ARRIVAL IN NAGASAKI: You will arrive in Nagasaki Airport. It is a very small airport located outside of Nagasaki City in the town of Omura. Someone will be here to pick you up–usually your supervisor, maybe other ALTs from your area, or maybe in some exceptional cases, a teacher from your school who is not your supervisor.
ARRIVAL IN YOUR PLACEMENT: Once you arrive in your new hometown, if it’s still early enough in the day, you may be taken straight to your contracting organization (BOE for municipal ALTs, or high school for prefectural ALTs). You will most likely have to introduce yourself to people there (principal and teachers if you’re prefectural, BOE employees if you’re municipal). You will also fill out residence forms, sign a lease for your apartment (if not teacher housing), and get taken to your apartment. Depending on your arrival time, these things might happen the next day. If you have enough time and depending on the location of your placement, you may be taken on arrival day to take care of other things, like opening a bank account.
THE FIRST FEW DAYS: Here are some things that you will be taking care of during your first few days: filling out residence forms, opening a bank account, signing your apartment lease (if not teacher housing), buying or setting up a phone, setting up utilities, setting up wifi or internet in your apartment, and visiting your school(s). Your supervisor and/or other ALTs will help you take care of all of those things. Depending on your situation, you might be taken to buy household goods and/or groceries during work hours too. If you are receiving or purchasing a car, you will need to fill out the appropriate forms for insurance, rental contract, parking, etc. if applicable. Depending on your placement, you may do more things, like attending a local orientation or meeting the mayor.
YOUR APARTMENT: Depending on how tidy your predecessor was, your apartment may or may not be clean enough for your standards. If not, give it a thorough clean as soon as possible. See this page for information about cleaning and cleaning supplies. A clean apartment will set you up for the best possible start, and it’s much easier to wipe out drawers and sweep before you’ve unpacked all your stuff and settled in. Learn how to use your air conditioner, washing machine, stove, appliances, shower, and toilet. If you need anything for your house, don’t hesitate to reach out to other ALTs in your area for help in getting to the store and buying what you need. If you need furniture or appliances but are on a budget, consider buying used from second hand stores like Second Street or Book Off. You can also buy a surprising number of things from Rakuten.jp or Amazon.co.jp, including big appliances like washing machines and furniture items. If you buy a used washing machine, make sure to clean it because there may be mold growing unseen inside.
IMPORTANT THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW: Figure out how garbage sorting works in your area as soon as possible. Some things can wait, but stinky trash is not one of them. Japan has strict trash sorting and disposal rules. Learn what categories to separate your trash into, as well as where and when to dispose of it. Ask other ALTs or your supervisor for help if you can’t find the necessary information. If your apartment/house has different trash rules than your general area (for example, if it uses a private collection company), you should be told this as part of your apartment information, but it doesn’t hurt to double check if you aren’t sure.
Do not throw out any documents you receive in your first month, including by mail. Some things are difficult to replace, and you don’t want to accidentally lose or toss something important like your My Number card. If you can’t read something, ask someone at your school, your supervisor, or a Japanese-speaking fellow ALT to help.
IMPORTANT EVENTS IN AUGUST
There are three important events in August. The first is the anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki, which happens on August 9th. There are memorial ceremonies held all over Nagasaki for the victims of the atomic bomb. Most likely if you are at work you will attend a peace assembly at your school. Please wear appropriate attire. It is possible you will be expected to introduce yourself in front of the full student body of your school on that day, so confirm with your supervisor if that is going to happen and prepare accordingly.
The second important event in August is Obon holiday. You get three days off of work for Obon. You may be able to decide when in August you take these days, or it may be assigned for you, likely to the second week of the month (around August 14th-17th). If you want to take a trip during Obon, plan it as early as possible, but not before confirming when you can take your three Obon vacation days.
The third important event is Welcome Orientation. In a normal year we would hold the Welcome Orientation in person in Nagasaki City during August. Currently due to the corona virus Welcome Orientation is being held online. If you are ever required to travel to Nagasaki city for work, you will be reimbursed for transportation and accommodation. We have handy guides on this website for how to get to Nagasaki and where to stay. If you have questions, you can always ask other ALTs for their advice and recommendations.
WHAT ABOUT WORK?
Other than all those bureaucratic hoops, you will most likely have very little “work” work during your first week, or even your first month. August is summer vacation for Japanese schools, so you won’t have classes to teach. However, you may have to teach or help out at a summer language-learning program, like a half-day English Camp for elementary school 5th and 6th years, or an all-day English Camp for junior high school students. These are usually low-stress and at least a little bit fun. The academic semester resumes in September.
During August, when you’re done with all your move-in paperwork, school visits and introductions, and English camps, you will have a lot of free time.
First, you should finish and perfect your self-introduction presentation. If you have a lot of schools, be prepared to give it about 40+ times in your first month or two. Next, take advantage of your free time to get used to your school(s). Get to know the names of all the teachers, not just your JTEs. Read the textbooks and learn the curriculum. Make your first English board. Study Japanese. Learn the layout of your school. Read up on teaching theory. Explore the materials your pred left you, if any. Make sure any questions you have about teaching, living in Japan, your apartment, expectations at school, etc. are answered. If you need prescription medication, find a doctor and get that taken care of. Be proactive about mental health, especially if you feel lonely or experience culture shock. And relax! August and September have some of the hottest days of the year, so settle in, take it easy a little, and don’t get heat stroke. Good luck!
Sample self introductions: (see Studying Japanese for pronunciation help)
Simple: [name] です。[place name] から来ました。よろしくお願いします。
[name] desu. [place name] kara kimashita. yoroshiku onegaishimasu.Advanced: [name]と申します。[place name]から来ました。
みなさまといっしょにおしごとができることを光栄に思います。
多くの方々とお知り合いになれることを楽しみにしております。
どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
[name] to moushimasu. [place name] kara kimashita.minasamato isshoni oshigotoga dekirukotowo koueini omoimasu.
ookuno katagatato oshiriaininarerukotowo tanoshiminishiteorimasu.
douzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.