Dayle Kern
daylekern@hotmail.com
Chances are pretty good that you already know me (otherwise I would like to know how you found this page, you sneaky and unknown person, you!), but just in case you've forgotten, my name is Dayle. Although I'm originally from the city of Huntsville in Sweet Home Alabama (a place that may cause a little culture shock on its own) I moved to Japan in August, 2002 (now we're talking about major culture shock). Since I didn't study Japanese culture or language in college, I managed to fit my only preparation for moving here in the summer between graduating and moving here: a nine-week-twelve-credit-intensive-course in beginning Japanese. With only that under my belt, I boarded a plane for eighteen hours and arrived in Japan: my new home for two years.
My position here is known as an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher). Basically I help certified Japanese teachers teach English in middle schools. This can mean a variety of things, from teaching classes on my own to merely repeating vocabulary words over and over and over and over in my lovely American accent (which, fortunate enough for my students, isn't too Alabamian). There are a few other responsibilities that come with my job that range from appearing at certain events as The Foreigner, to teaching anyone from age 5 to 90 about American culture and English.
So far, living and working in Japan has proven to be an invaluable experience for me. I have learned a lot about cultural understanding (and misunderstanding), and I have gained the patience that is necessary when no one clues you into what is going on. A few days before I moved here my mother asked me "So, right now, do you regret it?" to which I replied "yes." Why? Because I felt that I could have taken a two year commitment in a location that needed my help more, like a Peace Corps position. Instead I had signed up to teach English to the children of a very business focused nation. I thought that maybe I should have been... I don't know, working with less advantaged kids in a poorer nation. As it turns out, however, the area of Japan that I live in is so rural and sees so few foreigners that I don't regret my decision to come here (first world nation or not), and I feel that the cultural exchange has been very rewarding. I hadn't imagined it to be so necessary in Japan.
So look around the site a little bit. If you have any questions feel free to email me.
Enjoy!
