|
Most foreign language dominant (you mentioned the US, so youfre probably English educated?) seek post high school education where they can study and make friends in the language theyfre most comfortable.
Getting good grades as well as making a good impression to those who could write letters of reference (recommending you to the school or job you want could make a world of difference for you! Youfre at a big disadvantage trying to study any new and difficult language (such as Japanese) where even the alphabet is probably new to you and is actually much, much more complicated than our rather simple English alphabet.
Consider contacting the these entities to get information on where you might be able to get any sort of financial and educational assistance to attend school in English while in Japan for low or no cost. Itfs a matter of, if you donft check, youfll never know. Put yourself out there because things may just fall into place and make what may seem difficult or impossible become possible. Write down your objectives and your familyfs financial ability (if your family has you in Japanese public school because they are unable to pay for a private, English language education while youfre in Japan). Importantly, Japan has a fascinating and truly amazing, culture and history. And the Japanese language is a beautiful language that can provide you insight into yourself, Japan, the Japanese and the world. but for the short term, and by the short term, in this context, getting you through middle school, high school in on to, and through higher education it would seem to be the goal. It may not seem like g the short termg to you., But in terms of your entire life, it is very much only the short term to get you to a happy, satisfying and productive life of forever learning, which is the best kind of learning, and it usually happens after youfre done with all the education that you can get under your belt. Get all the education you possibly can. And in furtherance of that goal, do everything you can to achieve getting the best education you can day after day, month, after month, and ultimately for the rest of your life.
1. US Embassy in Tokyo or a nearby US Consulate (other English speaking countries embassyfs, consulates may also have useful info for you, e.g., Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, etc. (And any other languages you might be fluent in.)
2. US Chamber of Commerce
3. Catholic and other religious school where the curriculum is taught in English. The religious schools are often much less expensive than, for example, the gAmerican School in Japanh.
4. What resources does your family have so that you could be educated in English, if that is what you would like to do and what is best for you while you are in Japan, for either the short or long term.
5. Contact your church, synagogue, temple, for example, to find out what guidance they can provide you on how to get into and pay for an education in the language that you are going to use in higher education.
If your current and future education is and will continue to be in Japanese, youfll undoubtedly need help to learn to read, write and communicate in Japanese. You may be able to find out the same sort information for studying in English – – but in Japanese in Japan. Youfre not the first, nor the only person whofs been stuck in your position where the language that youfre used to use is no longer the language that school is taught in. There are many people, both parents and children who have had to move from their country to Japan, as well as to many other countries many of which are far less democratic, interesting or technologically and scientifically advanced. There are far worse countries that you could end up in for your ninth grade and beyond. Check out anime, matcha, flower arranging, emote, judo, aikido, kendo, pottery, science, medical techniques, hJa-powh (Japanfs tremendous skiing in dry powder snow) just for a tiny bit of what you can do and learn in Japan! For now and in the long term, you are actually, really and definitely in a fortunate situation. But before you ask yourself, what could possibly be lucky about the situation youfre in when you feel so frustrated, and like you had the rug pulled out from under you, remember this: what is. We each, and all of us make our own luck. Because gluckh is what you make for yourself after working very, very hard and then, it just seems to fall into place and thatfs what others call gluckh and thatfs when you realize that you made lemonade, out of lemons. Or how everything turned out really for the best after you found yourself feeling like you were stuck, yanked out of the United States and dumped into a Japanese language school in Japan. In life, itfs all hardwork. Youfll find that we each create our own opportunities. I hope you and your parents know that these suggestions are tiny and are less than a thimble full of ideas and opportunities that are potentially waiting just for you. Try hard, work hard and donft let any opportunity go by without your having tried your best.
The Japanese have a term that is used it all over the place: ggahm batftéh, (if you havenft heard this term already, youfre sure to hear it soon enough. Itfs basically a good natured saying intended to encourage into and to cheer you on. Youfll hear it whether youfre playing sports or studying for final exams (or even learning Japanese) and it means to try hard! And trying hard to the Japanese means to try your best. Itfs very much in the Japanese way of life to try hard and try your best and to do so for as long as it takes to succeed in whatever it is that youfre trying to do. So, if youfre willing to learn, Japan, the Japanese people and the language itself have so much to share with you and to teach you!
Have you tried watching NHK online or on TV? Online, Itfs in English and some 17 languages. NHK also has Japanese language lessons. Itfs Japanfs very interesting public broadcasting system, but online. Youfll see how different people from various countries have found interesting and wonderful lives in Japan in both the cities as well the rural countryside.
These suggestions are only to give you some direction, some ideas and greater incentive to - - and this is very important: To do these and more, but, only after youfve discussed all this and more with your parent, guardian or other person, or persons, responsible for your care and education, and then, with their approval, to plan, and work together so you can get a good education in the least frustrating and most educational and beneficial way for you to be happy, healthy, and successful in your current and future life.
BTW, in case you hadnft guessed already, some of my experiences have been similar to yours. so Ifve taken some three hours to hopefully give you and your loved ones some ideas and some support in that others, including me, have had similar educational challenges in foreign countries. No matter where we are, we have to do whatever it takes to do well in class and in exams. We each have to make sure we have learned all materials that will probably be on the exams that we face. We each take our own exams alone. Ultimately, we must each learn, and therefore know what we need to know for quizzes, tests, oral and written examsc.and even life situations. Itfs true whether we are in the ninth grade (about 12 or 13 years old?) and whether we turn 23, 33, 43, 53 or whatever age we become. Such.
|
