Job Discussion Forums

[Ernstern14]

I just started at my school in Japan and I will be replacing one of the two teachers at the school. I spent last week observing her classes and have been getting a lot of negative feedback from the school owner and manager about my conduct. They are telling me that I am inconsiderate and have to work harder at recognizing how my actions affect others. I am trying to always smile, watch myself, be highly considerate and interact with the students at all times, but they have new reasons everyday about why I am inconsiderate. I am also trying to be culturally considerate without knowing all the nuances of the culture here. I know they need to watch out for their business and make sure the students are comfortable. So I guess my question is how is it easier to make students comfortable when you first meet them? Some seem to have responded to me greatly but others give off a vibe like they're uncomfortable. Other than speaking at their level of English, smiling and letting them know you understand, does anyone have any useful information? Also, does anyone have any advice on how to make it through all this negative feedback and miscommunication with bosses and to try to get over the somehow bad first impression? Any advice on how to understand this situation would be great. I am very confused and discouraged.

[Bread]

You didn't actually say what you had complaints about, so how are people supposed to comment on it?

[Ernstern14]

Thank you. The complaints from the managers to myself were that I was being inconsiderate. They cited a few examples where there was miscommunication about when to be somewhere and not joining my co-workers one night after work for dinner when I was sick etc., but overall their complaints seemed somewhat vague which is why I'd like to know if anyone has been in a similar situation.

[fluffyhamster]

Perhaps this school has had somebody with the looks of Brad or Angelina (or Jennifer - a blonde LOL), a superb teaching brain, and ultra cross-cultural skills, and you are suffering in an absolute and (un)fair comparison. I rather suspect however that the previous teachers were mere mortals not so different to yourself, but that the relative prosperity back then had the money rolling in regardless of how they taught or acted every minute; they therefore could do no wrong. But now the school is probably ailing financially (what with their being increasingly less money nowadays to still burn on English lessons), you are somehow being held responsible, made the scapegoat for this, despite obviously not having been at the school for long enough (yet ) to have had a deleterious impact on the business. (Miniplay TM: Boss A: The grass was always greener when it was actually growing. Boss B: Yes. But now there is no grass, thanks to the uncaring newcomer trampling it and killing it off. He does not have the "green feet" of previous teachers!). Anyway, this seems to be the constant refrain of employers the world over, especially nowadays: "What you employees are costing us!" (when you think they'd actually read n' believe their management manuals for once and try to spin it as "The profits you've made for us!" (but only if said without much if any irony, of course!)).

Or your bosses could (also) be micromanaging control freaks with little idea but who are nevertheless trying to really "break you (in)" (and they may have done this even to the previous semi-mythical "star" mentioned above).

Either way, the way you're being treated sounds a bit off, and if despite your best efforts (which I'm assuming you'll continue to make in at least the immediate short-term) the criticism shows no sign of abating (let alone some grudging praise any sign of emerging), then seriously start looking for another job (you have a work visa, right?).

Oh, and it's not your fault that some of the students appear 'uncomfortable' - some Japanese (especially some eikaiwa customers - a minority to be sure, but still... http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?p=832580#832580 ) are a bit weird for sure. (Hmm, I wonder if this has anything to do with the seemingly unrelenting demand in Japan for absolute conformity to some always higher standard!).

[Glenski]

[fluffyhamster]

Good points there, Glenski. (Me, I was probably reading and posting a bit too quickly, as I was "multitasking"! Plus I just can't seem to resist a good moan every now and then about Japan! ). Anyway, it'll be interesting to see what Ernstern says in reply to both our posts.

[projectrook]

As you are the new teacher on staff, you are at the bottom of the totem pole. Now while the "lifetime employment" is gone from Japan, the hierarchy still remains. Everyone on staff for the most part is going to be your 'sempai'. So for the most part, when someone tells you to jump you have to ask 'how high?"
Like everyone else who has posted thus far, I am not quite clear on what exactly took place. But it seems that perhaps you were asked to do a few things and you either didn't do it or maybe you looked visably reluctant when agreeing to do so.
Now while like you said you might have blow your chance at a first impression, you still have the chance to come out of this. As mentioned before, apologize without making excuses. An excuse is not really acceptable. Then I would suggest playing the "foreigner that doesn't know any better" card. After apologizing you can let it be known that there is still a lot about Japanese culture that you don't know and you are willing to learn. Then ask for help.

[ShioriEigoKyoushi]

--

[ripslyme]

[Ernstern14]

Thanks for all the great advice. What happened with the incident of not going to dinner was that at the beginning of the day it was mentioned to me by a co-worker that they would be having dinner after work together. This was no surprise to me because the previous three nights we had all (my co-workers, manager and me) eaten dinner together. It had always been informal and there were no serious plans made either the first three nights or the fourth night. The fourth night I let them know as we were getting ready to leave the school that I was running a fever and would not be joining them. It was not a set price dinner and no one was waiting for me at the restaurant or to pick me up. I mistook getting dinner after work as an open invitation and now I know that getting dinner after work is actually more of a professional interaction that I understood at first.

For all of the complaints I have apologized and didn't try to make a excuses, but thank you Glenski for the advice.

As far as "when to be somewhere" I am sorry for not explaining better. To give an example, I was staying with my Japanese manager until I could move into my apartment and she told me she was going to meet the other teacher at a store at 12:30 and I asked if I should come with her and she said no no, that's ok. Then I asked if I should meet her at the school and she said yes of course. Then I asked her what time and she said 1:30, and so I met her at the school at 1:30. Somewhere in there a miscommunication occurred and she thought I was going to the store with her and she was waiting for me to leave, but saw I wasn't ready so she left without me. So my question is- has anyone had this same sort of experience of being "in trouble" for doing what was asked of them. Glenski, you helped answer this question for me when you said that "foreigners will get blamed for the miscommunication" which was helpful, thank you. I would still like to know others' experiences in navigating this sort of situation with miscommunication that I have described above. Thanks

[my_way]

this is wrong and no one should be treating you this way....no excuses. period. you are an adult, a foreigner, and a teacher........i would never apologize for being sick or not joining for dinner. i don't care what a japanese person might think of that either.
being culturally sensitive or aware is one thing, but being controlled by others isn't a part of that....not in my world anyway.

[Mr_Monkey]

^ WHS.

It's your first week man. They sound like arseholes.

[Glenski]

[G Cthulhu]

[OneJoelFifty]