JITCO

In the afternoon, I took trainees to the town hall for alien registration, then walked around to show them the post office, the bank, and the stores where they can buy daily necessities in Tsuwano Town.  I also showed them some rich, natural environment such as mountains and rivers.  I am anticipating that adjustment to the area might be stressful since this is not an ideal location for young people.

Japanese Practice. "Where am I?" "What do you sell?" "What are you doing?" etc.
Just reading the textbook and unable to improvise.  All three of them do not think deeply and say "I don't know" immediately.  Am I rushing too much?  Is my teaching not adequate?

Review based on yesterday's lesson.  Cannot get in the groove.  Think about it, there is nobody advanced in the group.  All three are at the same level.  Nobody's pulling the group.  We cannot move forward.  We need to change the study methods.

From today, trainees are included in the factory work in the morning.  A technical intern is assigned to each trainee and assists in training.
Review in Japanese.  Practiced numbers, months, and days of the week.

Continuation from yesterday in practical training.
Started practicing conversations in Japanese.  In self-introduction, everyone just repeated  "when I came to Japan".  They aren't improving, but that's the way.  Just remember how long it took us to be able to greet in Chinese.  Be patient.

Practical Training. Ms. A: Mainly sewing pockets. Ms. B: cutting holes and attaching name tags.
Japanese: We worked hard!  They understood well.  "Where am I?" "Who are you?" "I am . " "My family is ." etc.

Training on our usual trunks and knit production until 16:00.  From 16:00, an hour of training in knit goods after being assigned to tasks.
Ms. A: I would like her to complete attaching arms to jackets.
Ms. B: Shaving shoulders and attaching arms to jackets.  She's familiar with jacket production.  She can expand her area to work on.
Ms. C: sewing around the collar.

I have been wondering why the front pattern of the jacket doesn't match up.  The trainees have good skills, but they never had formal training.  I instruct them but they would say "In China, this is ok" and don't try to change.  They end up telling me Japanese should do it their way.  I wasn't able to provide clear answers.  But I found out that the methods are different in China and Japan.  I figured out what makes the finish of the product so different.  Today, I was able to explain why to Chinese trainees and Japanese employees and everyone understood.  The trainees also understood.  I told them to say what I said when Chinese workers ask them the same question once they go back to China.  I feel so relieved.

It's been XX months.  Everyone's getting used to the lifestyle here.  I don't see as many "I feel lonely" comments in their diaries.  The weather's been nicer and the flowers around the factory have started to bloom.  Everyone's in a better mood.  Their Japanese is getting much better.  It is getting a lot easier to talk with them.  The trainees seem to have no problem talking to the employees at the factory.  Our pace is good.

Themed as "Tsuwano's cultural exchange", trainees enjoyed mochi-tsuki.  They also made rolled sushi.  We all had lunch together.  Self-introductions and questions.  Everyone was smiling.  I went to the observatory with the trainees who were interested.  We took a group picture.

Since trainees have been writing diaries as a part of their language training, they have become more talkative while shopping.  "What are we going to buy?" "What's for dinner tonight?" "What kind of bento did you buy?" Trainees were asking questions to interns.  Everyone is required to write an entry every day.  My wife checks them when I am not around.  I taught her where to check, and asked her to check them everyday.