Job Discussion Forums

[Brooks]

I have an article to write about returnees for my school.
If you have taught them before, what worked and what didn`t in the classroom?
I am fortunate in that at my school, we have a few returnee-only classes.
But I have also taught returnees who were in mixed-ability classes, where it was harder to get them motivated.

I have read a couple books about returnees. One by Roger Goodman called Japan`s 'International' Youth and the other by Merry White, called the Japanese Overseas. If you know of other books, please post.

[Glenski]

I taught a few (15) who were bunched together last year as first year HS students. The school started a special class for them. I also had a handful of some second year students who came back.

Big problem with the latter was getting them to speak English because their peers thought they were bragging/boasting whenever they used what they had learned overseas. So, if you have any hopes of using them as high level students who can help the others, forget it.

The former group was pretty mixed. One had lived 7 years in Hong Kong. Another had lived in Philippines and Zambia for 3 years. One or two had lived in Canada or USA for a year or less. They were grouped in 3 sections: grammar (with a Japanese teacher), writing (with a native English speaker) and reading (my section). Mine was the hardest for them, and simple conversation/discussion techniques flopped. I have a different group again this year, and I'm not doing well again.

If you want more details, send me an email.
[email protected]