Job Discussion Forums

Evil Giraffe · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 32 Location: Kofu, Japan

this problem isn't so big that it is ruining my time here in japan, but i wanted to get some opinions on and perhaps some answers to it.
i have 7 schools that i visit. 4 are every 2 weeks and 3 are every week. 5 are high schools and 2 are junior highs.
my junior high kids are great. they look forward to my visits, they play the games, they try to speak to me, and we generally have a good time. no, not every kid is hanging on my every word but for the most part we play and have fun learning a bit. i enjoy these days.
now my high schools are a different story. and no again, it isn't every student. but some of them don't seem to care about me or english. many tend to sleep and they just don't seem to care whether i'm there or not. i don't expect my visit to their school to be the highlight of their lives, but i would like to have fun with them. perhaps i'm lucky because i feel i can say that about only a fourth of the students i see are this way, but still, i'd like them to participate too. of course, in spite of all this i do not blame them as individuals because i remember what is was like being in high school and not giving a damn about certain classes.
so really my question in all of this is twofold.
1) is this just normal and should i just expect it?
and
2) in what manners do you people motivate the unmotivated student?
thanks for your time.

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

1. Yes.

2. - Make sure you are teaching at an appropriate level for the students
- Try to get the students out of their seat sometimes.
- Cheap prizes for games.
- GRADING, but you probably don't have this luxury or curse.

Sometimes nothing works.

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Don't let it ruin your time there. In fact, try to relax and take it in your stride. You will not be fired because these students would behave this way with anyone. In actual fact, a bit of reflection can be beneficial. Think about the student's attitudes and realise that they are the only ones in the country being honest about how useful the class you have been given is. It isn't your fault that your schedule means that the impact your classes have on their flency in English is zero. But that is really all it amounts to. They know that and act accordingly. These kids are far more intelligent than the overpaid duffers who put their syllabuses together at Monbusho.

How long have you got to go on your contract?

I really sympathise... one of the reasons I left Japan was the nagging feeling of the pointlessness of it all and, like you, I really cared that students were learning nothing despite my efforts. In the end, I guess it did ruin at least the teaching side of things there for me. Hope you can stick it out and make something better of it than I did...

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Good advice from the last two. Don't let it get you down, we all have unmotivated students. Do the best you can and that's all you can do. Try to get more out of life where you are to make your time worthwhile. Get a good hobby and focus on the students who want to be there.
In the 9 years I've been teaching, Japanese students are the least rewarding students I've ever had. There's little joy in the teaching part of things. I'm supposed to teach a communicative class with 70 uni students. Yeah right.

Mike L. · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 519

Finish your contract and find a job where you are in control of the class from materials to seating pland etc and where you'll see the kids once at least once a week week.

Also one with no non-entities in the classroom which means no JTE's unless it;s clear that your the boss.

Less managment the better...

Not that all are bad but it's a chance you don't want to take a chance. Once bitten twice shy.

After JET I went around and fished to see who could offer these conditions and settled on one place that could.

You can also branch out intoother areas of taching too. I find t helps to mix it up.

If you offer your skills as a professional with standards you can find what you're looking for.

Mike L. · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 519

Sorry, stream of consciouness post that one! :oops:

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

"intoother areas of taching"

That might even be described as stream of unconsciousness. Laughing

joncharles · Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 132 Location: Beijing

I will admit that one of the advantages of teaching at NOVA (if you can call it an advantage) is the small class size and you can spend time providing praise and encouragement. Believe me, the students do respond positively. Still, I had students who did not want to be there... forced by parents to spend an hour two or three times a week sitting in a room when he/she prefers to be hanging at the train station with their friends.

Some of my acquaintences were ALT's, JET's. All have the same difficulty.. some students want to learn... some don't. I just concentrated on those who wanted to learn and tried to make my classes interesting (usually, by not using a Quest lesson).

Evil Giraffe · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 32 Location: Kofu, Japan

thanks for the replies, all.
like i said, it isn't ruining my time here. i just wanted to get some other opinions on the matter.
honestly, i don't think i am going to make a career out of teaching. i like it ok, but would rather write or do research or something more interesting (for me).
i can say that those teachers that can motivate those otherwise apathetic students have my full respect. more power to them and you.