You are currently viewing A conversation with Real Gaijin

A conversation with Real Gaijin

about the genesis and realities of Assistant Language Teaching with an experienced Japan hand

You know the proverb, “Two heads are better than one”? Japan has its rendering, 1/3 better than the English expression:

三人寄れば文殊の知恵 San nin yoreba Monju no chie

In other words, when three people come together, they achieve the wisdom of Monju Bosatsu, the Buddhist representation of wisdom. That spirit of cooperation, pooling knowledge, and helping fellow foreign residents, spurred me to seek out Japanese correspondents on the Substack media platform. There, I connected with Real Gaijin, a newsletter by American Mark Kennedy, who has lived in Japan for over 30 years. Through regular emails to subscribers, Mark generously shares stories on culture, history, business, and current issues in Japan.

Mark also hosts a series of live AMAs. The talks reveal the lived experience of foreign residents (and some digital nomads) and answer questions from followers. When Mark approached me about doing an AMA (Ask me Anything), we settled on the topic of Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) in Japan’s public and private schools.

We approached the AMA as a broad overview of the ALT scene, anticipating an international audience. We covered the origins of ALT work, reveling statistics, and the pros and cons of engaging in the many contexts in which ALTs find themselves. Viewers/listeners offered their opinions and asked some good questions. Watch the Real Gaijin AMA on Substack for Mark’s key takeaways. Alternatively, watch the time-stamped version on YouTube below.

I keep in mind that proverb I mentioned. We’re stronger together, fellow ALTs and English language educators, when we cooperate. Beyond our community of 20,000 plus ALTs, reaching out to the wider foreign resident community can lead to new friendships, challenges to our perspectives, and affirmation of our experiences. For me, it helped me reflect on my ALT days and draw on the collective knowledge base of the ALTTO team.

You, seasoned ALTs and rookies alike, can connect with Real Gaijin on Substack to ask questions and share your experiences. For Chiba Prefecture residents, follow me at Chiba Explorers with periodic updates on regional events and culture.

ALTTO provides communication channels, Line, Facebook, and Discord. Three heads (and more) are better than one.

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