Continuation >>>

Well, I'm continuing the post now!

So on Thursday I tried to get as much prepared and organized for Friday as I could.  The building's architecture is set up so that it takes a while to walk back to the teacher's room, and there are only 5-10 minutes in between each class.  Sometimes I have time to make it to the bathroom or to the teachers room for a drink of water, but sometimes I do not.  I thought it would be best to know as much about Friday's schedule as I could beforehand, so I did all of the preparation on Thursday.

Friday finally came, and I was a bit nervous for the first class.  The teacher did most of the introduction to the class, but also kind of expected me to just jump right in.  First we did a check to see if all of the students had all of their books and supplies.  They got a stamp if they did, and nothing if they didn't.  The one's who had forgotten things had to stand.  Then the teacher told them who I was, and we did the morning greetings together.  I was then given a large chunk of time to free-talk about myself.  We had put together a worksheet for the children to do, which I'll try to remember to take a photo of.  They didn't understand most of what I was saying, but I used a lot of photos and things to pass around the class from home.  Also, the Japanese Teacher of English (JTE) explained things they didn't get.  We gave them the worksheet that they did in pairs or groups of threes, and then we walked around the room checking if they understood.  It was hard for me to communicate with them because I wasn't allowed to speak in Japanese.  They picked up that I understood a lot of Japanese though, and I would just answer them simply in English.  It was pretty fun, and after the first few minutes in class I wasn't nervous anymore.  The teacher can be used as a big support it I need them.  I was a little nervous about being able to keep the class in control, but it was ok.  I'm learning different techniques as I go along.  I'm also learning that my attitude REALLY effects the attitude of the class.  If I am energetic and giving it my all, it will help them be motivated and focused.  Not everyone of course, but it is better than if I am tired and slow with no energy.  It will directly be reflected in them!

The worksheet was a little too difficult for the students, and I think they would have preferred to play a game.  Now I know for next time to get them to do something a little more active/competitive.  We've been using the same worksheet for each new class until the self-introductions are over.  In most classes there are some people who are way beyond the level and finish the worksheet in a matter of minutes, while there are other people that don't even know the roman alphabet.  I was warned that the level of English at the school was very low, but I think it is hard to understand exactly what that means until you see it.  Also, in one of my classes I had to go around the room asking some people questions.  Some of them just stood up reluctantly and looked to the teacher for help to translate, but one girl did the sterio-typical Japanese silence act.  I asked her a question, for example, "What is your name?"  She stared at me...  "What is your name?"   "..."    "Name?"  "..."  She looks at her friends.  Her face is red.  Her friends say to her in Japanese the word for name...  "..."  Well, it was clear she wasn't going to say anything, so I moved onto the next table.  Again, I knew things like that would happen, but it is hard to understand what it feels like until it happens.

There are some classes who are REALLY talkative, and there are some classes where it is like pulling teeth to get them to volunteer.  There are some students that think I'm pretty and interesting and want to talk to me, and there are other students who could give a ---- less.  Then again, the same thing goes for students of any subject!  I can't be personally offended when I student is not interested in learning English.  There were subjects I really did not want to learn when I was in middle school.  It is difficult to be a teacher now and try to figure out ways to involve those that don't really want to learn, as well as those that do.

There are seven English teachers that I work with throughout the week, and usually roughly 23 lessons.  On Monday's and Wednesday's my schedules are a little less busy, so I eat lunch in a different classroom to try to get to know the students.  On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays I eat lunch in the teachers room in order to get some rest before I have to go to the next classes.  Until the school festival, which is the weekend after next I believe, the schedule is a little changed because they are preparing for the performances and sports day.  Until then my schedule is a little changed around, and maybe even a little less hectic.  This is good for my first week only because I'm not used to how many classes I have to teach in a row.  Being a full-time teacher is definitely hard work.  I'm only an ASSISTANT teacher, so I'm not even doing the main planning.  I wonder how they do it?  Just get tired, or get used to it?
There are some things about the school life in general that I am sure I've forgotten to mention, but I think it's because to me it doesn't seem out of the ordinary.  If you've seen any anime, you are probably used to it as well!  For example, the bell that chimes is a very typical "doorbell" sound.  Not "ding dong" but, "ding ding ding dong, dong ding ding dong."  I will try to find a sound clip of it.

(Please click this page, and scroll down to the clip that says "household, doorbell, chime, ring, modern, musical." http://www.audiosparx.com/sa/display/sounds.cfm/sound_group_iid.43)

This sound happens at the beginning of the day, and in between every class and activity.  The students start the day around 8:30 usually I believe, and the teachers are supposed to be there by 8 or 8:10 for the morning meeting.  There is lunch provided by the school for a very small monthly fee, and I decided to eat that so that I didn't have to make my own every day.  The students and staff are expecting to eat everything that is there, which I think is too much so I bring in a tupperware and discreetly bring half of it home with me for after work.  At lunch a student goes on the PA system and announces what the lunch is, and how nutritious it is.

Every student and teacher has to wear INSIDE shoes in the school, and different specific shoes in the gym.  Each grade level is designated a different color, and the students gym clothes and accessories are highlighted with this specific color so that their grade level is easily known.  I think the current rotation is blue=1st years, red=2nd years, and green=3rd years.  When the new first years come in next year, I believe they'll be green.

In Japan, students until college (I think?) typically do not rotate classes like we do in America.  Every year they are put in one class, and the class basically stays together.  There is a homeroom teacher who is basically in charge of the class, but the different teachers of different subjects go to the different classrooms.  All of the teachers desks are in that one room as I said in a previous entry.  Perhaps this is one reason the teachers get tired?  If I had all of my materials in one room and my own desk, and didn't tromp all over the school, I probably wouldn't be in the same condition.  Look, even my English is turning Japanese!

I think there is a 5:30 curfew in this town.  It might be only this town, or it might be all of Japan.  The students are supposed to stop playing, or stop doing their school sports/activities and go home before 5:30.

Today I had one class of third years, immediately followed by a class of first years.  I don't realize it when I'm going from 1 to 1, or 3 to 3, but the difference in maturity level and appearance of 1 to 3 is so big!  I had forgotten what it was like to be in middle school.  I wish I could go back and remember what I was thinking in order to get a better idea/understanding of my students.  What kind of teacher would I have wanted?

On Friday afternoon (starting at 3:00 or 3:30 I think?) I went to the English club meeting.  I got to meet a few students and talk with them.  I think they are looking forward to mostly playing games or attempting to watch movies in English (with subtitles...), so I have been searching for English games to play with them.  I'll have to put together a list of games and propose it to the teachers to see if the school will buy them.  This will probably be a long process, but might as well start sooner than later.  What kinds of games do you think would be good for practicing simple English?  Apples to Apples?  Monopoly?  Battleship?  Guess who?  What else?  I'll think of some other card games too, because they said they liked those.  Any suggestions would be helpful.

Also, do you have any middle school related or teaching tips in general?

I think I am going to end here for now.  There are a few more things I could mention, but you'll just have to wait until the next post!  Sorry for the delay.  A few more pictures will follow.  I took one of my English board with a few pictures, and I will try to take a picture of the worksheet I made.  Anything else I've mentioned you'd like to see?  I don't think I'm legally allowed to post any pictures of students or teachers in the school, so that probably won't happen.  Maybe some day with permission?

I'm doing well, and know that I can always try harder.  I'll leave you with this quote I found in one of my JET teaching books...

"A positive attitude and rigorous work ethic are as important to a professional image as personal appearance."

Much love,

Ms. Lana
or
Ms. Kitcher
or
Lana先生
or
ラナ先生
or
キッチャー先生


PS. Sorry about mistakes.  I didn't have time to reread this entry... will do so later.

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