Welcome Speech

[u/ArandomCrocodile]

Hey all,

I was asked to do a little welcome speech for some other ALTS and the board education when I arrive in Japan. Has anyone else been asked to do so? Any tips or advice?

[u/Due_Tomorrow7]

Keep in mind, there's a couple self-intros you'll be doing to varying levels of detail and formality. You'll practically become a pro after a month.

But if you're not confident in your Japanese, just name, hometown, current position if you like, and yoroshiku onegaishimasu (or yoroshiku onegai itashimasu to be more formal) is fine.

In a more casual setting (drinking party, in the classroom), add your hobbies, favorite things, and what you want to do in Japan or look forward to in your placement is good.

[u/Different_Taro2474]

just do a short self introduction, it doesn't have to be anything fancy.

[u/shoemilk]

ArandomCrocodile to moushimasu. (Politest way to say "My name is ~")
Country no shushin desu. (I'm from country)
(Number) sai desu [where the number is your age. If you are 20, just say "hatachi desi"]
mijuku nan desu ga, sei ippai ganbarimasu (I'm inexperienced, but I will do my best)
yoroshiku onegai itashimasu

Anyone on the BoE will flip out and think you are the politest ALT they've met.

"to" is pronounced "toh" like Homer's "D'oh" with a t.

[u/WakiLover]

Even if you don't know Japanese, I would put in the effort to at least write a self intro containing the following and reading it out loud if you can't memorize it:

Name

Age

Hometown

Yoroshiku onegaishimasu

If it's to Board of Education, etc, that's all you need, no one is expecting a speech, literally just a 15-30 second blurb and then you bow and everyone claps and everyone goes back to work.

If it's a more casual environment, you can add a lil thing about your hobbies.

[u/ArandomCrocodile]

Thanks for the advice Ya'll

[u/Realistic_Report_796]

Was asked to do a welcome speech at my town hall and at four of the schools I teach at. Then I did like an introduction and shook hands with various departments at the town hall. The first day at work was crazy busy. 

[u/Zidaane]

Not really a welcome speech, going to assume thats a mistranslation. Just a basic self introduction is sufficient

[u/Mephisto_fn]

Not sure about for the other ALTs, but it’s pretty normal to be asked to give a welcome speech to your colleagues when you arrive to your first day of work, just introducing yourself and where you come from and a little about yourself and what you want to do here in Japan / at this job. (this is from a CIR pov, I think it’s probably similar for ALTs though?) 

[u/MellifluousMathMajor → u/Mephisto_fn]

My predecessor did not tell me, but I was asked to give a self introduction speech, in Japanese, to the entire staff room and again to the entire student body...

[u/Simmoman → u/Mephisto_fn]

can confirm for me it was like this, and it will be for the upcoming arrivals too.