Glossary

"Janken", also sometimes called "jankenpon", is the Japanese term for rock-paper-scissors.

Janken is used to resolve virtually all disputes among children in Japanese schools. The win-lose system is identical to the western system:

rock > scissors > paper > rock

Sometimes children will refer to each individual hand motion as follows:

• Rock = Guu
• Scissors = Choki
• Paper = Paa

How it's (usually) done:

1. Players start by chanting together, "Saisho wa guu" (最初はぐう) (Starting with stone) and pump their fists in time.
2. The players then quickly scream, "Janken pon!" (じゃん拳ぽん！). On "pon" both players show their opponent "Guu", "Choki" or "Paa" with their hand.
3. If there is a draw, both players chant "Aiko desho!" (あいこでしょ！), and on the "sho!" both players show their hands again.

Variations:

• Osaka janken:
  • "Osaka janken, janken pon!" The loser is the winner...because Osaka has to be a rebel and do everything opposite of Tokyo.
• Guu-paa-choki, choki-paa-guu, hoi!
  • Large groups will usually either compete against the leader/teacher, or compete in smaller pairs first.
  • Another large-group variation is "Oooi na hou wa nukete ikou!" (Leave out the majority), in which everyone throws out rock/paper/scissors on "ikou" and the majority is "out". This is typically used when deciding who will be "It" when playing tag.

The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme; also commonly used to refer to a person currently participating in the program.

Japanese Language Proficiency Test.

This is an exam designed for non-native speakers of Japanese to measure their abilities. The exam consists of five levels; N5 is the lowest and N1 is the highest. In general, each level has sections for vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension, and listening comprehension, though the distribution of questions and duration of each section vary.

Certification for Levels N2 and N1 are considered advantageous when applying for jobs that require Japanese language ability.

In Japan, it is offered twice per year, in July and in December.

http://www.jlpt.jp/e/index.cgi

The purpose of Job Training is to provide ALT(s) the knowledge and skills necessary to lead successful language study and English language activities. Newly arrived ALTs will have the chance to develop lessons on their own and receive constructive critiques from sempai ALTs, and in exchange sempai ALTs can gain fresh ideas for their own lessons.

In addition, sempai ALTs can share their knowledge by giving lectures on pedagogical techniques, leading tutorials on activity ideas, hosting panels and discussions on various topics regarding the improvement of lessons and working in a Japanese school environment, and fostering the development of effective teaching materials through workshops.

Attendance and appropriate dress code are mandatory. Job Training is held for 2 full work days during the summer holidays in August, so the dress code is cool biz. It has traditionally been held at the KEC, but some years at Kobe Gaidai instead.