Job Discussion Forums

[Alberta605]

Let's start from the premise that many adult students of English in Japan are a little odd, and that's why they're learning English while the vast majority of 'more normal' people aren't.

But, how does an instructor deal with those truly odd students who are clearly not the full deck? For example, I had a student who said he wanted to go to Paris, when asked why he replied he wants to buy a pair of burgundy velvet gloves. Not the thing that would immediately spring to mind as a reason me thinks. The same student also claimed to not understand religion because he got in some hot water for praying at a Catholic church in L.A without his trousers on. On the other hand there are the unpleasantly unbalanced kind of student. A colleague of mine had to endure explaining himself to his Japanese manager because a student rushed into reception and began literally screaming that he was speaking too quickly in the lesson. Not a simple 'could you speak more slowly plz' from this oddball, oh no...

[JimDunlop2]

For every bizarre student you get, I can virtually guarantee at least the same number of bizarre teachers living in Japan. And if you get 'em into ANY kind of position of management? Hoooo boy! Watch out!

The students you described don't actually seem so out-of-the-ordinary to be honest.... Although the one with the trousers is a bit odd -- perhaps he was wearing shorts, then?

Anyway, I think this is where the term "Shou ga nai" comes in mighty handy. Just Roll your eyes, sigh and say "shou ga nai!" Try it! I guarantee you'll feel 100% better!

I used to work: customer service, billing support, ADSL technical support, and 6-1-1 (repair) at Canada's second largest telco -- believe me, I can tell you some BIZARRE stories too! Whenever I got one, I took a "coffee break," left the "queue" and wrote about the experience in my journal. I figured, hey -- even if I don't write a book about this some day, I'll have stories to tell my kids and grandkids. Plus, my weird customer stories go over great when I'm out drinking with friends, or conversation starters at parties.

Good luck though. And remember: Illegitimi non carborundum...

[ShaggyZ]

Hey Jim,

That was a good idea to keep that journal. I used to do tech support for Comcast internet and wish I had written down some of the weird calls I had.

[jerjer]

if you want bizarre experiences, work at the front counter of a post office like i did...students respect teachers, but everyone hates the post office

i guess the best way of dealing with the kooky characters is just to smile or laugh about it as they do in thailand (it's the thai way or the highway lol... )

[shuize]

[ripslyme]

As far as why someone would give up that job, there is a reason we now have the expression "Going Postal".

[Apsara]

I had all kinds of nutjobs in my classes over the years but one that stands out was the woman who said to me, thankfully in a private lesson "Can I ask you a question? I'm thinking of having a sex change." I was like "Oh, I see, and what was your question?" I really didin't know how to respond to that one. 6 months later I heard she was married.

I have no idea why someone would want to tell their English teacher something like that.

[JimDunlop2]

Sometimes students either try to test limits, elicit a strong reaction or even get dared by friends.

I would totally believe that your student who told you about her wanting a sex-change was either dared to do it by her friends, or got taught that phrase in English by a "friend" who told her to say it to you and see how you respond.

Normally this is characteristic of junior high school kids (in terms of maturity and how common it is) but I know enough immature adults that I certainly wouldn't put it past them.

Here's one -- an elementary schoolkid comes running up to me one day... "DUNLOP-SENSEI, DUNLOP-SENSEI!!!...." in the hallway. So I stopped, and asked, "nani ka?" and the student just said , "Seku-hara" (And nothing else) obviously just to see how I'd react. Well, I just gave a dirty look, shook my head and said "no" and continued on my way. That was the end of that.

[shuize]

[Lynn]

A 5th grade boy went up to the 4th floor of the school where most class rooms were vacant, pooped on a sheet of paper and threw the sheet of paper out the window.

Apparently, this was the third time it had happened, and finally the parents were called.

I was shocked to hear that the parents were not called the first time it happened. The school nurse could only say, "What a healthy piece of poop. I'm so envious." (said in Japanese)

[JimDunlop2]

Heh... In such a case it's hard to say who has more issues -- the boy or the school nurse.

[Alberta605]

Hey JimDunlop - the guy who was caught praying without his pants on had apparently been acting in a play and had removed them while singing Japanese songs. It's still not clear why he neglected to replace them before going to talk to God, but I'm sure the resident Catholic priest was very interested in his confession that day.

Does anyone know of any Japanese songs that result in trouser removal?

One other thing, Jim - any chance of a simultaneous translation of your Japanese 'insertions' for those who know none?

[JimDunlop2]

[MyTy]

[JimDunlop2]

Ya, ya. Okay. So it's mock latin...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegitimi_non_carborundum