assorted work woes

[kodalai]

I really, really don't wanna go to work tomorrow. I'm feeling weak and ill just at the thought. The further thought that there's basically no holidays, work breaks, or days off from now until August is not helping much.

So I mentioned previously that there had been some changes to my work routine with the new year. The two most relevant for the problem I'm having now are: 1) I have a lot more work, such that I'm basically working flat out at all times during the day to get it done and 2) I'm part of the "Frontier team" which consists of four other teachers and myself.

The "Frontier" refers to the non-honors English track for this school -- that is, the lower-ability or
lower-achievement and just generally lower-motivation students who are taking English not because they want to, but because they're required to by law. I wouldn't have thought that this would present me with a big problem, seeing as I don't speak enough Japanese to use that extensively in my teaching anyway. But it is turning out to be a very big problem.

It's become worse since the other teachers on the Frontier team asked me to design and teach lessons basically solo, without any intervention from the JTE.

Basically, my first attempts at planning and teaching all-english lessons to these kids have been total failure. For the most part, the students don't understand me at all, and insofar as they do, they don't really care. The simple activites I've been able to get them to do seem to bore them to tears, and the more complex ones I can't explain sufficiently for them to do them.

Other JETs place a lot of emphasis on games and game-like English activities in the classroom, so I've tried to adapt and use a few of them, hoping they would catch the students' attention. So far they haven't been -- they're either too complicated to explain all in English, or too simple and boring for the students to regard them with anything other then scorn. As well as eliciting some doubt among the other teachers as to whether they have 'educational value' or not.

The oppressive who used to sit next to me at work (whom I was so delighted to get moved away from in April) has come to me in a conversation and mentioned that if I don't start contributing more to the SELHi project, I'll be removed from it. (I'm not entirely sure whether this is meant to be friendly warning, less friendly warning, threat, or what; I don't quite understand why they would want to remove me from the
project no matter how little help I'm being, since 1) SELHi programs are required to have an ALT involved -- that's why I'm here at this school in the first place, and 2) it's not like anyone else is going to move in and take up my share of the workload if I'm gone. I'm also not sure )

This seems like it would be the ideal problem to ask for advice from other JETs for -- or possibly regional advisors (I think that's what they're called?) I wish I wasn't so terminally stunted when it comes to approaching other people with problems.

Comments

[sunhawk16.livejournal.com]

I was tempted to offer a couple of suggestions, but seeing as how this is all completely NOT in my realm, they'd probably be pretty dumb suggestions. But, it occurs that you might not know a couple of other people on my flist who are doing the same thing you are (more or less) petenshi is also in Japan, and traveling_storm is in China and has been teaching there for several years now. Maybe you could connect up and, if nothing else, have somebody to talk to?

[sharona1x2.livejournal.com]

I'd be willing to ask my flist if anyone in the JET program can be of some help, if you want me to. I know at least a few people teaching English abroad in addition to the two Sunhawk mentioned.

[kodalai.livejournal.com]

Please do, at this point I'd like all sorts of ideas even if I don't end up using them.

[sharona1x2.livejournal.com]

Done! I hope you get some replies.

[kodalai.livejournal.com]

I have gotten some good advice now! Thanks for the connection!

[nekojita.livejournal.com]

How old are your students?

[kodalai.livejournal.com]

High school, which in Japan is the last 3 years -- so about 16-18. These kids are first years, so 15-16.

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

*hugs* that sounds beyond hideous.

This is why I only wanna teach adults. If they don't care and fail out because they don't bother to try, no-one will hold me responsible, because it's their responsibility, their choice. (And yet despite that I still feel guilty -- and I don't even have jerky co-workers giving me a hard time.) Having to teach high schoolers and being held responsible for their lack of motivation? Sounds like my worst nightmare.

I hope things get better, and soon. Do you have any personal days or sick days? I can't even comprehend going through 3+ months without a day of break.

[kodalai.livejournal.com]

This is why I only wanna teach adults.

Yeah. Teaching in high school and below was NEVER a lifetime career ambition of mine -- and this job experience is pretty much confirming me in that. I still might want to teach in college, but as much as that has its own can of stresses and idiocies, that would be a whole different kettle of fish.

I do actually have 10 days of paid leave left -- which is almost half my original total of 10. I was saving it up for a big vacation to go to the States during a break -- but now, uh, I wonder if I might have miscalculated? O.o Because my contract rolles over on August 1, which is also when the summer break starts -- if I don't use the days before then, I might lose them, but I'm not sure I can get away with taking a major break in the middle of the school year.

[petenshi.livejournal.com]

*waves* Hello. I just got back from Golden Week today and saw Sharon's post about your problem. If you want to talk, advice, just someone to bitch to, whatever...I'd be more than happy to try and help. I teach at a nonacademic high school and understand your problem only too well.

[kodalai.livejournal.com]

My high school is divided in half when it comes to english -- some of the students are pretty high level and motivated, and then there's everyone else, who's neither. I just wish that I didn't have the Frontier classes so often -- I feel like I could be doing more for the really motivated kids if I had more time for them. Argh!

[petenshi.livejournal.com]

Looking at the other comments, it seems like you got some good advice. I was also going to ask if you had a supervisor you could speak with about the solo thing. As for the no-Japanese immersion stuff...personally, if it were me and I was flying solo, I'd say screw it. Speak Japanese. It's not like they're going to fire you. Your kids are probably just as miserable as you are and the whole clandestine Japanese could potentially bring you together and make a better learning environment.

I come from a VERY low level academic school. Thugs, hooligans, extortionists, you name it. I screw around with the students in class occasionally (usually during boring grammar explanations which they aren't paying attention to anyway) and getting 'busted' by the JTE has changed my relationship with the kids, suddenly I'm one of them and cool to talk to. That might not be the approach you want to take but it's definitely worked for me.

The trick is definitely to get them motivated. If you're playing a game, you could try giving a prize. Have the kids go write answers on the board themselves. Or you could try moving the class somewhere different, another empty classroom, an unused gym or even outside.

In the end though, you just might be stuck with a crappy class. Like everyone has said, it's not your fault if they just want to be boring lumps at their desk. Sometimes you get a winner class and sometimes you get a loser.

[ainokitsune.livejournal.com]

Talk to your advisers. That's what they're there for. Send an email. Do you have a listserve? That's what we have here in Kumamoto, and there's a lot of chat going on all the time, so others in your area might be able to help.

I was given to understand that the law requires you to always, always have a teacher in the room with you--are you not technically an ALT? Otherwise you might be able to weasel out of this situation of having to teach on your own. Seriously, this needs to go to your advisers or whoever is your supervisor at the school/BOE. Complain! Raise hell if you have to. You'll only be there for a few years anyway, and thought rocking the boat at work isn't necessarily the way to go, polite but firm statements of having a real, serious problem, to your supervisor might go a long way. Try.

I have the AJET team taught pizza book, which is in English and Japanese--you can pick games in English and get someone to do the Japanese explanations for you from the translations. If you'd like, I'd be more than willing to scan some of what I have and email it to you. There are a lot of games--problem is if you've already lost their willingness to participate (or if it never existed in the first place) you need first to concentrate on winning that back, or building some up. That might be something the JTE will need to help you with--as a real authority figure, s/he can come in and lay down some law, at least with regards to what will not be tolerated within the room.

I taught in the elective classes for the last two years, and the third-years are always, always a pain in the ass because you invariably get the "cool" idiots who really, really don't want to be there. If you're finding what you're doing isn't working, do something else. Most english classes are terminally boring and painful, so if you can do a whole shitload of games up front, for the next few classes at least, try that. Show DVDs--I often showed movies whenever I could get away with it.

You might concentrate on trying to develop a rapport with the kids. Some of them you maybe never will be able to. But try to find ways to get them up and moving around. Use prizes. I sank a lot of cash into cheap-ass prizes from the hyaku-en shops and they *work* as motivators. Kids *want* free stuff-- I don't care how old they are or cool they think they are. Just the *fact* that it's free is a motivator.

If you want some game ideas, check out Dave's ESL cafe. Genkienglish.com is really more for elementary-level games, but you might also be able to find and adapt some of what are there. Use games they already know, like Bingo. Try english shirtori and play some cool, high-energy music while you do it. If they're only in the class because it's a requirement, push for games and activities. What are your unique abilities? I took my kids out one day and made them do karate drills. It was something...they didn't learn any English, but it got them up and around.

Why the hell do they have you in there teaching on your if you can't speak any Japanese? That's idiotic. No. Somebody needs a hand upside the head, and the only way that may happen is if you make some noise. One of the problems with being in the JET program is that to some degree you have to advocate for yourself, until you bring in an adviser--so do it. Do what you have to, to get what you need.

[ainokitsune.livejournal.com]

Also I'd like to add that if the kids are being dicks, first and foremost remember that it is not your fault and it does not reflect on you as a person or a teacher. You're getting these kids, now, at a late date, after all the other previous teachers who've dealt with them, and the Japanese school system and style of teaching, failed. You are not at fault for what is happening now. You may have the ability to rise to the challenge, kick some ass and take some names, and I suspect that you do, but during the time when you are doing this thing, remember that however those kids behave, whatever they do, whatever shit hits whatever fan--it isn't because of you or anything you did. The fault rests with their teachers and parents and all those who came before you. Bear that in mind. *pats*

[kodalai.livejournal.com]

That actually is comforting to think of. Thanks for the reminder.

[kodalai.livejournal.com]

I was given to understand that the law requires you to always, always have a teacher in the room with you--are you not technically an ALT?

It does. I don't have a teaching certificate, so I wouldn't be legally allowed to teach solo even if I were Japanese. I've pointed it out to them, but because this is a private school and not public, apparently it's overall just a lot more relaxed on this sorta thing. (I can't complain too much, since it's the same relaxation that lets me get away with half-days during the holidays.)

I also have a copy of Team Taught Pizza -- I get a lot of good ideas from it. But the challenge is just finding a game that is complex enough to hold their attention but simple enough to explain with the english they know. I can't imagine how other ALTs get their kids to play "Battleships" -- I have trouble getting them to play Karuta!

Why the hell do they have you in there teaching on your if you can't speak any Japanese?

It's not that I can't speak Japanese -- it's that the department head has decided that the Frontier classes this year will be English immersion environment. Nobody is allowed to speak Japanese. :\ It's stressing the heck out of the other teachers too, the office is like a time bomb lately.

[ainokitsune.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's stupid. English immersion only works if the people are actually capable of handling it--and want to try. Otherwise people just get pissy about stuff. I know I do. XD

I'd still say talking to your local in-charge types are your best bet. I don't want to give bad advice, not being in your situation, but my experience has taught me (painfully) that sitting and accepting a situation doesn't really help in the long run. Of course a mis-step could be dangerous and have long-term unpleasant consequences, but a lot of times you just have to stick your neck out, even if in the short term it makes things more uncomfortable.

Good luck with this. A lot of people are crappy assholes, basically, and the fact is that just because they do crappy, assholey things to you doesn't mean it's something you should accept. Just because they don't like people sticking up for themselves doesn't mean you shouldn't do it.

Advice from a former jet

[yoshiinjapan.livejournal.com]

Hi my name is Yosenex a former JET from Saitama friends with Koyasunomiko. I encountered similar problems in both my English Clubs and Technical Schools. You have to pull out the little English they know and build on that. Rather than using sentences try just with simple words. One of the best games I did with my students who were very low level was have simple Japanese words written on cards. A student would come up look at the card and act out the word to and make the other students guess the word. The first team to write it on the blackboard would get points. It was an effective way of teaching them verbs.
In my second year a lot more of my students respected me for studying Japanese and occassionally using it. In some cases I would speak in Japanese and even the lowest of students would do their best to speak English.

In the end remember that it's not your fault. Japan has always had problems with English education. Having thousands of inexperienced foreigners come in doesn't magically make them learn English. If you can teach them one word, one concept you've done your job. Good luck.

Re: Advice from a former jet

[kodalai.livejournal.com]

In my second year a lot more of my students respected me for studying Japanese and occassionally using it. In some cases I would speak in Japanese and even the lowest of students would do their best to speak English.

I wish I could do that -- if nothing else, when I speak Japanese the students usually laugh at my mistakes, which lightens up the atmosphere and gets them moving a bit. But these classes are supposed to be immersion environments, so no spoken Japanese aloud. :(

That way of teaching (or reinforcing) vocab sounds interesting and definitely like something they could do. Thanks, I'll try it.

Advice from a current JET

[galenide14.livejournal.com]

Hello, my name is Ruben and I'm a friend of Yosenex, the former JET from Saitama. I'm currently an ALT in Osaka prefecture, I've been here for 3 years, and I read your entry through a link from Yosenex's LJ. Though I don't work in high school (my only stint in high school was when I visited Yosenex in Saitama), the students I work with range from smart and diligent (only a select few), and the rest are the knuckleheads, trouble-makers, and self-absorbed "popular" students with piercings and dyed hair. I work in the worst, most populated junior high-school in Kashiwara City in Osaka Prefecture.

Anyway, you have to make an effort to get to know your students outside of class (maybe at lunch time, or between periods). That way they will warm up to you. You have to recognize their level of English in order to make an effective lesson plan. If the JTE is not around, find them. It is their job to work with you, and to discuss lesson plans. The supposed problems that are occurring are not all your fault, because the JTEs are supposed to provide "crowd control" and they are supposed to know and handle these students better than you do. If it gets to the point where you have to do that, then there is a problem.

If you show interest in the students and their interests, then they'll show significant interest in you and/or class, they will actually be happy to see you, and talk to you when you walk up the classroom. I get mobbed by students, wanting to say hello, and try to speak English...bad, incorrect English, but English nonetheless...and that's progress.

As for these "English only classes" just remember: in the classroom, depending on their level, keep the English simple and brief. Use hand gestures, and the JTE is supposed to take over from there. Outside of the pressures of the classroom, you can chat in Japanese/English with the students, and once they feel comfortable around you, they will likely ask you to translate words. Keep an electronic dictionary just in case. They wouldn't ask the teachers because they probably don't care or are supposedly "busy", so that would be a good time for you to befriend them. Soon, they'll like you better than the other teachers because you make the effort to get to know them as opposed to nagging and scolding them.

Enough of my rants...hope this helps and good luck. Keep asking your fellow JETs (current or former) for advice if you need it.

Re: Advice from a current JET

[kodalai.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the advice. *hugs* Things are going a little better now -- at the least, it's Finals week, so I have some time to breathe and plan new lessons.