Job Discussion Forums

[chinagirl]

Hi all,

Back to the board after a long absence...but finally back in Japan again.

My question goes to those of you who have taught in both HS and JHS situations. Which do you prefer, and why? What are the advantages and disadvanages to each? I can think of the obvious age-related behavior issues, but I'm also interested in other issues such as curriculum and teacher autonomy.

BTW, I am not referring to ALT positions, but rather people who are teaching full time at one location as the sole classroom teacher.

I know you're out there! Thanks for your help, all.

CG

[Glenski]

I work in a private JHS/SHS. Although I have not taught JHS classes, most of my co-workers have, so I have that info to use in comparing.

Obviously, JHS kids are younger with tons more energy and enthusiasm towards learning. Their brainpans are more empty, so they are more receptive to learning the basics. SHS kids get harder grammar, and using the same techniques to teach them is not recommended. Plus SHS kids have more club activities and preparations for university, so they don't have as much time to devote to studying.

JHS lessons at my school have been a mixture of solo Japanese teacher and team teaching (native plus JTE). SHS lessons can have a solo JTE, a solor native teacher, or a team of JTE/native or native/native.

JHS curriculum with native teachers usually involves group recitation on sentences and short stories (2 or 3 repetitions for each), some worksheet exercises, and minor essay writing with a recitation contest each year. SHS curriculum has speech writing, tougher focus on oral communication and grammar, rote memorization and grammar-translation (yes, even today!!), writing classes, and an annual speech contest.

JHS kids require more discipline because of their immaturity, and most teachers are of a younger set. SHS kids have lower motivation so you will need to adapt to that, especially if you are in an "escalator school system" like mine.

For classes that you teach solo, you can pretty much expect not to have any textbook, which makes for serious lesson planning problems. When kids finally graduate, most will not be able to communicate orally in English very well because (as if you didn't know) the whole education system is geared towards getting them to pass college entrance exams, not making them communicative in spoken English. The JHS kids will usually be more willing to practice their English with you.

[chinagirl]

Thanks! Anyone else care to chime in?

[rvsensei]

Jr high kids were more immature than Hs kids from my experience. It all depends what school you teach at. Of course, if you teach at private schools behavior is usually better.

[Glenski]

[Brooks]

at high school I get more freedom.
I choose the textbooks. I can teach what I want.
But, for 10th grade starting in 2005, I was told that I have to teach grammar, since the students are getting worse at it.

At high school, kids have juku and clubs, so they have less energy than younger students.

I help students who want to go overseas. I help with the drama club.
And I help with Bible reading once a week.

At junior high, I felt the system was rigid. For returnees, we could teach what we wanted, but for the other students we had to focus on oral skills.
I felt that I was just an assistant even though I have a MA in TESOL.
I had to do team teaching for the first 6 months or so, before I was allowed to teach by myself.
I felt that I had to follow the JTEs in what they taught in class.
So when they taught the present perfect in class, I had to teach it but through listening or speaking.
I felt that they were too into grammar-translation and taught English like a dead language.

I had to help out in a club and I had to clean. I had to go to meetings.
Whether I read a book or slept, it didn`t matter.

In the English club, I pushed drama, since I was sick of kids doing speeches. Many students liked English through drama.

Junior high kids can be easier to teach, but I do remember bullying being a problem.