Job Discussion Forums

matador · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 281

Whats the weirdest thing a student has ever said to you?

Y'know, the kind of situation where you think "How on earth can I reply to you/what kind of Japanese thinking is this...?".

I am wondering as, when asked whether Japan should import more foreign (in this case, Chinese) rice, a student said to me "No, because the Chinese would hide drugs and guns in the rice in order to make more crime in Japan".

I have a bundle of other gems but what about you? Let the list begin...

cornishmuppet · Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Posts: 642 Location: Nagano, Japan

'Don't sexual harassment!' from a 2nd grade boy as I sat down next to him on the minibus as we prepared to go on a short class excursion. Thankfully he was joking.

Not really an opinion, but at least it was funny. I've heard several that tend to be as equally racist as matador's student's.

'The police said it had to be a Korean,' said a stern faced housewife student, on recalling an old burglary.

Me - 'why?'

'Because a Japanese person wouldn't have done it.'

Probably best to keep this thread to funny ones!

chinagirl · Joined: 27 May 2003 Posts: 235 Location: United States

Adult Student: "There are no immigrants in Tokyo."

Teacher: "You mean, there are few immigrants in Tokyo, right?"

Student: "No, there are no immigrants in Tokyo."

Teacher, "Ummm, let's move on."

southofreality · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 579 Location: Tokyo

A student told me that he believes murder is not the most serious crime since even good people sometimes do it.

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

A teacher I worked with was told by an older man at our school that there are no gay people in Japan. He must think all the okama tarento are just pretending...

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

wow..the murder thing is funny in a really sad way...

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

I once had a 3-year old call me "hentai" in front of her mom. It was quite a shock for both of us. After our initial gasps, we both laughed. There was a split-second of discomfort though! Very Happy

chollimaspeed · Joined: 11 Sep 2007 Posts: 120

Student: "Japan has four Japanese seasons..."

Me: "Yes, I know."

Student: "Those seasons are, Japanese Spring, Japanese Summer, Japanese Autumn and Japanese Winter..." (counting each one on his Japanese fingers as he does).

Me: "Yes, I know. England has the same, which is why English names for the seasons exist."

Student: "No, Japan's seasons are different."

Dipso · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 194 Location: England

A student recently asked me if I had ever eaten rice before I came to Japan!

Another strange comment I have heard recently was from a Japanese staff member at my school. At the time I had rather a startling array of mosquito bites, but my colleague told me that the bites couldn't be from mosquitoes as "they only bite Japanese people; they don't bite foreigners". She said she had heard this on TV. Quite bizarre.

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

Maybe it was the same TV program that taught my elementary school kids that Americans don't brush their teeth. (Seriously).

slowdive606 · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 15

I have had students tell me that destroying the natural environment for the purpose building pointless roads etc is good because it makes Japan "modern". I have had the "Japan has four seasons" conversation many times. Students tell me that all people from the UK are "kind and gentle", and are usually suprised by the amount of kickings I have taken. Every Japanese person wants to visit Australia so they can see a Koala. A student told me that all Chinese people are liars. Japanese rice is the best in the world. Japanese vegetables are a reasonable price, and the best in the world. I had my shoes stolen and a student told me that nobody would steal my shoes and that I must have somehow lost them. I had my umbrella stolen and a student told me that I must have imagined it. When on my bicycle, I have been hit by a car twice because it was going through a red light, but my students tell me that Japanese people don't jump the lights. I could go on forever. But I love living here, really.

Shimmeringstar · Joined: 18 Mar 2007 Posts: 34 Location: Kagoshima, Japan

One of my students is convinced that Texas, USA is one of the most dangerous places in the world. I heard her spreading the word to her friends to never go to Texas because everyone has guns and they'll shoot anyone. I asked her why she thought this and she explained to me that one of her teachers (Japanese) from last year warned her whole class about it. It was interesting to learn that her old teacher has never even been to America!

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

My wife was a firm believer in the popular Old Wive's Tale that leaving the fan on all night will result in death. Until I informed her that the myth originated in Korea.

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

Did you show your wife this diagram explaining the phenomenon?

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

Actually, I remember posting a question regarding this myth about a year or so ago on this forum, and you answered! I found it quite amusing.
And YES! I did show it to my wife!!!!! Laughing