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I'm happy. Ya know?
Apr. 18th, 2010 03:49 pmYes, so obviously, this is the I-Started-Work post.
My first week of teaching was fine and dandy. Mostly just introducing myself a lot. I like my jr. high a lot, so far. It's pretty relaxed, and the other teachers/staff are very nice. The Vice Principle is a crack-up, and the Principal seems very dedicated to the school and the students. The office ladies are cute, and don't speak any English, but are very patient with me and my meager Japanese. I love passing students in the halls, because they'll all be like "Hello!" or "Konnichi- ah, hello!" X3 On my second day there, I got to spend time pruning flowers with a 1st-year student who was actually from Indonesia; her English was very good, and one of the first things she asked me was "Do you have Facebook? Do you play Farmville?" *laughs* I told her I was apparently the only person in the world who doesn't play Farmville. On my third day there, after one class a trio of girls came up just to talk to me and ask me questions, practicing the English they already knew. I felt special. .^_^
And despite what PoT would have you believe, Japanese middle-schoolers do not look like 25-year-olds. .^^;;
I have, so far, only been to my elementary school half a day. Where as the jr. high is a brand new building, the elementary is very old, and it shows. It looks a bit run-down, dirty, and the floors are full of scuffs. The entire staff there, while still nice, speaks maybe ten words of English between them, and that includes the teacher who's been assigned to be the head of international studies (English). And of course, the building is full of small children. Well... duh. But that means the students are constantly running around, screaming, wrestling, and takes a lot more than a "Quiet, please" to calm them down. But the biggest difference, I think, will be that I actually have to work at the elementary school. .^^ I mean, at the jr. high they have regular English teachers, and those teachers write and perform the lesson plans. My job there is to act as a native voice, so the students can hear the language with a regular American accent. I repeat key words and phrases, or give short demonstrations, but for the most part I stand there and wait for the main teacher to tell me to speak. At the elementary school, though, I'll actually have to be the one conducting the class. Thankfully they already have lesson plans and materials prepared, so all I have to do is perform them, but it will be me standing up there, giving the lesson.
Mm...but that's to be expected. It's what I'm here for. And... at least I only have one elementary school, unlike the one guy here who got FIVE. Poor guy.
I still have to see how it'll go when I get into the swing of things. This past week has been strange because I'm mostly doing introductions, and the jr. high had testing, and the elementary actually gave me Friday off, since they had parent-teacher conferences. Hopefully, things will get normal soon.
And in totally other news... I have recommendations!
This story is very good. Everyone should read it.
This anime looks promising. I'm looking forward to more.
And this anime also looks sexy and fun. >3
Ooh, I just got a mail on my shiny new Japanese cell phone! .^_____^
My first week of teaching was fine and dandy. Mostly just introducing myself a lot. I like my jr. high a lot, so far. It's pretty relaxed, and the other teachers/staff are very nice. The Vice Principle is a crack-up, and the Principal seems very dedicated to the school and the students. The office ladies are cute, and don't speak any English, but are very patient with me and my meager Japanese. I love passing students in the halls, because they'll all be like "Hello!" or "Konnichi- ah, hello!" X3 On my second day there, I got to spend time pruning flowers with a 1st-year student who was actually from Indonesia; her English was very good, and one of the first things she asked me was "Do you have Facebook? Do you play Farmville?" *laughs* I told her I was apparently the only person in the world who doesn't play Farmville. On my third day there, after one class a trio of girls came up just to talk to me and ask me questions, practicing the English they already knew. I felt special. .^_^
And despite what PoT would have you believe, Japanese middle-schoolers do not look like 25-year-olds. .^^;;
I have, so far, only been to my elementary school half a day. Where as the jr. high is a brand new building, the elementary is very old, and it shows. It looks a bit run-down, dirty, and the floors are full of scuffs. The entire staff there, while still nice, speaks maybe ten words of English between them, and that includes the teacher who's been assigned to be the head of international studies (English). And of course, the building is full of small children. Well... duh. But that means the students are constantly running around, screaming, wrestling, and takes a lot more than a "Quiet, please" to calm them down. But the biggest difference, I think, will be that I actually have to work at the elementary school. .^^ I mean, at the jr. high they have regular English teachers, and those teachers write and perform the lesson plans. My job there is to act as a native voice, so the students can hear the language with a regular American accent. I repeat key words and phrases, or give short demonstrations, but for the most part I stand there and wait for the main teacher to tell me to speak. At the elementary school, though, I'll actually have to be the one conducting the class. Thankfully they already have lesson plans and materials prepared, so all I have to do is perform them, but it will be me standing up there, giving the lesson.
Mm...but that's to be expected. It's what I'm here for. And... at least I only have one elementary school, unlike the one guy here who got FIVE. Poor guy.
I still have to see how it'll go when I get into the swing of things. This past week has been strange because I'm mostly doing introductions, and the jr. high had testing, and the elementary actually gave me Friday off, since they had parent-teacher conferences. Hopefully, things will get normal soon.
And in totally other news... I have recommendations!
This story is very good. Everyone should read it.
This anime looks promising. I'm looking forward to more.
And this anime also looks sexy and fun. >3
Ooh, I just got a mail on my shiny new Japanese cell phone! .^_____^
