Vanessa Connelly:
(Writing 28th June 2007, from Tochigi-ken)
Hello! How are you?

I am a Junior High School ALT, and Ive used the HOMESTAY GAME as posted on your 'Teaching Plans' page. It was a great idea, worked very well and was lots of fun!

I chose to do it in an 2nd grade elective class. It was a good decision because it was a smaller class and those students actually enjoy English. Also, the JTE for that class is a very good teacher who encourages using English instead of just translating.

There were 16 students in the class so I made 4 groups of 4 and gave them 4 problems each. (Thank you for including your 'problems' with the Japanese/English translations because I can be very unimaginative most of the time.) I gave them time to translate using a dictionary and stressed that it doesnt have to be perfect English. The groups kept coming up as soon as they knew what they were going to say and how to present it. I gave them all one point each as soon as I realized what they were saying.

I took your advice and 'acted' as if I was the homestay 'mom' complete with props for EACH problem! (fly swatter for the cockroach, American money, a postage stamp, a birthday card that played music for the party, chopsticks for Japanese food, my camera to take a picture, my cell phone for calling Japan, tape for the broken flower pot, etc.) The best part was when one of the students acted as a cockroach and I pretended to hit him with a fly swatter! The props and my acting definitely helped get the kids excited.

I guess the biggest problem was that not every student was presenting the problem so not everyone got to speak English.

I tried it again with a 3rd grade class. While there were a couple students who had trouble translating some of the more difficult problems, most could easily express what was wrong in simple English using the grammar and vocab that they already knew without too much trouble. The plus here was that each student was able to say one problem. It was a bigger class, so it was a little rushed. We still had fun though.

Thanks for a great game! Kudos!!

Vernon Kusano:
(Writing 6th July 2005, from San Diego)
Yes, I completed the verbal defense and thesis in mid April 05. I will receive my MA diploma sometime next week. Just received the bounded/university published copy of my thesis (The Rise & Fall of Catholicism in Premodern Japan: 1549-1639). I'll be there sometime at the end of next month. Excited to start my business there :)

Griffin:
(Writing 22nd May 2005, from Virginia)
Just found out I'll be joining y'all there in tha K-Q this August.
I just graduated from the College of William and Mary in Virginia as an International Relations major. I've only studied Japanese for a couple of years total, but I studied abroad in Tokyo for a year my junior year, so I can get around alright.
I was excited at first just to hear that I was going to Kyushu (I've never been West of Nara), but after looking at this incredibly helpful website, I'm really excited to meet all of you, and to start my new life as a Kita-Q JET.
Thank you so much!

Vernon Kusano Ragasa:
(Writing 20th January 2005, from San Diego, California)
Hello everyone in Kitakyushu. I am a graduate student and currently completing my MA. Thesis should be done in a few months and will be there sometime fall 05. Going to start a business there. I was born in Kokura and most of all my family live there. After graduating college in 93 I worked for Cross FM for 7 mths. It was a blast! Anyway, here is my temporary homepage http://www.oocities.org/vragasa98/classic_blue.html and email address: vernon.ragasa@gmail.com

Peter: (Oita Prefecture JET)
(Writing 30th August 2004, from New Zealand)
Very cool stuff. Now I definitely won't be overworked.

David Goodwin:
(Writing 27th August 2003, from Toronto, Canada)
As a former ALT from Kitakyushu (96-98) this is a great website. It brings back lots of memories!!!

Lynnebeclu:
(Writing 20th September 2002)
I just loved your site. Your view of living, working and drinking in Japan is so positive! There are lots of bits of very helpful information for the person wanting to live and work in Japan. I am wondering if JETS ever employ any 'mature' teaching staff as you all look so young! I am looking for teaching work in Japan early next year....I am 49 years old with lots of teaching experience. Thanks again for a fantastic site !

Veronica McDonald:
(Writing 30th July 2002, from Winchelsea Vic, Australia)
My niece Catherine McCulloch has arrived in Japan today,it seems she has been taking forever to get there. I am looking forward to hearing all about this new stage in her life.

James P. Wong:
(Writing 27th June 2002, from Southern California)
This site has helped me prepare for my stay in Kitakyushu, as I've been accepted to the programme for the 2002-2003 term :) Keep up the good work! Looking forward to meeting all of you there.

Natalija Cavar:
(Writing 26th May 2002, from Sydney, Australia)
This is just a short note to say your website on Kitakyushu City is fantastic! I have been offered and accepted a place as an ALT in Kitakyushu. The site has answered the majority of my questions and calmed most of my fears. I must admit I was a little nervous and apprehensive after I read the intro, or perhaps bashing, the "Lonely Planet" gives to the City. Thank-you and well done

Laura from A.S.U.:
(Writing 26th March 2002, from New York, New York)
I am an old friend of Joel Baltgalvis. I have been trying to get ahold of him and I found this web site. Two things: if you hear from him, please tell him to email me AND the characterization of him on your website is only partly true-- he's not A nice guy. He is THE nicest guy. I should've gone with him to Japan. lolainthespot@aol.com

Valeria Miranda Nagatomo:
(Writing 29th January 2002, from Brazil)
I really like this site, it's a really good one. I have no suggestions, 'cause there's nothing to get better, that's all i have to say.
[Damn! And I was hoping people would all be desperately interested in adding a live webcam to the site.... Doh.]

Ruari Mears:
(Writing 14th September 2001, from Bristol, England)
My Japanese penpal told me about this site (she lives in Kitakyushu). It is awesome :-D I've never heard of JET before and I've been wanting to come to Japan for a very long time... Mabe I should find out more about this program...
Cheers ;-)

Chris Johnson:
(Writing 31st May 2001, from Minneapolis USA)
My name's Chris Johnson and I'll be coming to Kitakyushu as a new ALT this summer. I just got the packet in the mail yesterday -- lots of great stuff. First let me say thank you for the beautiful web page! It's really helped me feel like I have some idea where I'm headed. I must say it seems as if I've landed in what must be one of the most welcoming JET communities in Japan -- lucky me!

Ian Ruxton:
(Writing 30th May 2001, from Kitakyushu Institute of Technology)
Nice work! Cheers
Ian

Melissa Berwald: (Kitakyushu ALT 2000-2001)
(Writing 2nd March 2001, from right here in Kitakyushu)
Dave, I really appreciate what you do for us re: this site. Thanks. I take a look now and then and really like the teaching plans. They're great! What are we gonna do when you leave??
[Hopefully it'll run on its own from summer of 2001. Hopefully?]

Heidi Schroeder: (Kitakyushu ALT 1999-2000)
(Writing 21st February 2001, from America)
I was cruising the JET webpage and I wanted to say that you did a great job! I was really impressed! And I wanted to let you know that you could update my entry... If you want, of course. I got married last month (it was a small deal), and I moved to Los Angeles... and painstakingly found work in the media. Anyway, I hope you are not getting into too much trouble and that you are still coming up with creative little games every week! I miss y'all.

Rhianon Berry: (Kitakyushu ALT 1998-2000)
(Writing 5th September 2000, from Samara, Russia)
Hi Dave, I thought I would look up the site and see what you have done. I like the hall of fame site with everyone's email. I miss you guys!! Mongolia was excellent! Anyone thinking of going there definitely should. Trans Siberian Railway was an experience and now I am in Samara. It seems my company may be sending me to Kazan in a couple of weeks time to start up the company there. Everything is cool but I am awfully lonely! (boo hoo!) haha so if any of you feel like a trip to Russia drop me a line :-) Catch ya later! Rhianon

John F Carroll:
(Writing 17th July 2000, from New Zealand)
Congratulations on your interesting site. Found it with Fiona when she was home last and have kept an eye on it occasionally since. Now she's heading for NZ - a year has flown.

Stacey Lingman: (Kitakyushu ALT 2000-2002)
(Writing 16th July 2000, from New Zealand)
Your website was really informative. After reading the Lonely Planet guide, I was pretty disheartened about Kitakyushu, but now I have a good idea about the place and the fun ahead, I'm pretty excited about it all. See you guys soon! :))

Dr Adrian Millward:
(Writing 12th July 2000, from Britain)
Nice pages - I was looking it up and have printed it out for the daughter of a friend who is starting on the JET scheme this year but not in Kitakyushu.

Chad Ericson: (Kitakyushu ALT 1998-1999)
(Writing 3rd July 2000, from America)
Good to see the web site is still up and runnning. What happens after year #3 for you though? My home stay mom told me that you would be sticking around for another year. that's great! Hope everyone I know is doing well. Let all of the ALTs ad Tokuhisa know I said hi. Take Care, Chad

Adam Stott: (Kitakyushu ALT 1999-2001)
(Writing 27th April 2000, from right here in Kitakyushu)
I've had a spot of trouble printing off some of your teaching plans David. I've tried 3 different printers at 2 different schools. The right side of the page always gets cut off. Am I being stupid or something? [problem now fixed]

Julie Ann Kirby: (Ofunato-shi, Iwate-ken ALT 1999-2000)
(Writing 18th July 1999, from Iwate-ken)
Friend of Ellen's. Hope to meet some of you!

Rhianon Berry: (Kitakyushu ALT 1998-2000)
(Writing 12th July 1999, from right here in Kitakyushu)
HELLO!!! Just checking out the page and I noticed noone had signed your beautiful guestbook David-o so I thought I would : -). Smiles!!! Love ME