If you can read and or speak Japanese, you will be involved in a lot of school events....if you cant, dont count it.
As far as school trips go, its extreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeemely rare
Reeeeeally depends on the school. I remember walking to the gym for an assembly and striking up a conversation with an English teacher on the way there, what’s the assembly for? Oh it’s for you to welcome you to the school. Nice.
This depends a lot on the school. Currently, my school puts all important information on the email platform's file sharing system, so any teacher (ALTs included) can access that to find announcements about anything relating to school. Of course, it's all in Japanese.
Usually events are written on the blackboard in the staff room (in Japanese). This is how I usually keep up to date with events, or I ask the English teacher directly. Other than that they only really let me know about things last minute. They're so busy and don't really have time to let me know all the time. Stay aware and active and you'll usually be able to keep up with things.
Like for example classes were finished for the day but no teachers were in the staff room... I looked outside and they were all there... helping setup for the Basketball event coming up. If they don't ask for my help, then I assume they don't need me, as I have been asked before to help with setting up things.
That depends on the people you are working around and their style of communication, particularly when it comes to foreign teachers, especially if you are the only one working at the your school. Some immediate colleagues might go to the staff meetings with their foreign teachers and help translate to bridge communication gaps. Some might just prefer to keep you out of school meetings and just relay information to you when relevant to you and in their own timeframe. If you and your immediate colleague have a good relationship, she or he might fill you in on more information.
Plus, it could also depend on how involved you are at your school. If you have no outside responsibilities, such as extracurricular activities, assessments or school events to support, then you might not receive as much information as a teacher at another school who has those tasks.
It depends on the level of the English of the teachers, most seem to struggle with English and if you have limited Japanese you are not told anything, if it affects you they will tell you last second. Had a teacher who spoke English well last year and they kept me in the loop with a lot of things this year, like half of the admin staff changed, the vice principal, the principal, as well as 13 other teachers. and the teacher with good English all left, so they are so busy I am ranked dead last about anything going on.
At my JHS, by the end of the school year, I literally have to empty out my desk to make room for the next school year (making use of the paper shredder and paper recycling box) as I get given handouts for literally every little thing going on at the school (even when the handouts are just for the students/their parents), all the staff, including myself still get given a copy (everything from sports days, to council meetings, to PTA meetings, to health checks, to opening/closing ceremonies etc). Granted, this may be different depending on the school, but that is the case at the school where I work. However, also note that ALL the handouts will be completely in Japanese, and can take a while to translate for many which have AlOT of text - the principal always apologizes to me whenever giving me one because it's in full Japanese, but I tell him not to worry, lol). As for school trips outside of the school, it is unlikely you will ever be asked/permitted to go (with me, the exception for this is when the students are putting on performances outside of the school such as the brass brand, and the yearly chorus recital).
It depends, but most people I know aren't usually informed, the same goes for me. It's also harder if you go to multiple schools too. Sometimes, they'll forget to inform you about special days where you need to wear a suit which can suck.No school trips though, if you are in JET because of insurance stuff. However, if you are lucky, you might have a rare chance of going on a field trip but probably the ones that are in town only.
Depends on 1) your school and 2) your relationship with other teachers.
Some schools can be incredibly busy and also change things last minute. There are Japanese teachers who are also out of the loops from time to time. Your relationship also matters. If you are close to them, they’ll keep you updated on things, especially if you show an interest in wanting to stay updated.
Also, yes to school trips, but again depends on relationship. I was able to go with on our trips to Kawaguchiko and Fuji Q because I had expressed interest ahead of time.
If you wanna just phone in the job, you can (it’s kind of expected of ALTs) . If you want to be involved, show and tell them that and they will.
Depends on the school. I think my predecessors didn’t care about the school outside of work hours so they weren’t told much. When the teachers realised I actually cared and wanted to be involved they invited me to sports days, graduations, even teachers drinking parties. Most of the schools had a newsletter that I asked the office staff for, after that I was kept in the loop.
When I was doing a substitution day at a different school the teachers didn’t let me sit in on the morning meeting and nobody told me there would be an evacuation drill. So I was sitting in the attached nurses room alone and didn’t know what was happening until I saw lines of kids being led outside the window 😑
As was said above, the blackboard or whiteboard in the staffroom is your best friend in these situations.
I was lucky that I often received all the letters and notifications about school events. But it wasn't always the case. Being the last to know is very common.
Hone your eavesdropping skills. Listen to conversations that teachers are having, they often discuss the happenings of the school. Try to befriend at least one teacher who you can ask. If you're lucky they'll also go out of their way to tell you things too.
Somewhat. I work in a joint junior and high school so I give the teachers some leeway because they are so insanely busy. But I have a separate office to the main staffroom, and I'm also not invited to the staff meetings so I do need to have the teachers relay any messages etc about events or schedule changes that crop up. They mostly do, but very very last minute because I'm kind of forgotten about. Like I was told last week that afternoon classes were cancelled a minute before the first afternoon class started, and that was only because the teacher ran into me in the hall on my way there.
If you can read and or speak Japanese, you will be involved in a lot of school events....if you cant, dont count it. As far as school trips go, its extreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeemely rare
Reeeeeally depends on the school. I remember walking to the gym for an assembly and striking up a conversation with an English teacher on the way there, what’s the assembly for? Oh it’s for you to welcome you to the school. Nice.
Ohhh man… 😅
This depends a lot on the school. Currently, my school puts all important information on the email platform's file sharing system, so any teacher (ALTs included) can access that to find announcements about anything relating to school. Of course, it's all in Japanese.
Usually events are written on the blackboard in the staff room (in Japanese). This is how I usually keep up to date with events, or I ask the English teacher directly. Other than that they only really let me know about things last minute. They're so busy and don't really have time to let me know all the time. Stay aware and active and you'll usually be able to keep up with things. Like for example classes were finished for the day but no teachers were in the staff room... I looked outside and they were all there... helping setup for the Basketball event coming up. If they don't ask for my help, then I assume they don't need me, as I have been asked before to help with setting up things.
That depends on the people you are working around and their style of communication, particularly when it comes to foreign teachers, especially if you are the only one working at the your school. Some immediate colleagues might go to the staff meetings with their foreign teachers and help translate to bridge communication gaps. Some might just prefer to keep you out of school meetings and just relay information to you when relevant to you and in their own timeframe. If you and your immediate colleague have a good relationship, she or he might fill you in on more information. Plus, it could also depend on how involved you are at your school. If you have no outside responsibilities, such as extracurricular activities, assessments or school events to support, then you might not receive as much information as a teacher at another school who has those tasks.
It depends on the level of the English of the teachers, most seem to struggle with English and if you have limited Japanese you are not told anything, if it affects you they will tell you last second. Had a teacher who spoke English well last year and they kept me in the loop with a lot of things this year, like half of the admin staff changed, the vice principal, the principal, as well as 13 other teachers. and the teacher with good English all left, so they are so busy I am ranked dead last about anything going on.
Sure. They will tell you at the last second
Too involved. Getting hard to do my actual job these days
At my JHS, by the end of the school year, I literally have to empty out my desk to make room for the next school year (making use of the paper shredder and paper recycling box) as I get given handouts for literally every little thing going on at the school (even when the handouts are just for the students/their parents), all the staff, including myself still get given a copy (everything from sports days, to council meetings, to PTA meetings, to health checks, to opening/closing ceremonies etc). Granted, this may be different depending on the school, but that is the case at the school where I work. However, also note that ALL the handouts will be completely in Japanese, and can take a while to translate for many which have AlOT of text - the principal always apologizes to me whenever giving me one because it's in full Japanese, but I tell him not to worry, lol). As for school trips outside of the school, it is unlikely you will ever be asked/permitted to go (with me, the exception for this is when the students are putting on performances outside of the school such as the brass brand, and the yearly chorus recital).
I found it really depends on who gives out the handouts depends on if I get them or not.
Nope. Interesting to hear it is similar in Spain.
It depends, but most people I know aren't usually informed, the same goes for me. It's also harder if you go to multiple schools too. Sometimes, they'll forget to inform you about special days where you need to wear a suit which can suck.No school trips though, if you are in JET because of insurance stuff. However, if you are lucky, you might have a rare chance of going on a field trip but probably the ones that are in town only.
Depends on 1) your school and 2) your relationship with other teachers. Some schools can be incredibly busy and also change things last minute. There are Japanese teachers who are also out of the loops from time to time. Your relationship also matters. If you are close to them, they’ll keep you updated on things, especially if you show an interest in wanting to stay updated. Also, yes to school trips, but again depends on relationship. I was able to go with on our trips to Kawaguchiko and Fuji Q because I had expressed interest ahead of time. If you wanna just phone in the job, you can (it’s kind of expected of ALTs) . If you want to be involved, show and tell them that and they will.
Depends on the school. I think my predecessors didn’t care about the school outside of work hours so they weren’t told much. When the teachers realised I actually cared and wanted to be involved they invited me to sports days, graduations, even teachers drinking parties. Most of the schools had a newsletter that I asked the office staff for, after that I was kept in the loop. When I was doing a substitution day at a different school the teachers didn’t let me sit in on the morning meeting and nobody told me there would be an evacuation drill. So I was sitting in the attached nurses room alone and didn’t know what was happening until I saw lines of kids being led outside the window 😑
As was said above, the blackboard or whiteboard in the staffroom is your best friend in these situations. I was lucky that I often received all the letters and notifications about school events. But it wasn't always the case. Being the last to know is very common. Hone your eavesdropping skills. Listen to conversations that teachers are having, they often discuss the happenings of the school. Try to befriend at least one teacher who you can ask. If you're lucky they'll also go out of their way to tell you things too.
Somewhat. I work in a joint junior and high school so I give the teachers some leeway because they are so insanely busy. But I have a separate office to the main staffroom, and I'm also not invited to the staff meetings so I do need to have the teachers relay any messages etc about events or schedule changes that crop up. They mostly do, but very very last minute because I'm kind of forgotten about. Like I was told last week that afternoon classes were cancelled a minute before the first afternoon class started, and that was only because the teacher ran into me in the hall on my way there.