| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
RM1983
Joined: 03 Jan 2007
Posts: 360
|
 Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 1:13 am Post subject: |
 |
|
For the record, I wasn't saying that new teachers are necessarily more genki but that they bring fresh ideas and enthusiasm to the job/place of work. The example I gave was at a school in the UK not here.
Overall it depends on the teacher though I think. Ive seen a vast variety of teachers in my time and there isnt only one type that makes for a good teacher.
I've seen very shy, socially awkward people be very successful at teaching just as I've seen the same type flop and get sacked.
Also I have seen teachers who have no clue about English as a subject become successful as they had such a great personality. Where I worked in the UK there were students who went for the more serious classes and students who just wanted to practise speaking. Likewise in Korea, the more acadmic lessons were busy as was the class with the American teacher who would just talk about Korean news stories inbetween texting on his phone.
Perhaps the best advice I could think of for a new teacher would be dont be scared of finding your own style and ways. In Japan you usually get DO IT OUR WAY as soon as you go for training.
There are a lot of factors at play. The ideal situation is to have a choice of teachers, goals and methods so that different student styles and personalities can be developed.
The obviously very bad thing about Japan is the closed-mindedness towards such things. The students arent all the same and dont all learn the same way.
I guess though if they arent learning anything they might as well be having a laugh!  |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
nightsintodreams
Joined: 18 May 2010
Posts: 558
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 5:09 am Post subject: |
|
|
This reminded me of an experience I had just this week. I was asked by a community center to teach an English class. I spent ages researching and choosing a textbook, made lots of materials and put a lot of effort into planning my first lesson well.
Went in there and started teaching it, but they didn't engage at all with the material or to seem be very interested in improving their english. When it came to the half way point I told them they could all take a 5 minute break.
"Any questions you want to ask?" I inquired. The room lit up and everyone asked me questions enthusiastically.
"Why did you come to Japan?"
"What's your hobby"?
"Do you have Japanese girlfriend?"
"What do you like about Japan?"
Screw it, why did I bother? But you want to pay me over 6000 yen to answer questions about myself and crack a few jokes for 90 minutes, I'm cool with that. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Solar Strength
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 557
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 10:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
| nightsintodreams wrote: |
When it came to the half way point I told them they could all take a 5 minute break.
"Any questions you want to ask?" I inquired. The room lit up and everyone asked me questions enthusiastically.
"Why did you come to Japan?"
"What's your hobby"?
"Do you have Japanese girlfriend?"
"What do you like about Japan?"
Screw it, why did I bother? But you want to pay me over 6000 yen to answer questions about myself and crack a few jokes for 90 minutes, I'm cool with that. |
Been there. Done that. Aha!
Yeah, it really makes one wonder what in the hell they are doing and for what reason.
But we are dealing with the Japanese.
Last edited by Solar Strength on Sat Apr 19, 2014 10:39 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Solar Strength
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 557
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 10:38 am Post subject: |
|
|
| PO1 wrote: |
I've always been interested in this idea of "genki" vs. actual ability. I feel like there have been cases where some students prefer having a genki teacher who is super fun rather than a teacher who can actually teach them to speak English.
I have a friend who took Japanese from an older guy and the guy was super strict and didn't allow any sort of English whatsoever. He said he learned more from him than he did from younger teachers who wanted to be his friend. |
Fun does not = learning.
But Japanese people do not believe this. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 10:11 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Solar Strength wrote: |
| PO1 wrote: |
I've always been interested in this idea of "genki" vs. actual ability. I feel like there have been cases where some students prefer having a genki teacher who is super fun rather than a teacher who can actually teach them to speak English.
I have a friend who took Japanese from an older guy and the guy was super strict and didn't allow any sort of English whatsoever. He said he learned more from him than he did from younger teachers who wanted to be his friend. |
Fun does not = learning.
But Japanese people do not believe this. |
Very true. I think "Genki English" and all the ideas attributed to it, are simply awful. It sets up all to fail, as the focus is on a teacher jumping and singing like a fool. Yet, take away all the nonsense, and the students aren't actually learning. As it is simply too teacher focused to be a real system. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
GambateBingBangBOOM
Joined: 04 Nov 2003
Posts: 2021
Location: Japan
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 11:34 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Solar Strength wrote: |
| PO1 wrote: |
I've always been interested in this idea of "genki" vs. actual ability. I feel like there have been cases where some students prefer having a genki teacher who is super fun rather than a teacher who can actually teach them to speak English.
I have a friend who took Japanese from an older guy and the guy was super strict and didn't allow any sort of English whatsoever. He said he learned more from him than he did from younger teachers who wanted to be his friend. |
Fun does not = learning.
But Japanese people do not believe this. |
Yep. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ssjup81
Joined: 15 Jun 2009
Posts: 664
Location: Adachi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 11:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| rxk22 wrote: |
| Solar Strength wrote: |
| PO1 wrote: |
I've always been interested in this idea of "genki" vs. actual ability. I feel like there have been cases where some students prefer having a genki teacher who is super fun rather than a teacher who can actually teach them to speak English.
I have a friend who took Japanese from an older guy and the guy was super strict and didn't allow any sort of English whatsoever. He said he learned more from him than he did from younger teachers who wanted to be his friend. |
Fun does not = learning.
But Japanese people do not believe this. |
Very true. I think "Genki English" and all the ideas attributed to it, are simply awful. It sets up all to fail, as the focus is on a teacher jumping and singing like a fool. Yet, take away all the nonsense, and the students aren't actually learning. As it is simply too teacher focused to be a real system. |
I think for really young kids, doing songs and such is effective as they remember the songs and the motions and sing along. Even in one's native country, for really young kids, songs are sometimes used. I know for me as a kid, the Schoolhouse Rock songs helped me a lot...although I didn't learn those in school as it still aired on Saturday mornings. Ironically, I still remember some of the songs and use them now. lol
Expecting that with older kids or adults is a bit insulting and patronizing, IMO. I was told, though that I should use them more.
Last edited by ssjup81 on Mon Apr 21, 2014 12:02 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 12:00 am Post subject: |
|
|
| It depends. I used to teach singing and drama. If students are interested, it works. I would say that the students were all teenage girls. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
RM1983
Joined: 03 Jan 2007
Posts: 360
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 2:59 am Post subject: |
|
|
| When you get to teens, jazz chants are effective. Thinking about this topic at the weekend and Ive had jazz chants stuck in my head since. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 10:00 am Post subject: |
|
|
By singing and dancing, I mean more of the stupid and pointless kind, as opposed to the actual geared towards learning type.
You all the know the stupid Genki type teachers, running around smiling and laughing like a clown. To the point where it distracts from learning. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
RM1983
Joined: 03 Jan 2007
Posts: 360
|
| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 12:25 am Post subject: |
|
|
| rxk22 wrote: |
By singing and dancing, I mean more of the stupid and pointless kind, as opposed to the actual geared towards learning type.
You all the know the stupid Genki type teachers, running around smiling and laughing like a clown. To the point where it distracts from learning. |
Yeah if I act like that, I either cant teach cos theyre in stitches laughing AT me or I scare the bejesus out of them.
I do tend to play the kid's classes more for laughs, generally. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
