Job Discussion Forums

[Brooks]

hi,
I have been thinking about what makes teaching difficult at Japanese secondary schools and I have come up with 5 main things:
1. lack of motivation
2. multilevel classes
3. large classes
4. discipline
5. declining academic ability

I am curious if other people have anything they would like to share and any solutions they may have.

thanks

Brooks

[guest of Japan]

I try to hang out with the history teachers. It helps to take my mind off how terrible my English classes are going.

OK, I'll try my bit at the solution part:

1. Set expectations and praise heavily when they meet expectations.

2. Teach to the middle.

3. One third choral work, one third individual work, on third pair work.

4. Pick and choose your battles. If you try to fight every fight you will lose them all. Right now I'm working on the cell phone fight since it annoys me most of all.

5. See #1.

I completely agree with your list. Unfortunately the problems are not just ours. All teachers in all schools are facing these same problems. The changes that need to occur are too radical ever to be realized. Sorry to say, but I think it is only going to get worse. Gaman shite kudasai.

[guest of Japan]

I can't believe I just got beeped for using the Japanese word for "do."

[Glenski]

To add to Brooks...

6. The fact that the Japanese teachers for the most part don't speak English well enough to promote in-class practice of oral communication.

7. The fact that most of the grammar that is taught is directed at the antiquated and outlandish college entrance exams instead of communicative English.

8. The fact that very few Japanese are willing to rock the boat and make changes in the curriculum.

9. The poor textbooks available for grammar or oral communication. (On the latter note, try teaching students with 5 years of grammar under their belts how to ask the simple question, "How do you spell XXXXX?" They can sometimes write very well, but what comes out of their mouths is sheer gobbledegook, and the texts available can't/don't work well with this discrepancy.)

[homersimpson]

... and more ...

10. No national push to learn communicative English. Despite what claims the gov't makes, how many Japanese people in positions of fame/power actually speak English? (Utada doesn't count as she was born in New York).

11. Reluctant on the part of many Japanese teachers who can actually speak English, to use it in the classroom. Students don't get the chance to hear their teachers using English effectively.

12. No real demand in the service industry for English speakers. (I spent time in Taipei recently and was shocked by the number of people who spoke beyond-passable English; from hotel clerks to waitresses to airport personnel).

13. Social barriers that discourage Japanese from speaking English for fear they will sound foolish if they make a mistake.

[Brooks]

purikura and cell phones are a pain. I take them. I wake up sleeping students. I was not thinking of the other teachers or the work environment, but those are valid points. I was wondering how to solve these problems. Not all teachers use the same tactics.

another thing is the attitude of some Japanese ELT who are disdainful of communicative methods.

[nomadder]

The focus on passing tests and yet not knowing anything.

The idea of never leaving Japan.

[As Das Fads]

Lack of interest by faculty staff or administration for English. e.g. My Japanese English teacher told some of my students, who were excitedly telling her that they were speaking English with me, that we are in Japan so we should only be speaking Japanese...and I was right in front of her when she said it. No respect, I tells you, no respect.