Katie Heath loves Julie in Japan
By Katie Heath
Published: April 10th, 2008 | 12:00am
Ever
considered teaching English as a Second Language in Japan? I have. But
how’s your average Westerner supposed to survive on an ESL salary in
one of the most expensive countries in the world? Concerns like this may
make the idea of teaching abroad feel more like a romantic fantasy than
a plausible occupation. But when I stumbled upon Julie in Japan, I
found the advice of an ESL instructor who’s surviving the cultural
hang-ups and having a hell of a lot of fun traveling in the
process.
Julie in Japan is the account of
one girl’s experience teaching English in Japan and is penned by a
charming Canadian with good taste to boot. Julie shares tips on
language barriers, finding helpful books, lesson plans, and other
tricks – like puppets – that she has utilized in her classroom.
Although Julie teaches at a private school, she offers pros and cons of
teaching through the two major ESL programs, JET and NOVA. She also
shares her perspective on Japanese culture oddities, cuisine,
street fashion, politics, and what it’s like spending Valentine’s Day
in Japan – turns out it’s for boys only. Julie’s rich explanations left
me with the impression that she was literally spelling out how to go
about getting an ESL job in Japan. Although I have yet to pack, I feel
I’ve got the resources and confidence that it’s possible indeed.
Katie Heath is a Venus Zine editorial intern.
Issue #34
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