PA Presentation II: Potential Problems and Coping Strategies

1
PA Presentation II Potential Problems and Coping
Strategies

• ALT Orientation 2006

2
Culture Shock

• It comes and goes and can be particularly strong
  after a few months of being here
• Its not one big shock. Its lots of small ones
• It exacerbates and is exacerbated by other
  problems
• It leads to stress and can affect your behaviour
  and how you interact with others
• You may find yourself having evenings of western
  food and Hollywood movies, or cursing the
  Japanese. Its OK, we recommend it, but remember
  its also you
• Try to recognise it. If you find yourself getting
  angry, ask yourself why?
• Try to strike a balance between Japanese and
  western company

3
Burnout

• Is sometimes linked to culture shock
• Can be caused by change
• Arises when you do too much or have too much on
  your mind. Small things become big. You make
  mountains out of molehills
• Results as a combination of the situation and the
  person
• If things seem to stress you out easily, you may
  be suffering from burnout and/or culture shock

4
Boredom

• Some ALTs experience boredom due to
  under-utilisation. There are many things you can
  do to address this
• Discuss it with your supervisor
• Implement new ideas, get involved outside of
  lessons, start a new club, create new materials,
  learn Japanese
• If you feel you are being seriously
  under-utilised, consult your PA

5
Bureaucracy and The System

• Japanese society is highly bureaucratised
• Your colleagues will generally act as they
  naturally see fit within the society that they
  belong to, and will probably expect the same of
  you
• This means operating within the hierarchically
  organised bureaucratic system that exists in
  Japan
• This will probably cause you some problems and
  stress, as you inevitably will for your
  colleagues
• Remember that they have to follow the procedures
  that they have to follow. Criticising this is
  criticising them for being a normal professional
  in Japan

6
Conflict in the workplace

• You have moved to a country that is culturally
  very different. The rules have changed
• The most common cause of conflict is lack of
  communication and/or understanding
• Try to understand the Japanese work environment
• Try to understand your colleagues as people
• Help your colleagues to understand you
• Be flexible
• Addressing problems when they are small prevents
  them from becoming BIG. They can be resolved,
  often easily
• Consult your PA

7
Human Beings

• We are all human, wherever we are, wherever we
  are from
• We tend to think that we are right
• We generally want to do what we think is right
• We are all individuals and we are all different
• No-one is particularly right. No-one is always
  wrong
• We can stress each other out, whether it has
  something to do with culture or not
• This is part of life and of work. Diplomacy and
  understanding are our best tools for dealing with
  it, with the least stress, and without making
  things worse.

8
Stress Coping Strategies

• Think about and recognise what the problems are
  and where they lie. This is the first step
• Do not react. Take the time to think and respond
• Try to understand where others are coming from
• Learn to live with conflict and/or uncertainty
• Laugh
• Make friends
• Choose your battles
• Dont forget to take care of yourself Eat well,
  exercise, see friends, vent, do the things you
  enjoy, take care of your apartment. Do things in
  moderation. Never neglect yourself
• Consult your PA

9
Support
10
Your Supervisor

• Your direct superior and your first source of
  work-related, school-related and
  apartment-related information
• Your first port of call for issues regarding your
  specific situation
• Quite often, can become your good friend
• Important to communicate
• Is human. May be new to the job May make
  mistakes May be busy

11
Your Regional Advisor (RA)

• Voluntary
• Will help you out with local information
• Will keep in touch with the PAs
• May organise the occasional get together
• Is not expected to help you with personal or
  work-related problems
• May be looking for a successor

12
Your Prefectural Advisors (PAs)

• There are 4 and their job is to help you
• They like their job, so like helping you
• Know the Japanese system, culture and work
  environment Are experienced
• Will always listen to you and try to understand
  you
• Will not necessarily agree with you

13
Your PAs Provide

• Confidential Counselling and Referral
• Consultation
• Training
• Mediation
• Crisis Response and Management Assistance
• Outreach

14
However

• Your PA does not know everything
• A lot of information can be found in your general
  information handbook and on our website. Thats
  what they are there for. Please look before you
  ask
• Does not hold any authority. Cannot tell you or
  your school what to do
• Will not solve your problems for you. Will try to
  help you solve them by yourself
• Will not always agree with you
• Does not want to fix your toaster, tell you how
  to get to Kanazawa or how to use the buttons on
  your flash, new, high-tech, space-age toilet
• Is not your boss. Is a person too
• Does not work evenings and weekends, except
  emergencies

15
CLAIR

• Runs the JET Programme
• Also offers counselling, advice and information
  over a very useful phone line (03-3591-5489),
  900-545, Mon-Fri, in English
• Do not be afraid to call this number
• CLAIR PCs are usually ex-PAs
• Can refer you to other sources of help, including
  professional counsellors

16
Other help

• Tokyo English Life Line (TELL) Phone advice and
  counselling, 900-1600 1900-2300
  (03-5774-0992)
• AJET Peer Support Group Phone counselling at
  night, 2000-800, toll free (0120-437-725)
• Plenty of other numbers in your JET diary

17
Remember

• You are going to have a fantastic time and may
  not ever need any help
• But the support system is always there
• Its much much better to address a problem and get
  it off your chest when its small
• You get out of JET what you put in. Do your best,
  be professional and enjoy!

18
QA

• PA Website www.niigatajet.org