So, it's not just Japanese students. My flight neighbors on the plane were lovely Senegalese students returning from an exchange program in Japan. Chatting a little bit, I told them I had a Senegalese friend in town who used to be a student. One guy was quite interested as he'd like to return for a longer time at a uni in Japan. Maybe I could put them in touch. Why not? So he asked me for my contact handed me his phone for me to enter my number. ⤵️
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I told him that email would be more practical. He looked at me quite confused and told me that he doesn't really do email. Don't I use WhatsApp ? He was even more confused when I told him that no I don't. So what do you use then? He asked me. He replied Signal, Beeper/Matrix, Messenger if I really have to. He continued to look at me confused. And then he concluded: okay, let's do email.
He must think that I'm ancient. And I now know that 20 year-olds not knowing email and ⤵️
@David Surely they use email at most work places?
@sister_ratched Yes. That's what I explain my students. Email is not old people stuff, it's adult work stuff.
But I didn't know my seat neighbors background enough to be "teacherly" with them.
and only knowing enshittified apps controlled by tech bros is sadly universal.
(Also I'm realizing more and more how universal WhatsApp is outside of Japan, and it's terrifying)
