Job Discussion Forums

MisterB · Joined: 11 Nov 2008 Posts: 16

Hey Stefan,

I had a very similar problem when I started on Jet last year, it was a big a worry. As you will be working as an ALT however, you should be ok. Obviously there are classes when you will have to write on the board, there is no avoiding this as a teacher, but if you plan ahead, relax and do stretches between classes - you can manage the problem.

If you know you will definitely be required to write on the board, write as much as is possible in advance, during a break at your own pace.

You might also find that just being in class brings it`s own set of challenges and distractions, not to mention the peculiarities of Japan, that the last thing on your mind will be your shoulder!!! This is a good thing. You will be fine, enjoy life here. I know a great physio in Kansai should you need it. You won`t.

OneJoelFifty · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 463

I don't use the blackboard that much, my JTEs do most of the writing for the grammar lessons, and for the conversation classes I'm the main teacher for it's usually handouts and pre-printed big posters. I use it for the odd game scoring and to write phrases now and again that the students are using as part of an activity.

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

Daily.

starteacher · Joined: 25 Feb 2009 Posts: 237

All the time.

A blackboard (or a whiteboard) which is blank, is a sad sight. You don't want students looking down on paper, you want them looking up and forward.

Okonomiyaki · Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 9:45 am Post subject:

How many students do you have in one classroom?

I used a whiteboard CONSTANTLY, but not hanging on the wall behind me. I laid it on the table between me and the students, then wrote upside-down on it so that the students were reading right-side-up. This worked marvelously for yeeeears.

Importantly, OP, this would also give your arm support and leave it in a low position, so strongly consider doing as I did.

If you have more than roughly siz students, then instead of putting the whiteboard flat on the table in front of you, prop it up under one arm like an accoustic guitar. Once again, you're writing upside down and leaving your arm in a low-stress position, but on the plus side a larger audience can see what you've written.

khusam · Joined: 06 Jul 2008 Posts: 16 Location: Oppama

I broke my wrist a while ago, and had students do all the writing on the board. I just helped out with layout and spelling/grammar. I'm planning to have students do a lot of board work in the future, too. My classes are all small (8 or so), and mostly upper-intermediate and onwards, but it could work with different combos. Mostly I'm interested in anything that gets the class to take control of learning.

Yes, it slows things down.

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

If you feel that writing on a board slows the class down, think about it.

1) Are you wasting the time writing and only writing?
You could write a little, pause, look at the class and continue speaking or elicit something, then return to finish a written point.

You could write fewer words, too.
People with small handwriting (like me) tend to put too many words on a board just because they can fill the space. Problem is, students in the back have problems reading it. Less is better. So is larger.

2) You could choose to write while students are performing some activity, or even before they enter the room.
That would prevent using valuable time when students are trying to read as you scribble.

3) Do you really need the board that much?
Words may give a better idea.
Pictures (handheld or shown on a projector) may be better.
If you waste too much time on the board, provide a handout.
If you waste too much time on the board, think of your students and whether they are taking notes or if it's better for them to use the handout to jot down additional info.
Give handouts for next week's class, not just the day of class, so that students have the chance to prepare (and you won't waste so much time writing).

khusam · Joined: 06 Jul 2008 Posts: 16 Location: Oppama

Not sure if you were talking to me or not, but if so.. I meant that having the students do the board work was a bit slow.

move · Joined: 30 May 2009 Posts: 132

If you're an ALT, ideally you will be teaching a lesson that you and your JTE have talked about before hand. At that time, you could lay out your boardwork, and decide what exactly will be written on the board, and ask the JTE to do this writing during the lesson. I like to have the JTEs write on the board most of the time, because they have neater handwriting anyway.