English conversation – Describing feelings – Happiness

Expressing your feelings is a great way to let others know how you feel about many different things.

Happiness:

There are many words and ways to express happiness. I  will try my best to explain different ways of expressing happiness.

It was nice talking to you. (Said when departing from someone)

It’s like a dream come true. (Something you didn’t think would happen)

I’m getting teary-eyed.(Watching something or experienced something emotional)

I’ll never forget about this. (Positive: Something amazing happened. Negative: Something terrible happened.)

I’m honored. (Someone, or people show great respect)

I’m touched.(Similar to ‘I’m honored’ but showing more emotion)

I’m having a ball. (When having a lot of fun)

 

Please note that this is all generalised and personal opinion. Other time when learning English you’ll pick up different ways to say things, words and slang that not included in here.

Let me know in the comments below. Which is more common in your country. Which one you didn’t know and if there are more to add!

Tia

English conversation:- Introduction and getting to each other (part 2)

Part 2 has more questions to ask when getting to know each other.

‘How old are you?’

I’m ___ [years old].

*Sometimes asking someone age can be rude. So please take into consideration cultural differences.

Here are some more questions and replies.

‘When it your birthday?’

My birthday is ___.

We are the same age!

You look younger!

You are [one] year younger / older then me.

Asking about your job

‘What do you do?’

*This is not a common way to ask between two native English speakers. As there is no ‘topic’.  Here are some ways to ask.

‘What do you do for work?’

‘What is you work?’

I’m a ___.

Here are some more questions to ask if you are curious about the other person job.

‘Do you like you job?’

‘Is your work close to where you live?’

‘How long have you been working there?’

Asking about the person studies

‘Are you studying at the moment?’

‘Did you go university?’

‘What did you study?’

I’m studying ___.

I studied ___. [past]

Yes, I went to the University of [name of university].

Want to know more

‘What is your major?’

‘What year do you finish you studies?’

‘When did you finished studying?’

Asking about family

‘What do you [parents] do for work?’

My mum is a ___ and my dad works as a ___.

‘Do you have any siblings?’

Yes I have [one] brother / sister.

‘Do you have any pets?’

 

Please note that this is all generalised and personal opinion. Other time when learning English you’ll pick up different ways to say things, words and slang that not included in here.

Let me know in the comments below. Which is more common in your country. Which one you didn’t know and if there are more to add!

Tia

English conversation:- Introduction and getting to each other (part 1)

Introducing yourself is simple and shouldn’t over complicate it.

My name is ___.

I’m ___.

‘What should I call you?’

(What should I call you?) This is not common to say between two native English speakers. Just ask,

What is your name?

You can also compliment the person name. *You don’t have to do this, but you happen to like the person name and what to tell them. Here are some ways.

*How do you spell your name?

Getting to know the person

‘Where are you from?’

I’m from ___.

‘Where do you come from?’

(Where do you come from?) This is also another not so common question asked between two native English speakers.

If you wanting to know more information where the person is from. Here are some questions and replies.

‘Which part of (country name) are you from?’

I’m from ___.

‘Where do you live now?’

On the same topic, you can also ask the person if they live by themselves or with someone.

‘Do you live by yourself?’

Yes i live by myself

Here are some other questions you can ask too.

‘Do you live in a apartment or house?’

I live in a ___.

Please note that this is all generalised and personal opinion. Other time when learning English you’ll pick up different ways to say things, words and slang that not included in here.

Let me know in the comments below. Which is more common in your country. Which one you didn’t know and if there are more to add!

Tia.

English conversation:- Showing appreciation and using yes or no

Showing appreciation can be done in many forms e.g flowers, gifts, letters and etc but from a personal opinion saying ‘Thank you’ verbally is heart-warming. Here are some examples

Responding

‘Don’t mention it’ <-> When using this phrase take care when saying it. When responding say the phrase light-heartedly. If saying ‘Don’t mention it’ in a strict, upset or angry tone. The meaning of this phrase changes.

Sorry

Slang – soz, soz mate, sorry mate
*Casually

Responding with yes, no or not sure

Please note that this is all generalised and personal opinion. Other time when learning English you’ll pick up different ways to say things, words and slang that not included in here.

Let me know in the comments below. Which is more common in your country. Which one you didn’t know and if there are more to add!

Tia.

Greetings and starting a conversation - English learners

These break down are my personal opinion. Different people and countries may use it differently. But this is general break down.

Saying hi and bye,

*Slang – G’day, Hey mate, Yo, Hiya, Sup

Nice to meet you

It’s a pleasure meeting you too

A person opinion. Saying ‘Nice to meet you’ online sounds strange. Why? Because typically you have not met the person yet in person.

In person

Nice to meet you

Nice to meet you too

*Standard

Nice to meet you

It’s a pleasure meeting you too

*Formal

Meeting someone again

Replying back

*Slang – imma alright, imma doing well mate, imma hella tried, so devo atm

 

Please note that this is all generalised and personal opinion. Other time when learning English you’ll pick up different ways to say things, words and slang that not included in here.

Let me know in the comments below. Which is more common in your country. Which one you didn’t know and if there are more to add!

Tia.

The honest truth | Moving overseas | New job | And more

For a while i have been putting off this topic. But I decided that sharing my experience can help others and give you an insight into my life.

Nearly 5 months ago I applied for a job, not having any experience in that particular field. I was offered a position and had to leave asap. I took the offer because honestly why not?! I was only 21 years old and didn’t have any ‘real hard life’ experiences. So i packed my suitcase and left for Japan.

A lot has happened during my stay and honestly it’s 50/50. A lot of shit has happened but also some amazing experiences as well. But nothing prepared me for the cold hard feelings of isolation that i was going to endure and still endure today. Many won’t know that i cried myself to sleep most nights or that i would just sleep all day. But the people close to me have been the best support group. When going through hard times and changes.

I threw myself into the deep end. Moving to a new country, moving into an apartment by myself, paying bills for the first time, budgeting money and remembering to feed myself. This all took me by suprise and then adding isolation when living in the country side of Japan. It all added up so fast. Realising how much growing up i had to do. Because I was still a child in my mind set and i didn’t know a things about adulthood.

My once depression that i dealt with. Hit back and most people would say go and get a hobby, explore and etc. But after doing that a couple of times, i started to feel lonely. Sure overal going to the park, zoo and etc is always a nice experience but it’s also nice to share those same experiences with someone else. So i stopped.

So for hobbies i don’t really have many but a noticable hobby that has been growing. Which really isn’t a hobby, is to keep working. At home, weekends and staying back at work. Which i have now slowly been cutting down.

There is so much more to write about but my attention span is lost haha. So I will have to write another post shorty!

Second month as ALT Teacher – English Kindergarten teacher

I’ve learnt a lot during my second month as a English teacher in Japan. Some days are good and some days are just plain crap. But out of everything I started to grow as an adult and understand these young minds that i teach.

Everyday is different, this is something i hated. Because it’s so trieing when there is no consistency at times. How i have overcomed it was being consitent with myself and my teaching. Because there are some things that you can not control over.

Side note: I also got very sick during this month and in the early month of June I finally took some sick days off. To recover *I’m healthy at this moment of time, So don’t worry.

There not too much to talk because even though there not much consistency with certain things. My workplace trys to be organised as possible. Either with cleaning, meetings, lunch and more.

But what i have realised more and has become more irritating for me. Is the complaining of my fellow other English co-workers. But i’m sure they can find something that irritates them about me to. We are all human and complaining is normal to do from time to time. But when you’re complaining about another co-worker that you can just grow some balls and talk to them face to face. But don’t…. I find very irritating.
I understand that not everyone is going to like everyone. But complaining and not doing anything. When actually you can but you don’t want it. Seems a little be stupid in my opinion.

From my view point is that.. this is not Australia nor America. Every country has there own ways in doing things. If you come to a country to teach English you must understand that nothing really is the same back home. That you should be open minded and learn the ways of the culture.
If you don’t like something that native person says to you or around you. Grow some balls and tell them that it’s not okay to say that. Rather them complain about it the next day to other co-workers. Most of the time there is no need to complain but as humans (not all) are lazy or think it would be a waste of time.

But anyways let me know what you think? Is complaining really necessary when you can just MAN UP and tell that person.

Recylcing in Japan

Coming from a country were there was only two bins (Black -some have red lids now- and Yellow). I didn’t really care to much about the rubbish i was throwing out. But since moving to Japan, recylcing and rubbish organising is very important.
Here just an example, every city is different when it come to recylcing and rubbish. But all are very similar to one another.

It may look crazy but once you start to sort out your rubbish and start recylcing. It will becomes second nature. But sadly I know a few people living in Japan that don’t follow the correct way in throwing out their rubbish and recylce. And I understand that not everyone is going to follow this system.

But I think Japan has created a great system in throwing out rubbish and recylcing. It would be nice to see some changes in Australia rubbish and recylcing system.

But let me know your throughts on your country rubbish and recylcing system. Compared to your country

Solo traveling | Tips & Advice

Solo traveling is either and YA or a NA for most people and of course there are the MA? (maybe). Solo traveling isn’t for everyone because some people don’t want to be alone while traveling. Either between states or in a foreign country. Everyone has their own reasons why the choose to do it or not.

I honestly didn’t think I was the type to solo travel but once i tried it. I just wanted to keep doing it more and more! NOTE: I have only solo traveled to Japan and within Japan as well.

I have made a video on my YouTube channel about tips and advice for solo traveling. So ths will be in conjuction to that video as well.

Being organised with every single little detail and even possible what ifs’. Knowing where the nearest police station, convient store, stations, hospital and etc shouldn’t be taken lightly. As possible things good or bad can happen during the solo adventures.

Medication. Having brought your own medicine will save money and time. Also sometimes there are different dosage in different countries. So a same pain killer you take from back home and then in a different country could be a lower dosage and may not work on you.

Travel insurance. This is just a must because you honestly don’t know what will happen getting there, during and leaving your trip.

Mobile data or mobile data roaming. Personally is a MUST and honestly think it is a must for everyone else to. If you’re lost, or even trying to find some place to eat. Google got you covered.

 

^

Click photo to watch video

 

 

 

Work culture in Japan and more

When moving to another country you have to take into consideration the culture and if also planning to work in that country, the work culture as well.

I’m only a 1/4 Japanese and have also traveled to Japan before moving and working here. I knew the culture in Japan would be very different from the Australian culture i was brought up with. Japan has a long history and cultural traditions then Australia. Some traditions are still widely practiced in Japan while others aren’t. So depending were you’re staying different cultural traditions maybe different from place to place.

I won’t really talk about old Japanese culture in this post but more so the cultural traditions that are still widely used and or worth to take into consideration.
Cropsticks culture
Shoe culture
Rubbish culture
Rice culture
Mask culture
Clothing culture
Bowing culture

If you want me to write about any of theses. Leave a comment

Work culture:
Work culture in Australia is very different from Japanese work culture. Australia work culture is very relaxed, lazy and gives to shits (from my personal experience and living in Australia for 21 years).
So when I started working in Japan I had to take into consider of Japanese work culture and break out of Australian work culture.
[This work culture I am going to explain is more for school environment]
-In Japanese work places there’s a lot of respect shown to one another. Saying goodmorning and goodbye is very important. This includes, teachers, parents and anyone else chilling in the school grounds.
-Being on time is actually you’re late?! Being on time to work isn’t good, most Japanese people say 15 to 10mins early is good. And I’ve had my experience with being 5mins early but that was still ‘being late’.
-Omiyage [gift or souvenir] is something nice and also another way to show your respect. It’s not mandatory, but if you told your work colleague/s i’m going here… they might expect something. As Omiyage culture is also very widely done/given.
-Saying Itadakimasu and Gochisosama before and after meals is important. As this is letting anyone else know you’re grateful for the food.
-Types of shoes: Inside, outside, bathroom and work shoes. [For my work place] But may vary from different work places.

This is a brief blog post about work culture and Japanese culture. Things I have noticed more since living and working here.