Memoirs of an Assistant Language Teacher
Don’t fret; it’s just another fancy title for today’s blog. Well anyway I decided to bring my laptop to school today. Usually this is a rare thing since my laptop was not built to be portable as it weighs somewhere around 8-10 pounds. I think my original motive for the laptop was to use it functions as a stereo and a DVD player rather than actual WORD programs or computer things. I mean the graphic cartridge is pretty nice, I have enough memory, and a widescreen monitor. I’m starting to wish that maybe I should have purchased one that was light and indeed was a “portable computer.”
Not that I’m complaining, this computer has been there for me since I got to Japan. Ahh, when I first got here, sitting in my still barren room, watching Kenshin was the only thing that got me through the night. Well there was Krystal but we all know how she likes to fall asleep.
Sitting in the staff room sucks ass! What are you supposed to do in a staff room for hours at a time? Actually, one of my English teachers is sitting right next to me and she’s making props for our lessons today. I guess I could help but making flash cards seem to be a “one person” kind of thing. Actually I’m not even sure if the flash cards she’s making are even for today. See if I were to help her, than the task would be done and then we would BOTH have to pretend to be working. So writing a blog should keep the equilibrium of the empty staff room.
So what is it that we do? So far at this school I have been the Milton Bradley of English activities. They come to me with the day’s lesson. And then its, “Chris do you have activity for today?” Activity meaning “game” to the English Teachers. Even geniuses should have time to think of their masterpieces right? So far I’m 5 for 6. As in they asked me to come up with a game 6 times and only once did I fail them. And that one time that I didn’t think of a game they gave me this like I wasn’t doing my job. It’s as if the roles were reversed and we had a program where Japanese people would come to American schools to teach Japanese. So we finally get them into the class and we just ask them to do funny Japanese things like “how to do a proper kampai, repeat asinine Japanese words like sumimasen and genki desu ka, or do you have any Japanese games?” I wish that they would take things like that into consideration.
Actually the real reason I brought my computer to school. The other day the English teacher asked me to go to the English Club during their period. I guess that would be the proper thing to do since I am sort of like an English teacher special guest. Anyway I go to the class and the room itself is as small as broom closet with a small table in the middle with four laptops. And on the laptops are four girls 1 8th grader and 3 7th graders. What are they doing? They are playing a typing tutor type game. I guess you can say that this is studying English it was pretty sad. Anyway the teacher wanted me to go there because it would have been the perfect opportunity to have a conversation with a native speaker. They asked me a few questions but there was the one girl (8th grader) that I have nicknamed “The Rock.” Is it because she is built like a tank? Is it because she in fact looks like “The Rock?” Is it because she can move her eye brows really high? Is it because she looks like she could play King Kamehameha in a movie?” NO, it’s because she sits there in front of the computer and doesn’t talk. In the beginning of term at this school (a week ago) I have done the obligatory walk around campus a few times and every time I poked my head into the English Club to see what was up and there she was practicing her typing. I tired to be friendly but she would not speak. In fact, I’m not sure even if she acknowledged that I was talking to her. So I gave up on the club. Then I went and had a small interview session with the club and the 7th graders weren’t that bad. In the best English they knew how, asked me some pretty interesting questions. Most of the questions had to do with me when I was in junior high school and it interesting to answer them. But then again “The Rock” didn’t speak. She asked ONE question at a level I’m sure not even her own teeth heard her. But anyway, talking with the other girls I found out they liked Anime and movies. So I offered to bring my computer and watch English movies. They couldn’t decide on a movie to watch so I suggested anime. They thought it was a good idea but the thing is that the anime is in Japanese. So how do I show Japanese language anime in English class? Well you see the anime also comes with English subtitles. So I just promised to pause the anime every once in awhile and ask them about the subtitles. HAHAHAHA I get to watch anime in school and perhaps even broaden the anime knowledge of a few lucky 7th graders and “The Rock.” On today’s program, “Naruto the Movie” or maybe a few episodes. Maybe I can eventually get them to enjoy such classics like, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory or even Goonies. It’s my way to change the world one English Club at a time.
Break it Down
Not that I’m complaining, this computer has been there for me since I got to Japan. Ahh, when I first got here, sitting in my still barren room, watching Kenshin was the only thing that got me through the night. Well there was Krystal but we all know how she likes to fall asleep.
Sitting in the staff room sucks ass! What are you supposed to do in a staff room for hours at a time? Actually, one of my English teachers is sitting right next to me and she’s making props for our lessons today. I guess I could help but making flash cards seem to be a “one person” kind of thing. Actually I’m not even sure if the flash cards she’s making are even for today. See if I were to help her, than the task would be done and then we would BOTH have to pretend to be working. So writing a blog should keep the equilibrium of the empty staff room.
So what is it that we do? So far at this school I have been the Milton Bradley of English activities. They come to me with the day’s lesson. And then its, “Chris do you have activity for today?” Activity meaning “game” to the English Teachers. Even geniuses should have time to think of their masterpieces right? So far I’m 5 for 6. As in they asked me to come up with a game 6 times and only once did I fail them. And that one time that I didn’t think of a game they gave me this like I wasn’t doing my job. It’s as if the roles were reversed and we had a program where Japanese people would come to American schools to teach Japanese. So we finally get them into the class and we just ask them to do funny Japanese things like “how to do a proper kampai, repeat asinine Japanese words like sumimasen and genki desu ka, or do you have any Japanese games?” I wish that they would take things like that into consideration.
Actually the real reason I brought my computer to school. The other day the English teacher asked me to go to the English Club during their period. I guess that would be the proper thing to do since I am sort of like an English teacher special guest. Anyway I go to the class and the room itself is as small as broom closet with a small table in the middle with four laptops. And on the laptops are four girls 1 8th grader and 3 7th graders. What are they doing? They are playing a typing tutor type game. I guess you can say that this is studying English it was pretty sad. Anyway the teacher wanted me to go there because it would have been the perfect opportunity to have a conversation with a native speaker. They asked me a few questions but there was the one girl (8th grader) that I have nicknamed “The Rock.” Is it because she is built like a tank? Is it because she in fact looks like “The Rock?” Is it because she can move her eye brows really high? Is it because she looks like she could play King Kamehameha in a movie?” NO, it’s because she sits there in front of the computer and doesn’t talk. In the beginning of term at this school (a week ago) I have done the obligatory walk around campus a few times and every time I poked my head into the English Club to see what was up and there she was practicing her typing. I tired to be friendly but she would not speak. In fact, I’m not sure even if she acknowledged that I was talking to her. So I gave up on the club. Then I went and had a small interview session with the club and the 7th graders weren’t that bad. In the best English they knew how, asked me some pretty interesting questions. Most of the questions had to do with me when I was in junior high school and it interesting to answer them. But then again “The Rock” didn’t speak. She asked ONE question at a level I’m sure not even her own teeth heard her. But anyway, talking with the other girls I found out they liked Anime and movies. So I offered to bring my computer and watch English movies. They couldn’t decide on a movie to watch so I suggested anime. They thought it was a good idea but the thing is that the anime is in Japanese. So how do I show Japanese language anime in English class? Well you see the anime also comes with English subtitles. So I just promised to pause the anime every once in awhile and ask them about the subtitles. HAHAHAHA I get to watch anime in school and perhaps even broaden the anime knowledge of a few lucky 7th graders and “The Rock.” On today’s program, “Naruto the Movie” or maybe a few episodes. Maybe I can eventually get them to enjoy such classics like, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory or even Goonies. It’s my way to change the world one English Club at a time.
Break it Down
posted by Chris at 11:11 PM
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