Nagamori chuugakkou (middle school) is a friendly, clean, and very large place where I now spend my weekdays. I am mid-way through my first week as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT), and things are going very well despite my distinct lack of Japanese language skills. I teach full-time at Nagamori, which is different from most of my ALTIA colleagues who teach at two schools (Matt included). I enjoy staying at one school because it is much easier for me to handle the language barrier: I am able to see the same kids and teachers every day, and I am continuously improving my communication skills.
Mostly the kids are great. They are, as a whole, interested and engaged. I have been doing a lot of jiko shoukai, which means "self-introduction." Third day in and the kids have got a pretty good handle on me even though I haven't officially been in their class yet. I no longer can ask them if I am from Australia, for example, because they all know I am from America. I can, however, make them laugh by showing them a "90" flashcard after asking "how old am I?"
I also enjoy the teachers and administrators. They are all so willing to talk to me, even if they can't speak English at all. We have silly conversations with one half of the conversation in Japanese and the other side in English, but we get along just fine. Today I understood almost all of a conversation I had with a Kyoto-Sensee (Vice-Principal). He told me about Nagamori's three sports day teams (the red team, akagumi; the blue team, aougumi; the white team, shirogumi) and about the coming taifu (typhoon). Yes, there are regular typhoons in Japan. Gifu is very inland however, so the likelihood of anything drastic happening here is very low. This particular taifu, I was assured, is chiisai, or small. In any case, I was quite proud of myself for understanding him!
I also have been proving myself as a teacher in each class. The Japanese Teachers of English (JTE) were very surprised to know this is my first time in Japan and teaching English. Everyone tells me I am far exceeding some of the previous, and I think more recent, ALTs. I am happy to do so, happy to show them I am a decent teacher, I can handle a class, and I will make the effort to speak Japanese more each day. That is what I do! And for it, I am learning a lot, and I will get to plan some lessons for particular level 3 (8th grade) classes! This is nice, and a mark that I am already doing my job well.
Oh yes. And Japan's ice is way cooler than ice I've ever had anywhere else, and I am talking not of any magical "it" factor, but the actual coldness the ice possesses. It is perfectly square, small, and stays frozen forever. I put ice in my water in the morning and the SAME ICE is in my water in the afternoon. And my water is COLD! For those ice fans out there, this is as good as it gets. Also, this is particularly impressive if you remember back to my first Gifu post, where I explained that it is ninety trillion degrees here.
Next post: Matt's experiences at Nagamori Minami (South) and Sakaigawa.
It's wonderful to hear that your first week of classes went so well. What's the age range of the kids?
ReplyDeleteI need some of that ice here! The Arizona summer is still lingering around and has been hanging out lately with its new friend, humidity.
Do they use a ton of freon or something? I enjoy cold drinks, but I also enjoy the process of the ice cube melting. I probably won't like it.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm not suprised you are doing so well or that people are so impressed with you. You have been teaching people of all ages a variety of things, dance, science labs etc for awhile now. You've mastered teaching, even if you haven't mastered their language, but I'm sure you are learning quickly. And anyway you are there to teach english anyway. Glad things are going well!