Teaching English in Japan with Ato: No Pain, No Gain!
Part 7: You know, the ichinensei (first-year students) aren't so bad. Maybe this is due to them being right out of elementary school. The ninensei (second-year students) and especially the sannensei (third-year students) are another story, however.CLASS ONE: THE SANNENSEIMost of the sannensei are not all that bad. They mostly make fun of my English and talk while I talk. One boy in particular insisted on repeating -in a funny voice- the last word I said. What really irks me is that the Japanese teacher stands right next to him and very, very, politely tries to get him to listen. The student, meanwhile, continues to do what he's doing.As far as I know, there is no such thing as being directly disciplined by the teacher in most Japanese public schools. If that is the case, I guess I flipped the script when I stopped the class and called the Japanese teacher to the front of the classroom in order to translate.I should add that despite the state-of-the-art facilities, new pool, tatami room and refurbished interior, the sannensei Japanese teacher speaks less English that the ichinensei Japanese teacher - go figure! In fact, I'd go as far as to say that some of the sannensei students speak more English than she does. This is my reality in the Japanese public school system.The Japanese teacher translates for me with great difficulty:
"Okay, okay- let's stop for a minute. I know that some of you don't like English - and that's fine. Languages are best learned when you're relaxed. You should know that you'll NEVER get a test from me. Anything written will be fun and you don't have to do it if you don't want to.
At this point I walk to the back of the classroom and place my arm around the boy who is making fun of my every word.
HOWEVER, if you disrespect me, I will bring a test in here EVERYDAY and have writing and repeating drills for the entire 50-minutes. And if you decide not to participate, I'll get your name, carry it to the principal and complain about you until your parents have to be called in. Now, If THAT happens...
I pause for effect.
...It'll be all HIS fault!
I point to the boy and the entire class nervously stares at him.
Boy: "I'm sorry!"
CLASS TWO: THE SANNENSEIIn the following sannensei class I'm trying to teach and one girl to the front is coloring -with markers-loudly! Ahhh! That irritating screechy-scrawling sound markers make. The agony!I continue with my listening comprehension as I slowly make my way down the aisle toward the girl coloring and gently remove the marker from her hand, put the cap on and place it on her desk with out skipping a beat. And you know what? The snotty little brat had the gall to pick up the marker and resume coloring.AGAIN, I have to stop the class and ask the barely-English-capable teacher to translate:
I know some of you don't like English - and that's okay. If you don't want to listen to me - you can leave the class or take out a book and read quietly. But I'm not going to let you do anything to distract me or the class.
The girl puts away her markers, takes out a non-English book, looks outside and pouts for the rest of the class. As soon as the bell rings she storms out and goes to an adjacent class to b*tch about me to one of her friends.CLASS THREE: THE NINENSEIBut by far the worse class!The questions following my listening comprehension went something like this:
Me: Okay, first question: What's my name? All Students: silence. Me: My name is....? My name is....? My name is.....? Student 1: SLIM SHADY!! Me: (Trying not to laugh because that was kind of funny) Okay then, what do you like? Student 2: Sex! Student 3: Big Breasts! Me: Seriously...what do you like... Student 4: Girls! Me: Fair enough! Who remembers what fruits grow in my country?Student 4: Marijuana! Me: Marijuana is not a fruit! Student 5: Nani sore? [What's that?]
Student 4 begins to explain to student 5 what marijuana is, along with very graphic gestures. A very heated side-conversation begins about the topic. Listening Comprehension ends.
Me: Anyone have any questions for me? Student 1: Do you have girlfriend? (I get asked this is EVERY class) Me: No! (I lie EVERY time) Student 2: So you like penis?
I ignore the question.
Student 3: Do you like Miss Nantoka.Me: Yes, she is a good teacher (lie) and you should respect her! Student 3: ...for sex?
I ignore the question which was kind of funny because Miss Nantoka may just be the ugliest teacher in the school, which is exactly why they asked. The bell rings and I hightail it outta there!Afterwards in the staffroom I overhear Miss Nantoka speaking to the other teachers in Japanese. They don't think I can understand, but I can - a little. I hear her complain about how embarrassed she was by the students. I step in and ask the teachers what they are talking about and Ms. Nantoka says it's about how good my class was (lie).Wow! If the students were so embarrassing, I wonder why Ms. Nantoka did not do more to control them?Well, I did have to wonder long since I actually got the answer to the riddle from a private student. I'll do my best to explain everthing in another post but I will just say that it apparently involves Communism and North Korea.Tomorrow I go to a new junior high school. I have already heard the horror stories. Apparently my new school will make this school look like Disney Land. I can't wait! No pain, no gain.Arrrrrgh! The horror...Read more here!Support Black Tokyo via Kimono Girl[ad#468x60-ad]
