I'm teaching!!
In June I was lucky enough to get a job at a Japanese elementary school as an "Assistant English Teacher. My employer then is the Misawa City Board of Education and thus, the Japanese government. So my colleagues are Japanese and the teachers I "assist" to, pretty-much non-English speaking. Which makes it VERY interesting in the classroom. Oh I don't fault them -- they still know more English then I know Japanese--it's just interesting sometime stumbling through a lesson.
Sample lesson:
Sensei (teacher): "japanese japanese japanese......RUH -GAH SENSEI(that'd be me)....japanese japanese japanese...(turning to me): "Dozo" [please (proceed with the lesson that I just outlined for you in japanese) ]
At this point I turn to my lesson plan which they've handed me just that morning which is 90% in kanji. I see 4-5 words I recognize: "Red, Blue, Green, etc..." I grasp, "Oh, they want me to teach colors today!"
I then stumble through the rest of the lesson which involves flashcards with phonics...("RRRRRrrr!!! Like a lion...grrrrrrrrr!!! "), songs about happy rainbows and such that I've never heard of but am expected to teach, and games that I'm suppose to know how to play.
Like I said, it's pretty interesting but always fun and educational. In between my six classes a day I study japanese at my desk and listen in the teacher's office to the conversation going on around me for words I recognize.
Fun/funny things I've learned/seen so far:
- When someone leaves the office for the day, you say, "Oh-scareh sameh deshta" which roughly translates, "You have worked hard today. Thank you for your hard work." I say this as opposed to the other saying which I can't quite wrap my brain (or lips) around: it essentially translates to, "I am leaving now -- I am very sorry to be leaving before you..." So not American.
Some other not-so American things:
- when the chimes (not bell) ring to end the day of school, and we're still in the middle of a lesson, not a student will blink. All students -- first grade through sixth--keep doing whatever we're doing without a single recognition that school is over. Class and thus school will regularly run 10-15 minutes over -a fact more annoying to me I think than the students!
- hugs (and hits) are par for the course. Unlike American culture, it's perfectly acceptable for a teacher to show praise and encouragement through hugs and other affectionate signs. They're also allowed to give corporal punishment to a kid who gets out of line -- something I've witnessed a number of times. All I've got to say is, though I'm not a teacher (meaning I've never taught in the states), whatever they're doing -- it works!
There's so much to say about this job that it could pretty much take up the rest of this blog (that is when I write!) There's the T-shirts the kids wear with the "Japlish" sayings on them (weird by funny sayings made up of english words thrown together because they look good and seem like they say something):
-"Lover mate" (on a 6 year old)
-"Sunny day rainbow beach"
-(a sports-looking jersey): "Team 9 college"
I'll have to start writing them down after I see them -- they're too bizarre to remember later!
ANyway, I'm enjoying it and it keeps me somewhat busy (I'm currently working 2 days a week which is pretty much the max they want someone teaching apparently)
Here is an earlier post I drafted and never published about getting hired....
I got a job as an assistant english teacher at a Japanese elementary school, teaching "basic" english skills. One of my first lessons was how to order at a "hamburger shop" -- a thinly disguised lesson on what to say at a McDonald's. This is one of many cultural lessons I've gotten since beginning the job over a month ago.
My friend got me the job interview which consisted of me showing up with a brief resume in hand (brief because I'd never taught before which my friend assured me was irrelevant) and me being told what my schedule would be (and oh, "sign here"....). A day later I was sitting in a sixth grade japanese class "observing", which turned out to be a lesson in how I should conduct class. Turns out my friend was right in that they really don't want us to "teach" but to strictly follow a lesson plan (which is handed to me every morning, written in Japanese it turns out, but more on that later). So I'm basically, we jest, a talking monkey -- which I'm fine with! I can be, the talking monkey.
BEfore I officially started, however, I was instructed to meet the coordinator at the Misawa Board of Education floor at City Hall where I had what was an official hiring ceremony -- complete with several suit-clad city officials, a certificate, and a short speech in Japanese (translated into again, exactly 2 english sentences). Following a few low bows and then a short session where I received a book of lesson plans and a set of rules to follow (don't correct the teacher in front of the class, etc), I was officially hired. A week later I had my first day of teaching.
I walk into the teachers office, rows of large metal desks grouped together not unlike a news room, and sit down at my designated desk, and receive my morning green tea from the secretary. I then get my schedule for the day, thankfully in English, and the lesson plans (unfortunately not in English) Usually the lesson plan contains about 5% English, but usually they're the clues as to the day's lesson: "Large french fries please." (sadly, I'm not making this up) Then when I get to class, the teacher usually can guide me through what he/she wants me to do. Often though there's a bit of confusion as I stumble around the teacher's lesson, which usually ends up with the teacher spouting out frustrated japanese at the silly gaijin (foreigner) trying to lead a game, or sing a song, she's never heard of.
It's a job that's both fun and funny, and I hope to be better at writing about it. Thanks for tuning in!
