The importance of foreign language teaching in Junior High Schools
I wish I could say that I constructed the title of this entry, but it's just an example sentence from my dictionary! I realised that I haven't really said much about the actual details of my job. I hope that those of you reading back home, and others who may have stumbled here looking for information about actually teaching in Japan, may find this interesting.
I work for a company who hires, trains and dispatches ALT's to locations mainly around southern Japan. I'm currently on a six month contract in Fukushima, Kiso-machi, Nagano-ken.
I work at five different schools:
Fukushima Junior High School 福島中学校 5 minute walk
Fukushima Elementary School 福島小学校 5 minute drive
Kaida Elementary School 開田小学校 30 minute drive
Ueda Elementary School 上田小学校 15 minute drive
Kiso Kindergarten 木曽幼稚園 10 minute drive
Originally Kaida was not part of my contract, but it was given to me to spare the work load of the other ALT (Brooke) in the area. If I do stay for another year (provided I am offered the position - ie, the Board of Education is happy with Altia keeping the contract), I think that I may only have four schools again. This is the last year that Ueda Elementary will be operating - it will be merging with Fukushima Elementary School. It's a little sad because the school is so beautiful; made entirely of wood and over 100 years old. But like the Principal said to me, it is dangerous for the children in times of earthquakes and the possible resultant fires.
My base school is Fukushima Junior High, and I love it there. The two English teachers are work with are fantastic, they know exactly what they are doing, but generally allow me to provide my input in lessons, should I wish to. I like to leave it up to them though, and be a good ALT.
My second school is Fukushima Elementary. I am there four times a month. The thing about Elementary schools (in my area at least) is that the teachers hardly speak a word of English, and if they do, they don't use it enough to be confident with it. As a result, I am expected to make all the lesson plans. In this respect, I am not an ALT. In no way am I an 'assistant'. This may be fine for some, but I am not trained as a teacher, I am trained as an assistant. Sometimes it seems like an uphill battle, and my lessons don't always go smoothly, I get a little overwhelmed, but slowly I am getting better (I think!).
At all my other schools I am there two times a month. The elementary schools are all the same, but the teachers at Kaida are a little more helpful. I think it's because their last ALT was from Altia, whereas all the other schools had a JET.
Kindergarten is great. I'm not there to teach, just to do what the kids do, basically. I suppose it's sort of like an immersion program. Some of the kids there actually go to eikaiwa, so they try out their 'good morning' and various expressions. I have a lot of fun there.
But back to the importance of foreign language learning in Junior High. Sort of. I just wanted to say that in the short time I have been working there, I have seen a massive improvement in the kids confidence with speaking English. Even the teachers have said so, and every lesson just gets better and better. Some kids are even starting to try and use the grammar they have learned in the past to make more complicated expressions. It makes me really happy to see they are trying. They are still a little scared to talk to me outside of class (as am I! I can hardly understand them because they speak so fast!).
I still don't know whether I will stay for longer. I know I always said I wanted to stay in Japan for at least one year. I was also so sure of becoming an interpreter or translator. I must admit I don't really know what I want to do anymore. I'm still going to go back to Uni at some point and attempt to finish a masters degree, but right now I feel like I just want to have some fun :)
I wish I could say that I constructed the title of this entry, but it's just an example sentence from my dictionary! I realised that I haven't really said much about the actual details of my job. I hope that those of you reading back home, and others who may have stumbled here looking for information about actually teaching in Japan, may find this interesting.
I work for a company who hires, trains and dispatches ALT's to locations mainly around southern Japan. I'm currently on a six month contract in Fukushima, Kiso-machi, Nagano-ken.
I work at five different schools:
Fukushima Junior High School 福島中学校 5 minute walk
Fukushima Elementary School 福島小学校 5 minute drive
Kaida Elementary School 開田小学校 30 minute drive
Ueda Elementary School 上田小学校 15 minute drive
Kiso Kindergarten 木曽幼稚園 10 minute drive
Originally Kaida was not part of my contract, but it was given to me to spare the work load of the other ALT (Brooke) in the area. If I do stay for another year (provided I am offered the position - ie, the Board of Education is happy with Altia keeping the contract), I think that I may only have four schools again. This is the last year that Ueda Elementary will be operating - it will be merging with Fukushima Elementary School. It's a little sad because the school is so beautiful; made entirely of wood and over 100 years old. But like the Principal said to me, it is dangerous for the children in times of earthquakes and the possible resultant fires.
My base school is Fukushima Junior High, and I love it there. The two English teachers are work with are fantastic, they know exactly what they are doing, but generally allow me to provide my input in lessons, should I wish to. I like to leave it up to them though, and be a good ALT.
My second school is Fukushima Elementary. I am there four times a month. The thing about Elementary schools (in my area at least) is that the teachers hardly speak a word of English, and if they do, they don't use it enough to be confident with it. As a result, I am expected to make all the lesson plans. In this respect, I am not an ALT. In no way am I an 'assistant'. This may be fine for some, but I am not trained as a teacher, I am trained as an assistant. Sometimes it seems like an uphill battle, and my lessons don't always go smoothly, I get a little overwhelmed, but slowly I am getting better (I think!).
At all my other schools I am there two times a month. The elementary schools are all the same, but the teachers at Kaida are a little more helpful. I think it's because their last ALT was from Altia, whereas all the other schools had a JET.
Kindergarten is great. I'm not there to teach, just to do what the kids do, basically. I suppose it's sort of like an immersion program. Some of the kids there actually go to eikaiwa, so they try out their 'good morning' and various expressions. I have a lot of fun there.
But back to the importance of foreign language learning in Junior High. Sort of. I just wanted to say that in the short time I have been working there, I have seen a massive improvement in the kids confidence with speaking English. Even the teachers have said so, and every lesson just gets better and better. Some kids are even starting to try and use the grammar they have learned in the past to make more complicated expressions. It makes me really happy to see they are trying. They are still a little scared to talk to me outside of class (as am I! I can hardly understand them because they speak so fast!).
I still don't know whether I will stay for longer. I know I always said I wanted to stay in Japan for at least one year. I was also so sure of becoming an interpreter or translator. I must admit I don't really know what I want to do anymore. I'm still going to go back to Uni at some point and attempt to finish a masters degree, but right now I feel like I just want to have some fun :)
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