiating between countable and uncountable nouns. In the Japanese language, the same word is often used for 'much' and 'many'. In English, 'much' is used to describe countable nouns, and 'many' is used to describe uncountable nouns. A problem facing many EFL learners, especially Japanese learners,...  [Read more]

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The Struggles for Japanese Students When Learning English I have been teaching in Japan for over 12 years in three different locations ranging from the southernmost part of Hokkaido to the southern island of Kyushu, where I presently reside. The youngest students I have had were children not even two years of age, whereas my older students were in their seventies. This is a very common situation for those who teach here in Japan; a country where the English boom occurred not too long after they rebuilt their nation following the Second World War. Table of Contents Interest Popular Culture Influence Pronunciation Difficulties Language Systems Confidence Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This...  [Read more]

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Common Issues Japanese Learners Face When Learning English Through my experience as an Assistant Language Teacher in Japan, there have been numerous difficulties and challenges my students face in learning the English language. My students are primarily between the ages of 5 and 15. These challenges involve the pronunciation difficulties the students face coming from Japanese pronunciation, as well as the methodology of teaching English in Japan They may not apply to all of Japan but are definitely prominent issues within my area. Table of Contents Pronunciation The Problem of Making Mistakes Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate James W....  [Read more]

Teach English in the Japanese Alps! Date posted:2011-03-09 | Writer: Active English School | Email: [email protected] Active English School in Shiojiri city, Nagano prefecture, Japan is looking for an energetic, versatile, and professional native English teacher to begin working in the beginning of April, 2011. Our school is small, friendly and family-owned. Students range from 4 to 73 years of age. Working with us is a great opportunity to get to know students on a personal level and participate in cultural exchange. Nagano prefecture is centrally located with great access to hiking, skiing or snowboarding, and hot springs. Shiojiri is a small, quiet city about 20minutes from Matsumoto and 2 1/2 hours from Tokyo and Kyoto by train. Salary is 250,000 yen per month....  [Read more]

Fri, 01 May 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The Usual Problems of Japanese Students in English A large number of obstacles can arise for the students when learning a foreign language. Some of these problems are related to the contrast between the mother language and the learned language. About the differences between L1 and L2, there is plenty of research in the field of contrastive linguistics. Moreover, regarding that topic, many papers can be found comparing English to Japanese with the aim to address the problems of Japanese learners of English. However, other predicaments with the apprehension of the L2 can develop when teachers underestimate the importance of the cultural dimension of the language taught. Concerning that particular impediment, less scientific literature...  [Read more]

Teach TEFL in the Japanese Alps! Date posted:2009-03-10 | Writer: Active English School | Email: [email protected] Active English School in Shiojiri city, Nagano prefecture, Japan is looking for an energetic, versatile, and professional native English teacher to begin working in April, 2009. Our school is small, friendly and family-owned. Students range from 4 to 73 years of age. Working with us is a great opportunity to get to know students on a personal level and participate in cultural exchange. Nagano prefecture is centrally located with great access to hiking, skiing or snowboarding, and hot springs. Shiojiri is a small, quiet city about 20minutes from Matsumoto and 2 1/2 hours from Tokyo and Kyoto by train. Salary is 260.000 yen per month. Bachelor's degree and...  [Read more]

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Three Typical Pronunciation Problems for Japanese ESL Students According to a study by scholars and experts in the field of linguistics, more specifically in the article of Riney & Anderson-Hsieh from International Christian University, the native language (L1) is a good predictor of pronunciation accuracy in English as researched by Suter in 1976. In the same article, it was mentioned that a subsequent study by Purcell and Suter in 1980, found that non-native speakers who are most likely to pronounce English (L2) poorly, fit the profile in Japanese ESL students. Table of Contents 1. /L/ and /R/ sound 2. /ng/ sound 3. /th/ Fricatives Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today! Related Articles: This post was...  [Read more]

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences 4 Reasons Why Japanese Students Are Often Lacking Motivation Japanese learners of English face challenges which are based on background and cultural aspects, racial barriers, perception of the English language, as well the lack of freedom of expression. This becomes the basis on which their motivation, or lack thereof, to study English is built. Coming from a motivational background, I was self-assured that my plans to get my low-level High School students motivated about learning English would be less challenging to implement. Reality proved otherwise as this process has required the breaking of certain barriers in order for me to be successful in my endeavors. Following is a further explanation on each of the different...  [Read more]

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The Most Common Obstacles for Japanese Learners of English Formal English education first took root in Japan with the creation of the first English schools in 1865 and has since steamrolled into an aggressive effort by the government to produce an English-proficient population. The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) was established to introduce native speakers into English classrooms, and English instruction continues to become mandatory for increasingly younger students in primary schools. Despite these efforts, an English Proficiency Index conducted by the organization English First gave Japan a "low proficiency" score, with the island country lagging not just the multicultural countries of Singapore and Malaysia but...  [Read more]

Fri, 09 Aug 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Several Pronunciations Troubles Faced by The Japanese Native Speakers The differences between many Asiatic languages' pronunciation and that of English form the basis for a multitude of miscommunications between international interlocutors. My experience living in Japan provides plentiful evidence to support this assertion. When my Japanese associates and I communicate in English, I notice three significant pronunciation struggles for my conversation partners. For the Japanese who are learning English, the clear enunciation of the /th/ sound, the fricative quality of the /v/ consonant, and the distinction of /l/ versus /r/ formation of the tongue. Table of Contents Language Structure Difficult sounds Do you want to teach English...  [Read more]

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences The Problems That Japanese Elementary Schoolers Face Studying English In the wake of the upcoming 2020 Olympics in Japan, there has been an increase in elementary school level English classes. As an assistant language teacher half into my fourth year, I have had the rare chance to work the entirety of my time in one elementary school where I have had many great memories. However, being present every day I began to notice that some students were struggling or in some cases, not even trying when it came to English class. Talking with my peers and colleagues from other elementary schools as well as my own, there are some common problems that many students seem to experience in an English class. These problems include learning in a...  [Read more]

Teach English in the Japanese Alps Date posted:2022-12-04 | Writer: Active English School | Email: [email protected] Active English School in Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan is looking for an energetic, versatile and professional native English teacher to begin working in the beginning of February or April, 2023. Position available:- Conversation Teachers at the private English schoolOur school is small, friendly and family-owned.Students range from 2 to 70 years of age.  Working with us is a great opportunity to get to know students on a personal level and participate in cultural exchange.Nagano prefecture is centrally located with great access to hiking, skiing or snowboarding, and hot springs.  Shiojiri is a small, quiet city about 20 minutes...  [Read more]

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Anticipated Problems: Japanese Speakers and Their Issues in ESL I have been living in Japan for the past one and a half years. Needless to say, the experience has been enthralling. This country would have never been my first choice for a country to relocate to, from my home country, India. But if my stay has taught me anything, it is that never judge a book by its cover. When we think of Japan, the first thing that pops up is that it is a country of workaholics; it has zero English presence, and the people are highly prejudiced against foreigners and foreign culture. I was proven wrong. Japan is a beautiful country. It is culturally so rich, it makes me want to live here forever. The people, though tend to be a little distant...  [Read more]

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Problems That the Japanese Might Face When Learning English Learners from Japan have to face cultural issues as well as phonetic problems when learning English. Table of Contents Social Pressure Motivation Challenges Sound Awareness Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Susanne W. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Social Pressure Like in many other Asian countries, Japanese students are used to ex-cathedra teaching, rather than actively participating and contributing to the lessons. One of their biggest fears is to 'lose face' in front of others, which not only means losing...  [Read more]

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas The Most Challenging Aspects in English for Japanese Students Description: When teaching English in Japan, there are a few common problems all learners, young and old, face. Two main issues students face are with grammar, as well as pronouncing and hearing certain sounds. As this course was designed for teaching young learners, in this paper, I will address the issues above and possible solutions as they apply to this age group. Table of Contents Grammar Tricks Pronunciation Tricks Are you ready to teach English abroad or online? Related Articles: Check out what our course grads say in our many video testimonials! This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Rebecca E. Please note that...  [Read more]

Mon, 10 Aug 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Why do Japanese Learners Face Difficulties when Studying English? English is causing many problems in Asian countries which can be seen just by the high demand for English teachers - including ESL teachers. One of the countries is Japan, a country with a good economy and a society well known for their kindness and politeness, but unfortunately also for the low number of English speakers. There are many reasons why English is likely to pose problems in Japan but there are many possibilities to improve the English lessons to offer lessons that help Japanese students to achieve a higher English level. Table of Contents 1. English is only written during lessons (Student Talk time is too low) 2. Students are not asked to express their...  [Read more]

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Possible Reasons why Japanese Students have Difficulties Acquiring English Japan is a First-World, Asian country, well-known for its clean vehicular designs, its production of famed animations, its ability to wow the Western world with hygienic efforts even at leisurely events (World Cup 2018), and overall its impeccable attention to detail in most areas of life. Yet, even with these accolades behind the name, there remains a sore spot, which any foreigner who has experienced Japan in the flesh, can verify exists. That is, the surprising lack of ability of the general public to understand and/or produce comprehensible English, an established global language. Table of Contents Failures Teaching techniques Social challenges Do you want...  [Read more]

Wed, 17 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Why Is English Challenging to Learn for Japanese Students? Japanese are known for being disciplined, dedicated, and hardworking individuals not only in their work but also in other aspects of their life like hobbies and studies. But why is it difficult for them to learn English despite their strong dedication, patience, efforts, and determination? Table of Contents My Teaching Experience But still, the Japanese cannot speak English, why is that? Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Princess D. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. My Teaching Experience I've been teaching English...  [Read more]

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Japanese Native Speakers and Their Challenges in ESL Learning This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Doneika D. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Table of Contents Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course today! Related Articles: I am currently an English teacher living in Japan. I teach both Elementary and Junior High School English Language. Japan's government allows the students to start learning English sometimes as early as Kindergarten. Most Elementary schools have a designated ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) that possesses a native level of English. Even though English is a compulsory subject in Japanese Junior High and High...  [Read more]

Mon, 04 May 2020 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences An Overview of Common Challenges of ESL Students from Japan Japan is a nation that has tried to increase its citizens' English ability, especially with the upcoming 2020 Olympic Games being held in their country. However, progress has been slow and not fruitful. There are various reasons for this slow stagnation of the nation's English abilities such as the larger academic system and access to proper education in rural areas. However, I will focus on three main hurdles that Japanese learners of English must face that can impede their English education. Table of Contents Japanese vs. English Phonetics Alphabet Japanese English Class Style Problems Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course! Related Articles: This...  [Read more]

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences What is Challenging in English Pronunciation for Japanese Native Speakers? What's the most difficult part of learning a new language? Is it writing? Perhaps it's the reading or memorizing new vocabulary? Well for some it's speaking the new language, specifically when it comes to pronunciation. Every language has its unique ways or pronouncing their vowels and constants as well as how they form their sentence structure. Especially this write up will focus on Japanese English as a Second Language (ESL) students and the difficulties they face while learning English and its pronunciation. Table of Contents Japanese Writing Teaching Approach Pronunciation Differences Further Steps Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL...  [Read more]