In Korea we referred to it as Konglish, in Japan I've heard it referred to as many things, but mostly by the term "Japanglish". It means the integration of the English language into the native language. Konglish is Korean "English", and Japanglish is Japanese "English". I saying English in quotation marks because most terms use English words, but are not used in any way that a native English speaker would use them.
In Korea, the most popular example was "Hand Phone". Both words are common known English words, however if someone in Saskatoon ever asked to borrow a Handphone you would probably ask them to repeat or explain themselves. In Korea they are simply asking to borrow your cellphone. Easy to see the connection, right? You probably guessed it before I even told you what it 'meant'.
In Japan, I've found it isn't usually a single word that gets used as Japanglish, but entire phrases or sentences. The best example I have found so far is the tag for a pair of overalls that I found at a Japanese clothing store called Avail.
What I originally assumed was this was written in Japanese and then translated into English using Google Translate (or some other online translation site that is notoriously bad for its exact translations without thoughts to grammar, sentence structure, or overall tone.) because someone thought the overalls would be "cooler" that way.
But if you believe that theory to be true... then the Japanese really do want me to value these overalls as I would value a boyfriend?
Last weekend Misawa English School and Misawa High School got together to organize a Homestay program for the first grade Misawa High School students. First grade High School here in Japan is 10th grade back home - so 16 year olds. The idea was to give the students an idea of American culture by having them live along side some American families for a few days. (My boys got a cross between American and Canadian culture - bonus for them. lol)
Before they were to go and live with an American homestay family for 2 days, the students were asked to break into groups and give a presentation on different aspects of Japanese culture for their American families. As a teacher with Misawa English School, I helped a group of the students with their presentation. My group presented on Setsbun, Japanese Bean Throwing.
This is my group. I think they did a really good job describing Setsbun for the audience, but you can decide for yourself!
You can hear my voice giving away the answers to the other teachers at the end so that someone would answer the questions, and helping the last boy with his pronunciation.
Four of the Misawa English School teachers had students coming to stay with them (Travis and I got two boys, named Katsuke and Keisune). We all got together at one teacher's house for games and dinner. We thought it would be easier for the students to have friends around, and it would be easier for us as well.
It's a little blurry, but they were learning to make pizza dough.
Learning to play Guitar Hero - even with ALL the video games they have in Japan, apparently there is no Japanese equivalent to this game. They weren't very good at it, but they seemed to enjoy it!
Eating the Pizza. We also cooked up 2 boxes of Spaghetti noodles, I made a meat sauce, and we had a vegetarian pasta sauce as well. 6 boys, 2 girls, 4 teachers, and they ate it ALL. I had forgotten how much teenage boys can eat!!!
Compared to the boys these girls sure were quiet! I think they were intimidated - the girls outnumber the boys in the classroom, but it just so happened that 3 of the teachers got boys, and only 1 got girls. (Plus, I think universally 16 year old girls don't really know what to do around crazy 16 year old boys! lol)
Dessert was the incredible unhealthy, but completely popular choice of Gushers and Fruit by the Foot. (Because giving these guys more sugar seemed like a good idea at the time?)
Yeah... SEEMED.
After dinner three of the teachers took their students bowling. Travis was finished work for the day as well, so he was able to come. It was Friday night, which means that it was Laser Bowling night at the base bowling alley. Both of my boys told me later it was their favorite part of the Homestay. Unfortunately, I don't have a single picture from the bowling alley.
Saturday was a blur of pancakes, shopping on base (a place they had never been to - because you need a person with a Military ID to sign you on here), Baskin Robbins and seeing the sites. I think they had a blast - I know I did. However, I definitely needed a nap by the end of those 2 days, they completely wore me out!
This is the only picture I got of the boys - and by this time Travis was back at work, so I never got one of all four of us. They were going back to school (Yes, school on a Saturday!) so they are in their school uniforms.
