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Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

The question was should a teacher attempt to discipline students in Tokyo public night school.

P.S. Please forgive

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Great JTE, let him take all the classes.

Try asking more leading questions than tell me about your trip. Write:
What was in yout hotel room?
Where did you go on Saturday?
What did you eat for breakfast?
Etc....

Model a few for them and tell them you'd like them answered in full sentences. If you ask them to do an activity that is too open ended, than they will shut down or not go along.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

I too work with a JTE who would rather I not attend his class. He usually tells me ahead of time that he wants to teach alone that day, so I can just kick around the staff room.

It pi$$ed me off at first, but now I don't care. If he figures that what he has to teach the kids is SO much more important than what I've got for them (even though I usually center my activities around the curriculum/textbook content they are learning at the time) then that's fine. Teach in good health and let me use my newly-found free time to prepare for classes where I'm actually welcome.

Yah, sometimes it sucks, but as the Japanese say: "sho ga nai"

JD

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Gordon, you're absolutely right. I really was geeking out there. Believe me, this place is like the zoo on steroids. Excellent ideas you mentioned and I appreciate it.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Have you seen Welcome back Kotter? Have you ever been in a Tokyo night school?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Yes, I have seen Welcome Back Kotter. That was part of my generation.

Have I ever taught a night school? Does eikaiwa count? I taught it for 3.5 years.

If you are the boss, why are you letting a JTE tell you what to do? I'm confused.

Lesson plans in your head are bound to fail. NEVER go into a class without some kind of PLANNED lesson. You are just asking for it.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

It's night school. You know all the wacky kids, dropouts, misfits, whatever.

The teachers have opted for that or some island school somewhere, which they must do at some point in their careers.

Present JTE is one of the most uncommunicative people you will ever encounter in public school and I'm sure we all know some real doozies. My mate said he doesn't communicate with anyone and does nothing he is supposed to. I could care less.

I go in, ellicit relevant vocabulary and language pertaining to my lesson, engage one or more of the better students using target language, write vocabulary and key language on the board and pass out speaking task prints.

I pair weak students with stronger ones and roam the class helping with pronunciation, intonation and with some I demonstrate and encourage the use of reduced forms and colloquial expressions.

I help them to develop rythym and stress by clap/speak when necessary.

I pretty much ignore the keitai kids, sleepers, make-up queens and tough guys, though not always. If time permits, I will make an effort to engage them in conversation, show them what the others can do and encourage them to take part in the nest lesson.

--education is not the filling of a vessel but the lighting of a fire.

easyasabc · Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 179 Location: Japan

johnslat · Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 1:54 pm Post subject:

Dear easyasabc,
Whatsa matta - you never heard of "phat" or the "Phish"?
Regards,
John

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

I sometimes wonder whether some posters exist in the classical sense of the word or are merely wired into Dave's hard-drive, providing the answers to life's mysteries, and keen and useful esl advise for the same price.

I think it begins with establishing a clever moniker and cool visual i.d. in the top left corner. From there you must have the savvy to put those boxes with the quotes in them, it makes it so much easier to tear someone apart wor.d by word

---the only thing I know is that I know nothing at all

ranmawoman · Joined: 06 May 2004 Posts: 64 Location: San Francisco, CA

ok. I'm a bit confused. What's a JTE and what school are you teaching for? PM me if you don't want to speak poorly about a school on an open forum. Thanks!

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

I vaguely remember this being a post about... night school?!?!?

Where did the original message go? And why did it go?!?!?

Sweetsee--I agree with shmooj in that people are not giving you a hard time. When you're surrounded by English teachers & linguists, you may find (or should I say 'have found'?) that they expect their fellow teachers to have full command of the language--spelling included. (After all, we do need to set a good example for our students when writing on the board!) Some of the advice you get here will be positive, some critical. Unless the critical stuff is blatantly uncalled for (like personal attacks, name calling, etc.), it can be just as helpful as the positive stuff.

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