Teaching English in Japan

Recently, I’ve been thinking of teaching English in another country. Thankfully a good education paves the way to this opportunity (meaning I’m not required to take any additional teaching classes, considering I don’t know a thing about being a teacher). So I thought about a place that I think I can have a lot of fun in. Japan.

The only problem is, is that you most likely won’t get a place in the city, and from what I’ve heard, it’s probably unlikely that there’s going to be any placements in Tokyo left. Is it worth it to be in the countryside, completely seperated from everything? I’m not sure, but I’m looking for feedback from anyone who has done a similar program. I’m used to city life, amd would prefer something close to it. I don’t want to go all the way out there and then wish I could run back home.

A Women Studies Note

I’m studying for a women studies midterm that is focused on the interactions of race, class and gender, and how they intersect to generate further inequality. I’m reading “Doing Difference” by Candace West and Sarah Fenstermaker. It’s funny because there is a section that focuses on white middle-class bias on feminist thought. They go on to explain that some feminist work talks about oppression by women who are not oppressed. While reading this, I was thinking that they speak of colored women as though we are completely marginalized in society. I am a young colored woman, however I never think of myself as an oppressed individual affected by the inter-sectional implications of race, class and gender. Perhaps because I’m a second generation Canadian born female. Perhaps the generations before me have paved the way so that individuals such as myself don’t feel the slap of racism, or the glass ceiling of sexism. Perhaps because “class” is no longer defined by your family, but of what you make of yourself, by making your own opportunities and pursuing what you wish. I study women studies, and find that it does not highlight the changes in society, but focuses on how women were traditionally oppressed. I am definitely a feminist, and will always feel the need for change (especially for those who are not as fortunate), but I greatly appreciate my geographic location for alienating me from such damaging oppression, and would like to thank feminists everywhere, because their work (even if it can be repetitive), has obviously been worth it.

Exam Notes…For Students Eyes Only!

Now as most of you may know, in Ontario, it is Exam Season. The worst time in the world for students. Final essays, final exams, all nighters, junk food galore, horrible exam times. I have one tomorrow, and I should be cramming for it, but I have much experience in this department. You see, cheating isn’t usually the most sensible thing to do, you really don’t understand the course material (or can’t remember it), and therefore you barely even get your monies worth. But I do believe in buying time. Anything to give me a little bit more time. We all like this idea, I know it. That’s because the majority of us are procrastinators. We know when our exam is, and we wait, and wait, and wait, and then, oh crap it’s the night before. Well don’t worry my friends, I have excuses that always work:

1. Don’t want to write the exam? Get it deferred. Go to a doctor (I’ll go to a walk in because I don’t want my family doctor to know), and play like you’re sick. Hack up a good cough, and they’ll hopefully write something good on your note. In Ontario, you’ll most likely have to pay between $10-$20 for your note, and then email your teacher telling them that you’re unable to attend the exam due to extreme illness. No worries, also inform them that you have attained a doctor’s note, and that you’re eager to write the exam after your illness has passed. Remember, in the case of exams, be sure to email your prof on the day of the exam or before it. Profs are big jerks about people missing the finals because they have to accommodate them too much. From here, they may say petition it, or they’ll arrange for another date before the exam schedule is over. One way or another, that doctor’s note just saved you. If you’re really lucky, and do petition, you’ll be writing it at the end of the next semester. Booyaa!

2. Did you have an essay that you totally didn’t hand in, and now it’s like a month overdue (final essays)? If you didn’t inform your prof  or T.A’s yet, this will work for you. Study and prepare for your exam, go to it, write it (all the while looking like a hard working student because you’re obviously prepared). When you go to hand in your exam, tell your teacher that you haven’t received your final essay yet. When they search through their pile, and realize they don’t have it, they’ll most likely try to say you didn’t hand it in. Well screw them. You’re going to say, yes you did hand it in. You couldn’t make it to the class because of a doctor’s appointment, so you handed it in to their office (under the door). Ask them if they want to check their office later, and they could email you to let you know they have it. Or the prof may decline to this, so in that case offer to email it again when you get home. Yes, no late penalty, and you got allllll that extra time to write your paper.

These two rules usually work all the time, I’ve used at least one of them like every semester. Good luck, and happy studying!

Tuition in Ontario is B***S***

Now this is one topic that I know inside out. Tuition fees in Ontario. If you go to a post secondary institution in Ontario Canada, you’re bound to be ripped off by high tuition prices. Honestly, it’s horrible. Financial aid is definitely not the best route to take, and if you did initially take it, you’ll find that sooner or later you will be kicked off of it, leaving you absolutely no way to pay for tuition. I had to work full time to pay for school, therefore missing classes, and finding it difficult to keep up. Does this make any sense at all? Why is it that college tuition is practically half of the price of university tuition. On top of it, those kids get out sooner, and get better paying jobs. If you go to university, you basically have to go to grad school (another jump in tuition fees) to even get a good paying job. Having a degree in Ontario is like having a high school diploma. Everyone has one, and it does jacks***! Yes I am a struggling student, and for the last 2 years I have been trying to find ways to fund my education. Working and attending school is difficult, and I don’t have the blessing of some parent paying for all of my education. $2500 every 4 months, in addition to the cost of books (at least $400 a semester) is very costly. This is in addition to credit card bills, transportation, food, the whole deal. I mean when are these institutions going to realize that half of the people attending aren’t even getting their monies worth? We spend all of our time working just so that the word “registered” shows up on the class list. We barely even make it to school. I mean how can we, working around horrible work schedules that refuse to be accommodating, and classes all the way on the other side of the city! I would have been graduated and done if tuition was the same price of college tuition. And I attend one of those schools that believe they’re better than all the rest (and they suck). They have horrible professors, a badly run registrar, and stupid policies (not mentioning any names U of T). All of these struggles for a piece of paper that will barely get me a job to make ends meet. Is it time to give up and drop out? Should I just apply for some entry level job and work my way up, or is it actually worth it to finish school? I mean, I have bills to pay, and getting my education has brought me nothing but hassle and troubles. To top it off, I hate my major. Either tuition prices need to be lowered, or they need to come up with more bursary plans (only like 2 available at my school-I’ve looked hard). Well, I can say one thing for sure, F*** grad school!