The wonderful and talented PAs down in Kumamoto have made two fantastic tax guides for JETs from the US. They can be downloaded by clicking on the links below, or by going into the Downloads menu.

Downloads > Handbooks

Or

2009 Tax Guide for 1st year US JETs

2009 Tax Guide for 2nd year+ US JETs

Big otsukare-sama to the Kumamoto PAs for putting this together and sharing it with the rest of us!

 

 

The files for the January 2010 Midterm Conference have now been uploaded! Keep watching this space for more uploads in the coming days and weeks. For now, we have the materials that will be used in the Prefectural General Session 2 - Effective Lesson PLans for Common "Oral Communication" Topics, ready to be downloaded.

To access the files, click on the link below or the picture of the folder. They can also be found by using the menu above.

Downloads > Conference Materials > ALT Midterm Confernces > January 2010

or 

Click here!

The snow is falling, the kotatsu is out, the gloves, scarfs and wooly hats are on. It is offically winter. Which means, along with the Keeping Warm in Winter Guide we have the Winter Tourism Newsletter!

And always  it is packed full of information! The festivals to see and the places to go this winter in Gifu. As well as having a load of information on ski resorts in Chuno and Hida. The English and Japanese versions can be down loaded from the Gifu Tourism Newsletter category of the Downloads section. Thanks toTeal Rowe for these!

English version

Japanese version

 

Hello Gifu! Two updates for the site this time around.

1. Japanese study websites article (click here)

A collection of some websites that might be helpful for all you Nihongo benkyo-ers out there. The list is by no means extensive, so if you have any sites that you think are good then drop the PA's an email and let them know! Paul will use his decidely mediocre website skills to add your site to the list. Also check out the Japanese Study Section in the links part of the site.

And on a separate but related note, Colin O'gorman, co-ordinator of all things international has kindly sent us a list of Japanese language classes in prefecture. Have a read through if you are interesting in getting a hand in brushing up your Japanese.

 

2. Winter Guide (click here)

The keeping warm/keeping toasty/staving off frostbite guide has been updated and can be downloaded here! or go to the  handbooks section in the download menu above. It is packed full of information about how to stay warm this winter. 

 

 

 

 

A few things to bring to your attention:

1. Warning about IRS Tax Scams

Every year a few of our JETs will receive faxes at their work places claiming to be from the IRS, and asking for all kinds of personal information. These are fake so be careful, if you receive anything like this please let the PAs know!

Here is a sample of what last year's looked like.

  Internal Revenue Service IRS.gov

 

Our records indicate that you are a non-resident alien. As a result, you are exempted from USA Tax reporting and withholdings, on interest paid you on your account and other financial dealing to protect your exemption from tax on your account and other financial benefit in rectifying your exemption status.

Therefore, you are to authenticate the following by completing form W-8BEN, and return to us as soon as possible through the fax number:+1-206-888-1766

If you are a USA Citizen and resident,this form W-8BEN is not meant for you, please indicate "USA Citizen/Resident" on the form and return it to us. We shall then send you a form W9095.

As you can see it seems pretty legitimate, and what with it being sent to your school it can seem all the more real. But don't be fooled! Keep an eye out and spread the word to other ALTs!

 

 

2. Sekai wa Hitotsu 

As you may or may not know, the fine folks at the Gifu International Centre produce a bi-montly magazine, Sekai wa Hitotsu. Sekai (as it is lovingly called by its flock of avid readers) is chocked full of interesting articles and information for both foreigners living in Japan, and for Japanese people. The link below (o rclicking on the picture) will take you to their website where you can peruse their back catalogue at your leisure. The link takes you to the English catalogue, but the magazine is available in Japanese, Chinese and Portuguese as well.

 http://www.gic.or.jp/english/e-publ.html

 

 

3. School Board Explanation

Ever wondered what that giant whiteboard in the teachers room means? Never had a chance to get your JTEs to explain it to you? Well here is a nudge in the right direction! A PA from another prefecture has written a very useful guide on the basics of figuring out what the board means. Have a read through and find a JTE or another teacher to help explain the ins and outs of your specific school's board. Click on the picture or on the link below to go the site.

 http://www.rockinginhakata.com/2009/02/05/852/

 

Hi there Gifu!

 

As you probably already know, a typhoon is headed for Japan that will most likely be landing and making a pass over Gifu Prefecture. Gifu is thankfully landlocked so we will likely not be bearing the full brunt of “typhoon 18,” but this typhoon appears to be coming in strong, particularly for this time of year. High winds and torrential rainfall is to be expected beginning this evening through tomorrow.

 

The best way to keep updated on the latest information regarding the storm is to take a look at the Japan Meteorological Agency website (English):

http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/en/menu.html

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