School
Trip Start
Jul 27, 2006
1
13
93
Trip End
Ongoing
Kobe,
Japan
Thursday, September 7, 2006
I have started teaching- finally. The first few weeks I was here were spent learning about my contracting organization, the area, going through job training, summer school, and Japanese courses. I also spent some time in my school during this time but because the students were on vacation I basically just sat at my desk.
September 1st was the first day of class. On this day I introduced myself to the students (in English) and was met by glazed over expressions- imagine 'children of the corn.' I also introduced myself to the entire teacher's lounge (in Japanese) and baffled everyone by my ability to speak a little Japanese. They must not understand how easy it is to prepare and memorize an introduction in any language when one has an entire week to do so
Beard Poster
. The first few days of school were filled with student testing so I didn't teach any classes. But as of September 5th I've been gradually working myself into the schedule. So far my lessons are only self-introduction lessons where I teach the students about my country, state, hobbies, family, etc. They're highly amused by the picture of my 3 big tough brothers!
Right now all schools are preparing for sports day (a big event held on a Saturday where students perform for their parents) so classes are a bit irregular. On a usual week I will teach anywhere from 12-15 classes. There are 3 grades in Japanese junior high school. At my school there are 5 1st grade classes, 4 second grade classes, and 10 3rd grade classes (because they have been split up for English class in order to prepare for their entrance exams that they will take in the spring.) In addition there are two handicapped students that I will teach individually. This totals 21 classes which is too many for me to accomplish in one week so I have a varied schedule from week to week with the different classes that I will teach. I will always team teach with a JTE (a Japanese Teacher of English) and that teacher depends on the grade. If I'm teaching 1st grade I will team teach with the 1st grade English teacher, etc
Scarecrows?
. Are you with me so far? ... things have been going well so far. I'm still not sure what is appropriate and what is not. I still feel guilty about coming to school at 8:25 after all the gates have been closed but the principal told me to arrive at 8:30 so I guess I shouldn't worry. I still haven't figured out whether or not I can bring fruit so I try to hide it from my co-workers and I am the only person in the entire staff room who EVER uses the microwave. Perhaps they enjoy eating cold rice... or maybe they have those little hand heaters underneath their rice... I'm not sure.
Each day is a test to see whether or not I can fit into the culture. Yesterday I got in trouble for putting my hands in my pocket. We had sports day practice outside- which I had to change my clothes for and then go outside and stand in the rain while the kids marched around. I was cold and wet and I know for a fact that the principal told me I should stay at my desk and study but another one of the teachers said I must go outside so I went. I had nothing to do and stood there in the middle of a huge field just watching. I guess, somehow, by accident, my hands must have slipped into my pockets. But this didn't last long because one of the JTEs approached me and informed me that I am a teacher now so I need to act like one. I guess in Japanese culture it is extremely rude to put your hands in your pockets, even if you are outside in the freezing rain, wearing wind pants and a teacher (definite teacher attire!)
But day by day I WILL learn. I had to catch myself repeating the action multiple times. I'm still not sure what the difference is between wearing track pants to school or putting my hands in my pockets. Please enlighten me so that I know what is crossing the line of professionalism and what is just part of fitting in.
Comments
a babbling ex-JET
Whoah! You got some hardcore teachers! I would continually put my hands in pockets, wear my shoes all around the school, sit on desks...and I can only remember a handful of times when the children, elementary students, would say to me, hey you are wearing shoes! or why are your hands in your pockets? The teachers never said anything. But it seems like your people seem to have a better idea of what to do with a JET...When I got to my town, I sat in the office for 5 goddam weeks with NOTHING to do. It seems like your people expect a bit more, and I think that is a good thing. My town had a long long line of slackers and people using JET for other purposes other than teaching. There was this one guy who was studying to be a zen monk and he would just study all day and the teachers were like ok thats cool, study those kanji.
Oh, I had an interview with AEON, an eikaiwa company. Jesus, it's a whole different ballgame with these corporations. Probably not something I am going to pursue.
Anyways, sounds like you are having a great time. Maybe I will come out and visit :)