Japanese

Buy THE EVERYTHING CONVERSATIONAL JAPANESE BOOK

Bonding with Coworkers by Molly Hakes

Aside from the occasional enkai, there are many opportunities throughout the day in which to develop relationships with your coworkers. Conversing during coffee breaks or while taking lunch gives you a chance to get to know them. Scheduled meeting times, too, provide a chance to communicate. Even simply being present, working at your desk, fosters a sense of camaraderie.

The School Lunch

If you will be teaching English in Japan, you may have the option of eating at the school cafeteria. If you have strict dietary regulations, it is probably wise to bring your own lunch. Many Japanese elementary schools have adopted the slogan:

Nan demo taberu to joobu-na karada o tsukuru.

Eating a wide variety of food is the way to make a strong, healthy body.

Kids are expected to eat everything that is served and teachers, therefore, must model this behavior. Note that the phrase nan demo literally means “anything,” so nan demo taberu means “to eat anything.” Substituting other verbs for taberu, you can make sentences with phrases such as nan demo nomu (“drink anything”), nan demo suru (“do anything”), and so on.

Kare wa nan demo dekiru.

He can do anything.

Kanojo wa nan demo tsukureru.

She can make anything.

Watashi wa nan demo yaru yo.

I'll do anything!

If you feel that you cannot eat all that you are served, there are several things you can do, but it's important to limit waste. You may notice some teachers shaving off the top half of their bowls of rice back into the pot. Other teachers may be willing to accept whatever is you don't wish to eat. It is considered polite and respectful toward hardworking farmers, however, to eat every last grain of rice in your bowl. It is fine to use your hashi to put the rice back or into someone else's bowl as long as they have not touched your mouth yet.

Your coworkers may comment on your use of chopsticks and wonder how or where you learned to eat with them.

O-hashi no tsukaikata wa joozu desu ne.

Your use of chopsticks is excellent.

Amerika de mo o-hashi o tsukaimasu ka.

Do you use chopsticks in the States, too?

O-hashi no tsukaikata wa dare ga oshiete kureta-n desu ka.

Who taught you how to use chopsticks?

Responses to these questions will vary depending on your experience with using chopsticks prior to coming to Japan.

Uchi de wa o-hashi o tokidoki tsukaimasu.

We sometimes use chopsticks at my house.

Chuugoku no resutoran toka Ajia no resutoran de wa tsukaimasu.

I use chopsticks at Chinese restaurants or other Asian restaurants.

If someone approaches you with hands in prayer position and says, Onegai ga aru, he or she is looking for a favor. You may recognize onegai from the oft-used phrase onegai shimasu.

Scheduled Meeting Times

Meetings are an important aspect of Japanese work life. Whether you are team teaching or involved in a committee, organizing a club or helping with a project, uchiawase (“meetings”) will be one of your job duties.

Buraian-sensei uchiawase wa itsu dekimasu ka.

When are you able to have a meeting, Brian?

Nigakki no uchiawase wa raishuu no getsuyoobi ni onegai shimasu.

Please observe that the meeting for the second semester is next Monday.

Your coworkers probably do not speak much English so these meetings may involve the use of dictionaries, gestures, and, above all, laughter. Try to be aware of the group dynamics and follow suit. Some teachers enjoy team-teaching lessons, while others prefer to let you handle the activities. Pushing your own ideas relentlessly onto other people is not effective in any country, but will be especially ill-received in Japan.

Break Times

Breaks are another chance to get to know your coworkers a little better. Making yourself available during these times provides other people opportunities to interact with you. A few may be interested in practicing their English, while others will be curious about your life in your home country and how it compares to life in Japan. You may find yourself responding to the same questions over and over again.

Amerika to Nihon wa docchi ga samui desu ka.

Which is colder, the U.S. or Japan?

Nihon no tabemono wa doo desu ka.

How do you like Japanese food?

Naze Nihon ni kimashita ka.

Why did you come to Japan?

It is not uncommon for teachers to smoke in either the teachers' room near the exhaust fan or in the lounge. Most buildings also have a smoking area indoors. Rather than protesting directly, coughing or asking if you can close the door is considered a polite way to let people know you do not want them smoking around you.

Visit other About.com sites:

Buy Books