Job Discussion Forums

[guest of Japan]

I've had so many first days teaching.

The very first time. I had been volunteering in a jr. high in a 7th grade science class. I had a double major in science and history at the time. I tried to do a lecture style lesson on whaling. I thought I had enough material for 50 minutes. I made it through 10 and ran out and begged for mercy.

2nd first. I worked in an afterschool program for elementary school students. One of the childrens drunken mothers came to pick up her child and there were a few problems.

3rd first. I was volunteering in an alternative high school. This is where the bad kids go. I was threatened death as I exited my car. At the end of the day I took a kid to the local prison so he could visit his parole officer.

4th first. I was student teaching and was starting to take over for the teacher for 8th grade American History. This time I made it all of 35 minutes into a 50 minute class before I completely ran out of things to do. It was embarrassing, but at least I was making progress.

5th first. I was working for an alternative high school (a different one). A kid about double my size offered to cut my tongue out.

6th first. By this point I'm in Japan working for a conversation school. Before you come to Japan you're told that Japanese people are good at English. This is sooo not true. My students had no idea what I was saying. Everything I thought would be easy for them turned out to be difficult and everything I thought difficult turned out to be easy. I also blew them away with my speaking speed.

7th first. This brings me to my current job at a high school. I was told that my students were low level so I made a standard introduction lesson. It was the worst day teaching I've ever had. Actually it's been the worst year. The students still cannot be called beginner and the year is almost over. "How are you today?" throws the advanced students into a tailspin. 10 percent still can't write their names in English or read the word "cat." They've been studying English for 4 years now. Everyday feels like my first day teaching.

In a little over a month I will have my 8th first. I wonder what it has in store for me.

[Will.]

I had a 1-2-1, prior to the lesson we met at a cafe .............. and stayed there............. 100 francs an hour! The big time in 1990. I still do the occasional cafe lesson now.