Calling all teachers, artists, musicians to help a preschool in Yokohama, Japan

Details

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  Description

  Hello Workawayers! My name is Sybrina and I operate a small, play-based, English-immersion preschool & kindy in
  the suburbs of Yokohama (Sakuradai, Aoba-ku), Japan.
  
  Valid work visa required.
  
  I opened my school in 2014 when my baby was 7 months old. In 2019 I bought an old Japanese house to become the permanent home for my school & completely renovated it! Now I want to host short-term or long-term Workawayers who are great with children, artistically talented, and can help us make our school spaces an amazing place for the children to learn and grow!
  
  I'm also continuously searching for individuals who would like to relocate to Japan permanently (or long-term stay of at least 1 year) to teach young children in English and are willing to stay for at least one full school year. For those individuals interested in working at the school on an extended Workaway position, please see further down below under the dotted line to learn more about what the teaching position involves.
  
  There is always some project going on around school. The help I am currently needing help with is:
  ~being more active on our insta,
  ~organising classroom materials,
  ~digital organisation of photos,
  ~protecting our extensive library of children's books (over 1,000) with plastic film,
  ~helping to create interesting shelfwork materials (see our photos for examples), and
  ~maintaining our little garden.
  Other skills that are much appreciated are: photography and being able to play the guitar, ukulele, or drums.
  We hold an annual children's art exhibition every June and extra hands are always welcome at that time.
  
  Times when school is closed (and therefore will be no work available) is:
  > Golden Week (first week of May)
  > Obon (August 11~20)
  > Christmas & New Year (December 24~January 5)
  
  ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
  For individuals interested in working directly with the children at school:
  
  At my school, we take inspiration from the Montessori method, Reggio-Emilia approach, and a little Waldorf-Steiner, too. As a play-based preschool, we understand that play is the most important work of the child, so in our Morning & Afternoon Work Cycles, children are allowed to play freely in order to learn about taking risks, sharing, role modelling, and resolving conflicts. Imagination is nurtured through storytelling, nursery rhymes, finger-plays and songs. Children can express themselves artistically through drawing, painting, clay modelling, and seasonal crafts. During Morning Circle, children become more confident and comfortable participating in group activities as they sing and move together. Our goal is to evoke a life-long love of learning and maintain school as a place that every child looks forward to coming to every day.
  
  School is in session September-June (Summer Session on in July & August).
  The tasks we require help with daily can include:
  1) taking photos, assisting with art and cooking projects, setting the lunch table, attending school field trips, create classroom materials, event preparation, and general childcare which includes: changing diapers/helping children use the bathroom, & playing together with students.
  2) keeping the premises tidy, taking out the trash, & light garden work.
  
  If you can play a musical instrument, enjoy cooking/baking, or have some other skill/talent that you can share with the class from time-to-time, that would be amazing! As a school we like to do many art projects (with kids and also for decorating the classrooms), so your creativity will be much appreciated!
  
  The school is in a house with a garden located in a quiet suburb of Yokohama city. It is about 30 minutes by train to either Tokyo (Shibuya Station) or Yokohama city centre. There are two great parks just a few minutes away and we have a good-sized veggie patch on-site where we grow food and flowers with our littles.
  
  We want to host someone who understands that this position is a very serious commitment:
  1) to our family and co-teachers - so that we may be able to offer this great space of learning,
  2) to the students you will be caring for who can become attached to you, and
  3) their families who are entrusting you with their treasures.
  
  This is not babysitting, rather educating, and many people depend on us. Therefore, we need someone who is responsible, respectful, self-sufficient, and energetic with a bright personality who adores children above all, and can be committed for the entire time they promise to be with us. Please understand that since this position involves childcare, we ask our potential Workawayers to be able to:
  1) commit to at least one full school year,
  2) provide a background check from your local authority (translated to English),
  3) provide two character references (from past employers or volunteer work with children), and
  4) have a video chat over facebook/Skype
  
  VISA SPONSORSHIP: For those people that come from eligible countries, I can be your sponsor/guarantor for a Working Holiday Visa. I cannot sponsor a Work Visa, however, for someone I have never met in person or seen working with my students. Please understand this, and please do not ask me to sponsor a Work Visa for you. (I apologise if this seems a little cold, but I get asked this ALL the time).
  
  I have been hosting people from all around the world for 7 years now through Workaway and have really enjoyed the experience. I'm hoping to find someone who fits well with my school's educational philosophies and can stay for a long time.
  See you at school!

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Teaching

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Farmstay help

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Workawayers who stay with us can:
  1) Study Japanese...the school is located near an International Lounge (community center) that offers weekly Japanese lessons for any ability level for ¥300/month. ---> yes, that's right - not a typo!!
  
  2) Learn how to cook some Japanese meals (I know how to cook basic meals like miso soup, yakisoba, gyouza, okonomiyaki, so we can cook together), and
  
  3) Learn more about the Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio-Emilia teaching methods (and early childhood education in general) by working together with our experienced staff and our lovely students!

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage

  This host offers accommodation and payment.

  Host has indicated that they will pay at least the minimum hourly wage of their country for each hour worked and that accommodation will also be provided. They are asking for help with a business or business activity. Contact the host directly via the site messenger for more information and details about the wage provided. Any arrangements should be agreed in advance with your host.

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  Help

  *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️Are you comfortable around young children?...This project involves work in a preschool & kindergarten and I have two children of my own. You will be around children everyday, so liking kids is a definite must!
  
  *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️Can you draw or paint?...There is always some art project going on around here - not just in the classroom with the students - but for the school itself as well, like classroom decor, murals, painting new school signs, etc.
  
  *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️Can you sew or are good at handcrafts?...We often make our own thematic classroom materials (see photos below for an example), most things from paper, but also many from fabric or wood.
  
  *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️Are you tech-savvy?...At school we use Apple iMac computers for creating everything from classroom materials to new school brochures, flyers, and invitations to our events. We use high quality cameras to take photos of each child's day at school (and then upload them to our private parent's page on our website).
  
  *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️Can you cook?...Each month we cook a special dish from around the world with our students! I also know how to make several Japanese meals which I can teach you how to make if you're interested.
  
  *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️Are you tidy?...Specifically, cleaning help needed can include: vacuuming, washing dishes, and dusting. The room offered to our Workawayer must also always be neat and tidy and I expect you to keep the kitchen and bathroom clean.
  
  Despite the many points listed above, I should also emphasize that besides being clean & tidy, any one person is not expected do be able to do everything listed above (unless you can and then are some kind of angel??). Depending on your talents and what kind of help the school needs at the time, the daily schedule could be from 2 hours to the maximum 5 per day.
  
  Valid work visa required.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Japanese: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  I have Polish and German heritage, and know American Sign Language (ASL). Many of my students are from Germany, so I would love to learn German, and improve in French, Spanish, and Russian.
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  Accommodation

  Accommodation offered is a private room with a closet, an air conditioner/heater (*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️we appreciate those who can help us conserve energy!*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️), and a single futon (Japanese floor mattress). This room, however, is used during school hours, so we expect that you keep it tidy and school-ready when school is in session (Mon~Fri 8am-3pm). We will also provide a high-speed wi-fi internet connection. The school house is located in a nice, quiet neighborhood about 12-minutes walk from Aobadai Train station. It takes about 25 minutes on an express train to get to Shibuya, the heart of Tokyo, so this area is very convenient!

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  What else ...

  Volunteers may do anything they like in their time off. There is so much to see and do in our area, a quick Google search will yield some great recommendations. We are located close to local transport (bus & train), so it is easy to get around the city for day trips. Our favourite places for day trips are: Kamakura, Hakone, and Nikko. We are not in Yokohama City central, and not in Tokyo Central, either, but approximately a 30-minute train ride away from each. The nearest station is Aobadai Station along the Den-en-Toshi Line.
  
  We do recommend that travellers:
  *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️bring a plug transformer
  *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️bring a pocket wi-fi because you still can't buy SIM cards freely at phone shops, etc. (however, recently they have started selling SIM cards at Narita Airport)
  *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️please make sure you have Facebook Messenger or download the application Line on your smartphone as it is a great way to keep in touch through free phone calls or messaging...everyone uses it in Japan. If you're going to be in Japan, you NEED it.
  *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️please bookmark the "Japan Train Route Finder Jorudan" webpage as it is a great resource for knowing the train schedules all across Japan. (I'm sorry I am not allowed to put the URL here, so please Google it)

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  Both our family home and the school house have hi-speed Wi-fi. Of course Workawayers are free to do their online work in their spare time.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week, flexible schedule

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