Gifu Links...
![[Jeffrey]](jeffrey.jpg)
...a la Others.
Jeffrey's shortlist of useful links: personally tested and highly recommended for anyone in, on, or around Gifu.
I use these resources constantly, and I have a pretty nice life here. Of course, I cannot guarantee YOU a nice life
merely by following these links, but it could set you off on the right foot. Of course, as with all things in life,
please use at your own risk:
Top Two Helpful Links a la Others:
- Kikuko's Nagoya/Gifu Area Events Calendar
Stop missing all the amazing cultural, musical, and mercantile opportunities
this area has to offer just because your lame friends don't pay attention
to anything outside their keitai. No one knows like Kikuko knows...
- www.hyperdia.com
Hyperdia: Simply the best resource for Train Timetables in English.
Informational Links a la Others:
- Yahoo Weather: Detailed 5-day Forecast for Gifu
Predicting weather in Japan even from hour to hour is notoriously difficult, and most Japanese sites don't seem willing to take the gamble beyond one day out. This site gives 5 days of detailed weather, updated constantly. If you check it daily, you will have a pretty decent picture of what to expect.
- Google Maps Japan
Accessing Google Maps through this link will drop you in on the map of Japan with both kanji and romaji displayed for prefectures, cities, wards, and towns (other geographical features and details are displayed only in kanji). All the usual Google Maps features are at your command, including detailed layouts of city blocks, overhead satellite photos, and ambulatory street photos. If you can enter addresses in kanji you can pinpoint anything, and you can search for cities and train stations using romaji fairly reliably. Unfortunately, romaji searches for exact address locations tend to be more miss than hit, so if someone hands you an address written in kanji, try the AU Navi Maps just below.
- AU Navi Maps
All in Japanese, this site is perfect for those times you are given an address written only in kanji because it breaks up the search in sections, presenting you with a list of options by region first, then prefecture, then city, then area, then block number, narrowing the search items at each step. With this hunt-and-peck method you don't have to actually enter any kanji, making it surprisingly easy to find the address even for beginners.
- Daily Yomiuri Online
My favorite way to keep up with the local news in Japan. Seems to offer fairly balanced reporting and doesn't suffer from the foreigner-biased-perspective that tends to poison other English sources of local news.
- AP News (US) and Reuters News (UK)
For World news that is a little less biased and a lot less cluttered, why not go straight to the source.
- Currency Exchange Rates
Lately, predicting the vicissitudes of currency is nearly as difficult as predicting the weather but with arguably much higher stakes. Check here periodically for a convenient way to keep track of your incidental international pay raises/cuts and get the most out of your international money transfers.
Medical Links a la Others:
- Gifu Medical Facility Search Portal and the Multilingual Medical Questionnaire
If you find yourself needing medical attention and don't know where to go, this search portal will help you find the right doctor in the right place at the right time, and even help you locate a doctor that speaks your own language. While you are making arrangements for medical care, make sure you are both on the same page by printing and filling out one of these Multilingual Medical Questionnaires. In fact, while you are here with some time to kill, why don't you print these out right now and keep copies at work and at home so they are there for you in an emergency.
- Kamo Shika Dental Clinic
Even in childhood, I have always had a sort of paranoia concerning trauma to my, admittedly slightly less than perfect, teeth. So, I am very choosy about who gets to tinker on them with metal instruments. Here in Japan I have heard of many, and have nearly had my own, disturbing experiences with poorly equipped, non-communicative dentists with outdated training. The truth about dentistry in Japan is that with our national health insurance we have very reasonable access to state-of-the-art dental care. It's just unlikely to be found in the grungy old chair of your local grandfather-of-a-friend-of-the-friend-to-all-foreigners. It is much more likely to be found in the fantastically equipped new offices of the well trained younger generation of dentists. If you are willing to travel for top-notch dental care, I can highly recommend this dentist in Minokamo. He has been cleaning and repairing my fragile and precious teeth for the past several years, and has given excellent service to several other ALTs from all over Gifu Prefecture. His English isn't perfect, but what makes me so comfortable with him is that he is a great communicator. He actively checks the dictionary, draws pictures, and gestures to make sure you clearly understand what is wrong and what work will be done before proceeding. He even has a mini-camera and touch screen display so that he can take pictures of your teeth and show you exactly what is going on in there. He is also very good about answering your questions and checks if everything is okay throughout the procedure. His office is beautifully designed by a local architect, outfitted with marvellous equipment, and he uses up-to-date techniques with modern materials. He does not use Mercury in tooth repair. For fillings on the visible front teeth he usually uses white composite resin, which requires only one visit. For the heavy-duty back teeth he uses solid silver, requiring up to three visits: (1) to prepare the tooth, take impressions for the mold, and fill with temporary plastic, (2) to fit and install the cast-silver filling, (3) and possibly to check and adjust the biting surface to maintain proper alignment. If you are coming in from far away this can add up, but keep in mind that multiple visits are the norm in Japan for most procedures (and logistically necessary for procedures involving solid-cast fillings), and that the costs for the work itself are shockingly cheap because of our national health insurance coverage. For travelers he has been very agreeable to performing things like dental cleaning in a single visit instead of the usual four (one quadrant at a time...), so just be sure to discuss the issue during the initial consultation. I still go to him even though I now live an hour away, and I am not the only ALT who has found his service worth such a trip. Conveniently, he is located just north of Kobi Station (one stop past Minoota on the JR Takayama Line) not far from Highway 41, with evening and Saturday hours.
- Ito Chiropractic
Regular physical tune-ups a la chiropractor have helped keep me lively, fit, and youthful for the past decade, and they could probably help you too. Unfortunately, chiropractors are not all created equal, and the lack of sufficient regulation here in Japan does not always inspire confidence. Intending to stay graceful and beautiful forever, I am extremely picky about choosing my healthcare professionals, and this chiropractor passed my rigorous personal screening with flying colors. Dr. Ito studied and practiced for several years in the US, graduating from the original Palmer College of Chiropractic, and is a fully US licensed Doctor of Chiropractic. Further, he uses a very soft method of chiropractic adjustment that I have found to be more effective on me than the usual pop-pop-neck-twist sort of thing common back home, which might especially appeal to any of you first-timers. He speaks perfectly and idiomatically fluent English, has a very comfortable table-side manner, is very conveniently located just north of Kanayama Station off Highway 19 in Nagoya with evening and Saturday hours, and charges less for all this than you would expect to pay back home.
- Acupressure Online
ALTs often complain about experiencing stress and stress-related health problems from the tense interplay between the high cultural expectations and low workplace expectations placed on their positions. Here is one very simple way to relax and stay centered in the face of such a paradox. Take a few moments of that tedious downtime in the office to quietly self-apply a little acupressure where you need it most to work out tension, headaches, anxiety, hangovers, indigestion, kaze,... These easy to follow, illustrated step-by-step guides can help put you on the path to a healthier and ultimately more productive life.
Psychological Links a la Others:
Lifestyle Links a la Others:
- Living in Gifu Guidebook
Invaluable information on all the details of going about the daily business and the not-so-daily business (emergencies, getting married, having babies, dying, getting a pension,...) of life in Gifu. Complete with important addresses, phone numbers, reference tables, and in bilingual format (Japanese content faces matching English content), these PDF pages are easy to print out as a bilingual reference that can help keep everyone on the same page while navigating the issues of Real-Life in Japan.
- CLAIR Multilingual Living Information
A comprehensive, detailed, multilingual guide to living in Japan. This seems to have more information and in more languages than the Gifu-specific guide above, though unfortunately the format makes it slower to load, more complicated to navigate, and difficult to print out. It also lacks the local contact information found in the local guide. But if you can't find what you are looking for in the local guide, or need information in a language other than English, this should be your next stop.
- Gifu JETs Website
The articles here are a great resource not only for JET Programme Participants, but for anyone teaching English in Japan. And in the Downloads Section you can find some great Gifu Regional Guides and Living Guides, including the comprehensive Arrival/Departure Guidebooks for anyone coming to or leaving Japan for the first time.
- Being A Broad
Both informative and positive at the same time, Caroline Pover provides a well-balanced diet of advice specially formulated for foreign women living in Japan.
- Warabe Mura Wholefoods
Did you know that there is an organic whole foods store right here in Gifu-ken? If you live in the Chuno area, stop by their storefront in Tomika. Otherwise, check out their online English catalogue and place an order.
- Alishan Organic Center / Tengu Natural Foods
If you can't find an item or particular brand you want at Warabe Mura Wholefoods (or if you live over in Eastern Japan), then give this organic grocer up in Saitama a try.
- FBC: The Foreign Buyers Club
Finally, if you really need a product or US brand (ranging from popular processed crap to 100% natural organics) that you just can't find anywhere in Japan, this is the place to go. The Deli keeps a variety of fresh foods in stock locally, shipped from Kobe within a week. The General Store has a surprisingly wide-ranging stock of items shipped directly from the USA within a month. Prices are quite reasonable, and shipping is shockingly low at less than ¥1,000 for most orders regardless of size.
- No.1 Travel
From 14 day treks across 4 countries, to last-minute family emergency flights back home, I have never found better service or cheaper fares. Never. If you are making travel plans, forget about spending hours on www.wasteyourtraveltime.com and call the Nagoya office of No.1 Travel. They will find the best discount plans possible and handle it all over the phone and by fax (including cheap, convenient travel insurance), and all in English.
- The Nightclub Scene a la Ashley
Going out on the town? Let Ashley guide you to some of the best venues in Nagoya and Gifu. And yes, I did say Gifu. Believe it or not, one of my favorite nightclubs is the very hip B's Cafe right here in the downtown Yanagase area of Gifu City. Unfortunately, Ashley has been away from us for some time now, so some information may be past its freshness-date. Please double-check the details before heading out the door.
- The Nagoya Players
Whether you join them in the audience at one of their Spring/Fall shows, or backstage as an actor, stage crew, or production crew, come give a hand in more than 30 years of English-language community theatre here in Nagoya.
Educational Links a la Others:
- Teacher Training & Professional Development
If you are thinking of getting serious about teaching, want to network with other English teachers in the area, or just need some new tools in your ALT-kit, there are plenty of local opportunities waiting for you:
- The Archipelago Group is an exciting newcomer on the scene focused on creating Academic Wa or harmony between Japanese Teachers of English (JTEs) and Foreign Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) through joint practical training workshops and idea-development retreats. So grab a co-worker and come be part of a revolution...
- ETJ Aichi specializes in workshops for teachers of young-learners. So if you work with small children, this is the group for you. They host about 6 workshops per year on Sunday mornings at Chukyo University (Nagoya Campus in the Yagoto area).
- JALT Gifu is the local chapter of the national JALT organization with a focus on professional development and plenty of opportunities for training, networking, presenting, and publishing. There is something here for everyone, and you may find this group especially useful if you are in or interested in the university teaching scene. They host about 8 workshops per year on Saturday evenings in Heartful Square (east end of Gifu JR station).
- Power Seminars brings you the latest ideas from the most dynamic local speakers, presenting it all to you in extended, intensive workshops.
- Communicative English: A Practical Guide
Probably the most comprehensive guide available as to what the Gifu Board of Education expects of its ALTs, JTEs, and English Education in general, recommendations on how to reach these expectations, troubleshooting guides for when things go awry, and a host of resources to help you on the way. So if you ever find yourself wandering, wondering why you are here, this is a good place to go to find your bearings and set your course. And when you have found your way, widen and deepen your understanding of the being of ALT-ness even further with The New ALT Handbook (Part 1) and (Part 2), edited and compiled by Ben Shearon at the Miyagi BOE.
- Eigo Note 1 (Grade 5) and Eigo Note 2 (Grade 6) lesson plans in English
Though it is something of a mystery why English translation was left out of Kairyudo's printed Eigo Note Manuals, please allow me to point out two unlooked-for benefits of the situation. First, it encourages Foreign ALTs and Japanese HRTs to follow the superficially difficult but profoundly rewarding path of collaboration. Second, it means that the official English versions of the publisher's lesson plans ended up freely available in a much more useful medium: editable downloads in Microsoft Word (.doc) format. Get 'em while they're hot!
And while you are at it... for a steady supply of supplemental materials and ideas for team-teaching with Eigo Note, check out the Eigo Note ESL Blog (in English 英語) and point your HRTs to its companion 英語ノートのブログ (in Japanese 日本語).
- English Vocabulary Picture Cards
Free downloadable PDFs from Obunsha's Happy Lab: colorful, clear and simple picture cards with English text at the bottom in lots of categories, lots of sizes (A4 / mini / mini-mini), and lots of useful layouts (bingo / interview / quiz). The site is in Japanese, so a little help from a co-worker will ensure things go smoothly for downloading and printing (and probably using!), but even with no assistance or kanji skills you should be able follow the pictures and big red download buttons well enough to get what you want. And if you don't find what you want here, go try a Google Clip Art Search.
- Grammar and Diagramming Sentences
Ok, though I have no reasonable idea why, I know that diagramming sentences fell out of fashion (and most educational programs) long before many of you were even born. But if you have ever wondered why I am so quick on the draw when it comes to answering obscure grammar questions, it is because I diagrammed sentences for fun as a child. Seriously. And I've got Gertrude Stein on my side, Baby. Anyway, it is not too late for those of you who were deprived as schoolchildren by your so-called "modern" educational system to pick up this invaluable skill and pass it on to your English students in some form or other. So put down your crosswords or sudoku grids and try your hand at puzzling out some grammar. You might be surprised just how interesting it really is...
In the meantime, while you are diligently improving your mastery of Basic Patterns and Complex Constructions through sentence diagramming, should you be presented with any grammatical puzzles or paradoxes beyond your current skill level, please check out their amazingly comprehensive Guide to Grammar and Writing. And before composing an email to tell me off about my grammarian elitism, please feel free to consult their equally comprehensive Principles of Composition.
- Web Tools for Students
A collection of online tools to help students' English study and projects.
- Web Development Tools
A collection of online resources to aid your web development projects.
- Project Gutenberg
Find yourself with a lot of time on your hands? Then catch up on some reading. And if there is a dearth of reading material in your apartment, then turn to the wealth of classic reading to be had for free from Project Gutenberg. This is an archive of free e-texts compiled from the vast quantities of books that have fallen with time into the public domain. New material is being added constantly, so keep checking back if you don't find what you are looking for.
- Bartleby: Great Books Online
If Gutenberg doesn't have what you are looking for, or you if are looking for something to be found in an Anthology or Reference Material of the sort that libraries never seem to let you take home, this is the place for you: tons of published Reference Materials all freely browseable online.
- Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
Do your students or colleagues frequently pester you to explain some of the strange, absurd, or archaic phrases littering the English language? The problem is that for every such phrase there seems to be at least ten even more ridiculous and highly suspicious explanations floating around. Search here for a studied and comprehensive background check on these common offenders.
- The Free Dictionary
This is the dictionary/thesaurus to which I turn when I need definitions or synonyms for English words. It is free, comprehensive, and complete (some other online dictionaries abridge their free content). It can also conveniently cross-reference several specialized dictionaries or even Wikipedia without leaving the site or retyping the search terms.
- Online Etymology Dictionary
The multitude of meanings accompanying most English words lays out between us a field full of landmines and buried treasures. To use a word in all its glory without blowing yourself up, it helps to understand the history behind where it came from and how and when all of its different meanings developed. Here is a free, convenient etymological roadmap to help you navigate as you use and teach the English language. Though this isn't as complete, extensive, researched, or revered as the Oxford English Dictionary, it is carefully compiled and cross-referenced from such respectable sources, and it's free, which makes it categorically as well as significantly quantitatively cheaper than the OED.
- Wikipedia
Though not reliable enough to be an authority for academic research on its own, Wikipedia is so convenient and comprehensive that it should always be your launch pad for conducting any extensive online research campaign. In addition to providing highly relevant bibliographical links for further research, it provides plenty of background information and related terms for developing more effective search criteria for use in Google or Yahoo.
And you may not realize this, but Wikipedia can also function loosely as a multilingual translator. Whenever I have trouble communicating something that is not found or sufficiently covered in a bilingual dictionary, I look it up on Wikipedia in English, check the languages list on the left side-bar for Japanese (日本語), and use that as the starting point for discussion.
Japanese Links a la Others:
- Computing in Japanese
The first step to a modern life involving Japanese is getting your computer functionally literate in the Japanese Characters. So start here with these comprehensive and thorough installation guides:
- Jim Breen's WWWJDIC
A massive, comprehensive, and well-established online Japanese-English dictionary. Offers tons of different ways to hone in on your target, be it a Japanese word, English translation, or elusive Kanji character. There is even a portal site in case your computer does not have Japanese fonts installed, and links you can use for accessing the site from your mobile phone (which I do quite often).
- Rikai
This truly amazing web portal is perfect for anyone who wants to read Japanese content in the original language, but with an assistant ready at hand for instant translations of unknown words. Just insert a website URL (or copy/paste some selected text) into the input box and hit GO. You will then be browsing through the Rikai portal with your mouse transformed into a tireless translation assistant. As you move the mouse over the page, the translator will actively target blocks of text it recognizes as words and instantly popup with the kana reading and English meaning (including a breakdown of individual kanji in compounds). There is also a reverse portal your Japanese friends can use that translates English words into Japanese. For those of you who are advancing in your Japanese language skills, this is a good way to easily and confidently browse content and glean information in Japanese without having to sort through the often humorous linguistic garbage that tends to come out of full-translation portals like Yahoo Babel Fish or Google Language Tools, which are nonetheless useful for those with no Japanese skills whatsoever.
- Tae Kim's Japanese Guide to Learning Japanese Grammar
Well, this guide is not actually written in Japanese (it's English), but it tries to teach you Japanese from the ground up, so to speak. It starts with the very basics, and explains them from a perspective within the Japanese language rather than through comparison to a secondary language. From there it shows you all the ways in which those basic components can be arranged into larger, more complex constructions. A very enlightening method of studying the Japanese language, and a perfect match for anyone who has ever diagrammed sentences for fun.
- Reviewing the Kanji
THE companion website for anyone following James W. Heisig's Remembering the Kanji method in their study of Kanji meanings and writings. I used this method to get down the basic meanings and writings of the entire 2000+ Jouyou General Use Kanji in 6 months of focused study. This website lets you store your individual kanji notes as well as share them and view others'. It also sets an efficiently organized, online flashcard review schedule to maximize learning time.
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