Job Discussion Forums

[taikibansei]

I've been asked to give a 2-hour lecture to all the ALTs in this prefecture. (Actually, I was originally asked--and agreed--merely to chair a 1-hour panel discussion aimed at just the ALTs in the city itself...this ballooning into a 2-hour solo event for everyone in the darn prefecture has come as a bit of a shock this morning.... )

So, as an ALT, what the heck would you want to listen to for 2 hours?

I was thinking about discussing some of the whys behind the weird things one encounters in Japanese high school classrooms: 1) why all that "test" preparation that doesn't actually prepare for the university (or any) exams, 2) why the continuing emphasis (in materials and lectures) on "grammar" and rote learning and not communication, 3) why invite all these foreign ALTs into the classrooms without clearly defined roles, etc. I'd then (just brainstorming here), invite the ALTs in the audience to talk about their own experiences...?

I've written extensively on the above topics and can come up with a pretty interesting (for academics) lecture, including some insider Monkasho stuff few people know about. However, I have the sneaking suspicion that my audience would be bored to tears. Also, I'd like these two hours to be helpful...and I'm not sure my present plan would be.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

[c-way]

As　you well know,

ALTs by nature are generally selfish, self-centered, and self-absorbed. So the topic that is sure to grab their attention and never let go is of course: THEMSELVES.

Seriously though, you have a winner there about what the role of the ALT in the classroom, in the school, and in the education system as a whole. I think this is a question that often gets the unhelpful response of "Well, it depends on which school you teach at" (grammatically incorrect and lacking any useful information). So many for many ALTs this is an important question that might not have been explicitly answered for them. Surely, many ALTs will have formed their own opinion to this question and bc/ it gives them a chance to about THEMSELVES, they will probably spend some time espousing these opinions.

From this, you might then be able to move into discussing the overall role of education in the Japanese culture. And not just talking about the role model schools but also the sucky schools that many ALTs are teaching at. What is the purpose of these "push through" schools? Why are these students even here? I ask myself these questions all the time. And that's because it relates back to my overall focus: ME.

And perhaps another helpful topic to delve into are some of the common constraints that ALTs are bound to find at their schools and constructive ways to circumvent or navigate these problems. Such problems include, but are not limited to:
class sizes
student motivations/achievement levels/backrounds
JTE apathy
lack of discipline and order by school administration
materials
ALT objectives, goals, and benchmarks for success/ failure
common cultural mismatches
unconditional positive regard and the students' perspective
Getting frustrated
Getting furious
Getting apathetic
Giving up
Lines in the sand and things you should not tolerate
class scheduling (20 lessons / 8 months = 5% retention)

This is the kind of stuff I would want to discuss and hear someone more experienced discuss. I went to a prefectural meeting similar to what you are talking about and they showed a prerecorded video of a "Golden Class" demonstrating a class on stage at an event.

It was such a huge and unrealistic contrast to what ALTs find in their schools that waves of snickers and sardonic laughter could be heard throughout.

Hope this helps.

[Sweetsee]

How about discussing:
1. post ALT employment oppurtunities
2. realistic perception of ALTs from schools
3. ALT survival tactics
4. ways to make ALT time beneficial
5. pitfalls to avoid
In other words, the straight dope on ALTs.

[taikibansei]

Thanks for the great posts!

[Sweetsee]

You are welcome, good luck to you!
Enjoy,
s