Junior High School at Night

Cheating Grandmother (Obachan)
PHOTO CREDIT: http://www.tofugu.com/2014/10/08/yakan-chuugaku-the-japanese-night-time-junior-high-where-the-uneducated-learn-to-read-good/

"I think Japanese education is very tolerant. It’s certainly fantastic that we are this devoted to and enthusiastic about the education of non-Japanese people," a Japanese teacher who works for a junior high school AT NIGHT. (Ref: Tofugu, 2014)

Yes, even Japan has night schools. I was surprised to know this, too. I've been teaching here for almost 3 years and I didn't have any idea that Japan has night schools. I only learned about night schools after reading these articles from Tofugu.  Read them too to get a different perspective of Japanese school system.

For ALT's: Halloween Lesson Ideas

photo credit: http://thefunnyplace.org/tag/halloween-comic/

Halloween is not really celebrated in Japan so most students don't have any idea what Halloween is. Hence, some teachers ask ALT's to do a special Halloween lesson. And even if they don't ask, it would still be fun to do something related to Halloween.

Most schools have a lot of  restrictions though. No activities beyond the classroom. No treats allowed.  No costumes. No scary stuff. Teachers just expect a simple but fun Halloween lesson.

For ALT's: What to Do in School When There's Nothing to Do

Temple at Mishima-cho, Hamamatsu

What's harder than doing overtime?

It's going to work and doing nothing for 8 hours, believe me. Worse is, I have to pretend that I'm doing something. Such is my life as an ALT on some days. I used to like these ''free days'' because I can really prepare for my lessons. Still, 8 hours is too long to just prepare for lessons.  I can twiddle my thumbs, daydream and blog and I would still have time on my hands. The thoughts, ''What to do? What to do? I can't just drool!,'' swirls through my head driving me nuts.

Japanese Cheerleading

I'll write on cheer leading today. First, my university back in college showed a groundbreaking performance last week in a cheer leading competition. I just want to brag about about it. I'm a cheer leading fan since college. I even took a cheer leading PE course. No, I didn't pull stunts and made pyramids. I was just part of the crowd of students shouting the university cheer while watching basketball games. I got a 1 (or A) in that course cause I attended 10 games. Talk about learning while having fun!  I'll write more on my university's cheer leading routine next time. Here's the link, if you want to watch it. Spoiler alert; They only placed second. I'm still very proud though.

My next reason is because I want to share my students's cheer leading routines in the sports festival. Unlike American cheer leading, it's simple. There are no breathtaking moments, no lifts and tosses. It relies on pure energy and loud vocal chords. The routines are basic so that everyone in the team can participate. A little creativity was injected by each team to offer a good show.

Joys of an ALT

I've been feeling low the past few weeks. I have a lot of struggles in my personal life. I've also taken in too much part-time work that makes me so tired all the time. A couple of my close friends have left Japan. I'm vague about what should I do with my life. And, sometimes I just can't help but feel down.

Speech on the Junior High School Speech Contest in Japan

Greetings everyone! 

Tomorrow, one of my students will compete in the annual Junior High School Speech Contest. All speeches will be in English. This is part of MEXT's aim to make English relevant in schools. 

On paper, this speech contest seems really like a good idea. It gives an avenue for students who like English to showcase their speaking skills. But that's only on paper. The reality of this speech contest is not really encouraging. At least, based on my experience for the past three years.

For ALT's: Why You Should Go to the Clubs

The word "Clubs" in this entry's title does not mean bars or discoes (Geez, that sounds so decades ago.) I'm referring to the sports and arts clubs in junior high schools. The Japanese word for it is "Bukatsu." Remember that word (BUKATSU) cause half of the students don't know the English word for it. 

In Japan, JHS students spend half of their time in their clubs. They'd have clubs almost everyday from 3:30 to 6:00 pm. Some lasts until 8 pm. Students go to clubs even on Saturdays and sometimes on Sundays. Hence, clubs define the students' lives in junior high school. It's where they imbibe the sempai system. It's where they develop friendships that would last for years. It's where they find confidence in themselves even when their academics are not impressive. 

Because clubs are important for the students, I personally recommend ALT's to take time in visiting school clubs. Here are my reasons: 

1. It would let you see your students in a different and better light. 

When I started visiting clubs, I began to understand why some students look sleepy in class all the time. Imagine playing soccer, tennis, track, basketball and other sports for 4-5 hours everyday. That's like a gym workout good for a week. No wonder the students look tired all the time. 

When I started visiting clubs, I was surprised to see low-performing students in class show excellent skills in their sports clubs. I was ashamed of myself for underestimating some students. They may not be great in my class but they're just amazing in their clubs. I started to actually respect them. 

When I started visiting clubs, I also learned to appreciate the seemingly unfriendly students in class. Students are happier and friendlier when they're in their clubs than in the classroom. They're more carefree and more open to talking with me. Had I not visited clubs, I would have missed the chance of knowing how really funny some students are. 

2. It would help improve your relationship with your students. 

Clubs are important to the students. Whoever gives importance to whatever is important for them, would be treated as a friend. That simple. 

I have a theory that the more time you spend on your students' clubs the more willing they'll be to participate in class. I saw this happen all the time. There were quiet students who started talking to me and being active in class when I started visiting their clubs. 

Even in the hallways, where I used to feel like a passing shadow, the students started acknowledging me. Some would even chat for a minute or would tell me a joke or would show me a trick. I felt more welcome in the school. 

3. It would give you a chance to speak to club teachers. 

Aside from improving your relationship with students, there's also a chance for you to improve your rapport with other teachers. All clubs are handled by one or two school teacher. They'd hang out for an hour or two in their clubs just to survey how the students are doing. Usually, I'd talk to them in these times. Teachers who seem unfriendly during class hours are surprisingly warm when you speak to them. 

I know that visiting clubs is not part of an ALT's job description. Still, doing this would greatly help to make our jobs easier. It's not even an extra mile. It's just an extra step that wouldn't really hurt. In fact, sometime I enjoy being in the clubs more  than in the classroom. 

For ALT's: How to Know Schedule Changes in School

photo credit: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/416512665509510615/

"Nobody informs me about schedule changes," complained a number of ALT's I know. 

I used to complain about this too during my first months as an ALT. There were mornings when I'd go to school and enter an empty staff room. Turns out, everyone should be in the gym for a program. 

There were also some days when I'd go to a class and there's another teacher readying to teach my class. I didn't know that class periods were changed. 

Then, some days I thought that I don't have a class when I actually do have. Again, thanks to schedule changes. 

Now, I'm a person of habits and I like following  a regular schedule. If a regular schedule is not possible, I like to be prepared for changes. I get stressed out when changes happen suddenly so I decided to find a way to know what exactly is going on in the school. I want to know why everybody knows the daily schedule except for me. 

It wasn't really hard to figure out. All the while, the answer was staring at my face. Literally. 

There's a big board by my desk with Japanese writings on them. I didn't bother reading what's on the board because they're in Japanese. I didn't think I'd understand them. But, I did! 

I understood a portion of what's written on the board. It's the daily schedule of the school. They change it every so often, I didn't recognize at first. No wonder everybody knows. The schedule board is staring down at all of us, teachers and staff. How did I miss that?!

This is the school's schedule board.
The top portion indicates the date.
The next line states the day and the class period.
The kanji written in white and red are memos on what's happening on that day.

Not only is there a schedule board but I realized that the piles of paper in my pigeonhole are memos with monthly schedules on them. I just didn't bother checking them. (Honestly, I didn't even know I have my own pigeonhole in the school the first months.)

All along, the school is informing me about school changes in their standard way. It was me who's not informing myself. I was expecting to be treated specially instead of finding my way to the school system.

Next time, somebody complains to me with nobody-informs-me-about-schedule-changes, I'll probably send this post to them. People just gotta learn by themselves, sometimes!

For ALT's: How to Deal with Misbehaving Students

comic credit: http://www.condenaststore.com/

There were three 3rd graders snickering in my class. I'm not exactly sure why but I feel it had something to do with me and the Japanese teacher. Their snickers started when I stood beside the naughtiest of the three while we're singing the warm-up song. Then all throughout the class, they'd look at me or the other teacher, talk in hushed voices, then snicker. Look- talk-snicker. Look-talk-snicker. I tried not to be affected. I moved away from them and walked around the opposite side.

What got me was when they started snickering loudly while their teacher was explaining something. This teacher is really kind- too kind sometimes, that some of the students do not treat her respectfully. Even when she tries to discipline the students, some students like these three are just simply mean. Because I can't take the rudeness, I came up to them and reprimanded them subtly.

Me:                               (Student's name), why are laughing? 
Student 1 (The leader):   Huh? Nani? (What?)
Student 2 (The friend):    Translates the question to Student 1. 

At this point, I don't think they can answer my question. 

Me:                                If you're happy, it's okay to laugh. 
                                      In class, that kind of laughing is bureina (rude). 
Student 1 and 2:            (Looked at each other then bowed their heads.)
Student 3:                      (Tries to be invisible)

Students sitting around them looked at me and looked at the two students. I believe this added to their shame. 

Me:                               Next time, don't laugh if nothing is funny.
                                     It is rude. 


After this talk, these three students did not snicker in my class again. The leader is still kinda naughty but he'd stop whatever he's doing when I stand beside him. The other student started responding properly to me when I talk to him. The third student is still invisible but she stopped snickering too. When I did this, I just want them to stop snickering and show some respect. I didn't know that it was actually an effective way to discipline them.


Such a Shame!

There's nothing special with how I rebuked the students. Actually, an outsider might not even tell I was reproaching the students. I have a calm and quiet voice even when I'm pissed off. (Thank God for this gift!) The words I used are not harsh. No insults and no finger pointing. Somehow, it worked because of one element- the presence of other students. They were ashamed for being reproached. Because I singled them out with their behavior, the students know something was wrong. And because I might do it again, they behave accordingly.

A lot of writings about Japan will tell you how Japan is big on appearances and saving faces. Because of the value of appearances the feeling of shame is probably 10 times more serious or heavy compared to how Westerners perceive it. This is one of the identified factors for Japan's high suicide. Death is better than losing one's face. Controlling one's snickers is better than being reproached again.

Take note that foreign teachers do not have the right to discipline students. Classroom management is on the hands of Japanese teachers. Nonetheless, even if it's not my responsibility to discipline students, my lesson flow is still affected if I don't impose some semblance of discipline. If I hadn't talked with those students, I bet they'd snicker again in my classes.

However, I'm not saying that teachers should intentionally shame students. No need to stage a shaming scene so students will behave. Japanese students are a breeze to discipline. All it takes is a simple and quiet talk in front of their peers. No insults, just plain rebuke of their rude behavior. I've seen many times how effective this is with the Japanese teachers. A rowdy class will suddenly quiet down after the teacher delivered a few serious-toned sentences. It's like magic, actually.

Foreign teachers can do this magic, too. Student discipline may be off limits but talking is not. So talk to your students if they're misbehaving. If needed, talk to them in front of their peers. Calmly, of course.



Dear Reader: What do you think are good ways to deal with misbehaving students? 

For ALT's: How to Request Your Own Laptop in School

A-S-K. Ask.

That's what you do to have your own laptop in school.

credit: http://www.mactoons.com

I know a lot of ALT's who do not have their own laptop in their schools. In fact, the previous ALT in my current school worked here for two years without his own laptop. He just used the common computer in the teachers' room to print worksheets and visual aids he made at home. When I told him that I have my own laptop in the same school, he asked me what did I do. I told him what I just wrote down- I asked.

However, it doesn't mean that I just simply approach a staff and demanded I should be given a laptop. It doesn't work that way. It wouldn't work that way. (Even if it did, it is considered rude.I did it in a polite and non-direct way with the help of another Japanese.

Usually, before school starts the ALT and a Japanese bilingual staff visit the school/s. The ALT will be introduced to the principal, to the vice-principal and to the English teachers. Then, the Japanese staff, the ALT and the vice-principal will have a small talk on the working conditions in the school. That's the perfect time to bring up the topic having your laptop. Through the Japanese staff, ask the vice-principal if it's possible to have your own laptop in school. If not, ask if you can bring your own. Most schools prefer to provide laptop for the ALT than for the ALT to bring a personal one. Hence, asking if you can bring your own is a great way to sort of pressure the school to provide you a laptop.

Some ALT's don't want to be considered demanding so they don't ask. Then they'd suffer the whole year (or 2 like my friend) without one. ALT's have loads of free time at work but you can't just sit and look as if you're not doing anything. The answer to this is: THE LAPTOP. It would help you  make use of your time wisely. You can make worksheets in advance, browse for great visual-aids, read teaching strategies or even blog about your frustrations. (Yep, that's me!) Take note though that you can only ask laptops from your main school. If you visit a school only a few times in a month, I don't think you'd have lots of free time. There's no need to have your own personal computer. But you can still try.

So ask and, chances are, it will be given to you.

Piles of Paper: How Japanese Teachers Waste Time

There's a growing pile of unused worksheets on my desk. As much as I don't want to waste paper, I have to dispose of them soon. Sorry Mother Nature but these worksheets are all going to the shredder. I made them hoping to use them in my classes. They were left unanswered because apparently, there's no more time to do them. This is what one of my Japanese teacher said, at least. After asking me to make worksheets and photocopy them, she told me that "Sorry, there's no more time."

credit: http://simonandersonfitness.co.uk/are-you-an-ask-hole/

Because I'm a foreigner and I'm just an assistant teacher, I smiled politely and told her it was okay. It wasn't, of course. More than the effort of doing the worksheets, I hate wasting anything. I hate wasting paper. And I hate wasting paper just because someone (the teacher I work with) wasted a lot of time in class doing unrelated things to English.

I'd perfectly understand her "Sorry, there's no more time," if it was true. Fact is, we spent a lot of nonsense things in her classes that we end up rushing in the last minutes of the class. She wasn't the first Japanese teacher that's like this. Half of the Japanese teachers I've worked with so far are wasting so much time during English time. It's no wonder the students are not learning as much as they can.

It's no secret that Japan ranked the lowest in English proficiency in Asia. Before I came here, I thought maybe it wasn't that bad. But it is. I teach junior high school students but I can't carry a conversation for more than 10 minutes. My Japanese would run out and their English would run out too. There are even some students who still struggle with basic questions such as "What's your name?," "What's your class?," and "Where do you live?" etc., etc. These are junior high school.

There are a lot of factors why the Japanese can't speak English as well as their Asian neighbors. For the sake of this entry, I'll focus on how teachers spend English time in the classroom. Some Japanese teachers of English are really good. They maximize the time with lots of speaking and listening activities. They teach more than what's in the textbook (cause their textbook really sucks!) and they demand more from the students. These kind of teachers are not that common, sadly. The most common are teachers who need to learn how to use English time more effectively. They waste a lot of time and waste a lot of worksheets.

Classroom (Mis)Management

Here are the common time-wasters in an English class in Japan:

1. Singing songs over and over again
Singing English songs is a fun way to expose students to the language. We're currently hitting high notes with "Let It Go." The problem is some teachers make English class as music class. They'd spend about 10-15 minutes singing the same song. This is to think that they'd usually sing the same song for one month. Also, the teachers don't even demand students to "really sing." Most students would just look at their song sheets and sing quietly to themselves I can barely hear them. The only voices I can hear are the teacher's and mine. I don't know why we bother to sing.

2. Reading the same short passage over and over again
Not only do we sing songs repeatedly but we also read the same short and simple passage.

Here's a sample reading passage from a third year JHS English texbook:

English textbook in Japan for 3rd year JHS

Imagine reading that passage for 20 minutes or more. Just reading it orally. I tell you, it's so boring and almost insulting. That's what some teachers do here. Not only do students need to read it repeatedly, they also have to memorize it. I don't know for what purpose they can use it.

3. Chatting and joking with the students
I'm sure this not only happens in Japanese classrooms. A lot of teachers all over the world spend considerable amount of time chatting and joking with their students. There's no problem with that except when 40 minutes class time out of 50 was spent on that. This happens, though. In my previous school, there's a teacher who likes to look cool with his students. He'd just chat the whole time. Even the students know it's story time when it's his class. The teacher who asked me to do the worksheets also likes to chat the time away.

4. Complicating grammar 
English grammar is complicated as it is. So many rules and so many exceptions  to the rules. In Japan, however, grammar looks a lot more complicated than it actually is. They use a lot of symbols that I don't even remember using in Math classes.

Here's an example:

credit: http://japaneseruleof7.com/teach-english/

The longer the sentences, the more symbols there would be. By the way, this is based on a 2nd year JHS lesson. You see, teachers spend so much time on one specific grammar point that students miss other grammar points. To give you an idea, the grammar point in the lesson above is the use of "his." They'd probably study the use of "his" for a week before moving on to the use of "her" for one week too. Then they'd proceed with "we" for a week and "they" for another week. That's a whole month just studying 4 subjective pronouns when they could just study all of them and more within a week or less.


The growing pile of worksheets on my desk is not just a pile of papers. It's a story of how some teachers waste a lot of time in class. It's understandable if it happens once or twice but if it happens pretty regularly, something is amiss. Sad thing is, I can't really do anything about this. Maybe I should stop making worksheets. Cause there might be no time and Mother Nature would soon get me for wasting paper.

Brazilians in Japan: No Moderates

When I first came to Hamamatsu two years ago, I was surprised to find so many Brazilians.A Japanese friend told me then that there are many Brazilians and other foreigners in the area because of the numerous car factories based in Hamamatsu.  The city center is overflowing with them. There were other nationalities too- Filipinos, Indians and other Asians but the Brazilians are the most noticeable. They don't blend in and they don't seem to try to blend in. They just stand out.

credit: http://web.mit.edu/fll/www/newsletter/2012/02/20/

I didn't have the chance to be friends with Brazilians in the area. Most of the Brazilians I met cannot speak English. I'm also kinda overwhelmed by their personality. (No racism intended. I'm just really overwhelmed.) They're so full of character. There was also this one time when a group of young Brazilians were asked to leave Saizeriya. They were so loud that the other customers complained. Interestingly, they didn't argue and just left the place without a fuss. 

Fast forward to present time, I'm suddenly in the midst of many Brazilian junior high school students. Six percent of the school population I currently work for are Brazilians. This means there are about 2-3 Brazilians in each class. In a few months that I've been teaching them, I noticed that Brazilian students in Japan are either the class leaders / the coolest in class or the problem students. There are no moderates. It's either of the two. As a teacher, I can neatly categorize which Brazilian students I like and which I want to avoid. 

The Alpha Female

All of the Brazilians who are class leaders are female. And I think they are really good leaders. They have strong personalities that even the male students follow them. In my school at least, there are no male Brazilian class leaders. I wonder why. 

The Cool Male

There may be no male Brazilian student leaders but they dominate the "cool" category. These are the male Brazilian students who are well-liked by their peers. They can set the mood of the class or amuse the class. Interestingly, there are no female Brazilian students who are considered cool by their peers, even the class leaders. 

The Problem Student

If a Brazilian is not a leader nor cool, he/she is probably one of the difficult students. This is just my experience, so far. Some Brazilians are considered difficult because of their indifferent and non-participatory behavior in class. They'd just stare down at the teacher the whole time. They don't do seat works and worksheet exercises. They sleep in class and they just don't care. They are the most annoying Brazilians for me. 

Some are difficult because they are bullied or being left out. I feel that they want to learn and be part of a group but they are seen differently by their peers. Because of these, they have a hard time with the lesson and they don't seem happy to be in school. I have about 5 or Brazilian students who are being made fun of all the time. Two of them are having difficulty in Japanese. I feel bad for them. 

Wikipedia has an interesting entry for Brazilians in Japan. It was stated there that Brazilians in Japan, although mostly descended with a Japanese blood, are greatly prejudiced and discriminated. There's also a big dropout rate of Brazilians from Japanese schools. A few years ago, the Japanese government offered cash incentives to Brazilians who wanted to return to Brazil. Those who participated cannot return to Japan anymore. This program was initiated because the Brazilians did not assimilate to Japanese culture as the government expected. 

I'm not surprised with the non-assimilation of the Brazilians into the Japanese culture. Japan has a very subtle and understated culture that seems to be a total opposite of Brazilians' personable and strong culture. They are one of those people that you either want to be around or try to avoid. As I've said, there are no moderates. Either you love them or hate them. 

More on Brazilians in Japan: 

Life as Dekkasseguis: The Brazilian Community in Japan

Japanese-Brazilians: Straddling Two Cultures

Mixing Sushi and Samba- Meet the Japanese Brazilians

Japan to Immigrants: Thanks, But You Can Go Home Now

Why There Are So Many Japanese People in Brazil

I'm in a New Japanese Schoool

Classes have started last Monday and I'm now in my new school. (For an explanation of why I changed schools, just read my post Changing Schools in Japan.) Thankfully, I'm with a private company and not with the Board of Education so I can make an appeal to what kind of school I prefer to work in. Initially, I was assigned to teach in a junior high school, 2 elementary schools and 2 kindergarten. The kindergarten got me and I can't really imagine myself teaching small kids. I talked to the boss and pleaded to consider assigning to just one big junior high school. My wish was granted. Yay! The previous ALT in my new school is also a dear friend. He gave me tips on how to adapt into the school.

No Speech

This is how it feels when I give a speech in school assemblies.
credit: http://www.shutterstock.com/

As I've said, classes started last Monday. I was introduced to during the "welcome back" ceremony for the 2nd and 3rd years and the "welcome to JHS" for the first years. I didn't have to give a speech. Yay again! Some schools ask the new teachers to give a short speech to introduce themselves. I don't like doing this cause I feel nobody's really listening to me. The moment students hear English, they just shut off and will just wait for the translation. I can, of course, prepare my speech in Japanese but there's the danger of making the students assume that I can speak Japanese. (I did that last year and it took a while before I made the students realize that I only spoke Japanese for that rare moment.)

No Class

Though classes have started last Monday, the entire week was just filled with general assemblies and orientation activities. There was an orientation on classroom operation, discipline and behavior on Tuesday. Student health check happened last Wednesday. More orientation yesterday. Today, there's still classroom-based orientation. Basically, I'm just either at the gym or at my table. No classes this week. The thing with these orientations is this: Everyone knows it except you, the ALT. Nobody told me to go to the gym and attend the assemblies. I just figured that maybe there's a secret meeting cause all the teachers and even the principal and vice-principal are gone from the staff room. When the ALT is left alone in the staff room, it means all people are in the gym. I don't why they hide these meetings from me. It's not like I wouldn't find out. 

No Work

Since nothing really big happened this week in the school, I have no issues. One reason could be because it's already my third year as an ALT. I'm more comfortable and less self-conscious in the school environment. More or less, I know what to do to adapt in the school system. I can also figure out what to do during my tons of free time. (Suggestions: blog, roam around the school, visit the school clinic, read a book, prepare your lessons, list down ideas, get the people's names, attend clubs) I can also understand a little Japanese so I can carry small conversations with "I-can't-speak-English" teachers. So yeah, being on my third year has definitely its perks!

No Issue...So Far

Another reason is the friendliness of the teachers. I don't mean to compare but I can't help it. Most of the teachers in my new school are warmer and more open. The Japanese teacher across my table initiated conversations during lunch. A couple of teachers always make sure I'm okay and never fails to smile at me. One teacher invited to attend her shogi club. The foreign assistant teacher talked to me in English several times. The first year teachers included me during the first year orientation activity. The vice-principal also made sure that I have lunch on the first day. One of the secretaries taught me how to print in color and in black and white. Simply put, the people seemed nicer and kinder. 

Friendly indeed!
credit: http://www.lifeaftertheboe.com/manga/2010/08/16/your-name/

Actually, it has been said over and over by hundreds of ALT's that the further the schools are from the city, the warmer the school atmosphere. My new school is almost an hour away from the city center. This is so much further compared to my previous school which is in the city. Stereotypical as it may sound, it seemed there's some truth in the further- warmer thing. I was reminded how nice the teachers are in Morioka City, Iwate. (That's up up north almost near Hokkaido.) I stayed there for 2 weeks in my first year. The place was so rural but the people are so sociable and pleasant. Every morning, they'd ask if I want tea or coffee. They chat with me in broken English.This is the opposite of the formality of the teachers in Tokyo and in my previous school. As a foreigner, I really appreciate the pleasantness of the teachers in my new school. Never mind the daily 1 1/2 travel to work.  

(More on tips in working in Japanese schools here)

Classes have started last Monday and now it's Friday. I survived this week. It wasn't so bad. Actually, the week turned out better than I anticipated. I'm looking forward to a great school year! 

Changing Schools in Japan

I'm changing schools next school year. Come April, I'll be teaching in a smaller Junior High School, one Elementary and the most challenging... (drumroll, please) Yochien or Kinder. Thanks to the Board of Education, I won't be able to see my current second years graduate next year from JHS. I have seen them grow from first years and it would be nice to be with them in their last year. *sniffs*

No Lunch: The Norovirus in Hamamatsu

It's the second day that I have to bring lunch to school. There's no school lunch since yesterday until tomorrow. This is after about 1000 students and 41 school staff in Hamamatsu suffered from food poisoning last Thursday. After an initial investigation, it turned out that the bread served during lunch was infected with Norovirus.

Snippets in a Japanese High School

Not much is going on for me in the schools lately. The whole school is busy preparing for endless exams. There was an exam just last week and another one is coming up at the end of the month. I rarely see the third year students. I don't prepare any activities for the first year cause they're in a hurry for whatever lessons they're supposed to finish. I only have the second years to look forward to. Still, I try to find time with the students cause I like hanging out with them.

I'll be sharing some of my "hanging out moments" with the students.

Japanese Teachers Want Me to Go Home

It's been almost a week now since a typhoon hit Japan. That was Tuesday night until early Wednesday morning. Another typhoon is brewing in the Pacific that is set to hit this Thursday. It's supposed to be violent. I hope not. Not only because I worry for possible damages it'll cause but because no matter how violent that typhoon is, I know I still have to go to work. Just like last Wednesday. Classes were suspended. There were no students but teachers still have to go to school. Such a waste of a possible rest day, really.

In more than a year of working here in Japan, I came to the conclusion that the Japanese teachers know no rest day. They seem to live in the schools, I swear. They're always in the school- after school, on weekends, on holidays and even on days with typhoon. They stay in school even if they don't need to. Just like last Wednesday. The principal already told the teachers that they can go home after 12. I was so ecstatic the whole morning waiting for the clock to strike 12. Yey! I can go home early and continue watching Grey's Anatomy. (I'm hooked on it lately.)

Then comes 12 noon. I was waiting for the teachers to stand up, get their bags and go home like any sensible human being would do. No one was moving. All were staring intently on their computers. Others were endlessly shuffling papers. (I don't know why they can't figure out how to arrange a few pieces of paper). Then an old teacher across me moved. He got his bag. I told myself that I'll leave as soon as he does. Pffft! The teacher got a bento box from his bag. Maybe he'll eat lunch first, I think. Soon, other teachers also brought out their bento boxes. Not to be outdone, I brought out my sandwich and yogurt wrapped in 7/11 plastic. I have to eat too. Maybe when everyone has eaten, we'll all go home. We can't be hungry on the way home, I think.

A Japanese Office
Photo credit: http://www.buzolich.com/indecorum/media/crampedJapaneseOffice.jpg

So everyone ate silently with all eyes eyeing the computers in front of us. If you want to eat like a real industrious Japanese teacher, take note of the following. Chopsticks on the right hand, bento on the left and eyes on the computer monitor. Blinking is not allowed. It would mean you're not working hard enough during lunch. You should also wear a stoned and serious face. You can't show that you like how your food taste. You're busy working so you have no time for gustatory delights. I did just that trying to set aside the number of things I'm planning to do when I get home- watch Grey's Anatomy Season 4 Episode 1, then watch Grey's Anatomy Season 4, Episode 2, breathe, cry a little, watch Grey's Anatomy Season 4 Episode 3, then 4, then 5. (You get the idea.)

One o'clock came but everyone's still intent on staring at their computer monitors and shuffling papers. Some stood up a little to brush their teeth while staring intently on their computer monitors. I sat there waiting for someone to just leave so I can follow. I know I can technically go home but I don't feel I should be the first one. Foreigners already have a reputation of being lazy just because we can finish our job on time. I don't need to emphasize it further. I was praying that one brave soul will pick his/ her bag and say "Osakini Shitsurei Shimasu" then bang the door on the way out. I looked at the old Science teacher. He's busy cleaning his ears, he won't go home yet. I looked at one of the English teacher, he's still writing something. I looked at one of the Math teachers, she's shuffling papers and maybe counting them. Nobody seemed ready to go home yet.

The clock turned 2. I went to the toilet hoping when I get back somebody has left already. Fail! Everyone's still there. I already did every possible thing I could do- lesson planning, doing worksheets, journal writing, news reading, Facebooking, Instragramming, and Candy Crushing on my mobile phone. I looked at the clock and it was just 3 pm. I thought of being the first one to say goodbye but I was intent on being proper and polite. I will not be a lazy foreigner. I decided to just go home at the usual time- 4 pm. I'll finish my working hours. So I continued playing Candy Crush.

The golden hour came. I turned off my laptop, put all my things in my bag and hand my hanko sheet to the vice-principal. (A hanko sheet is like a signature sheet. Everyday, I have to ask the vice principal to sign this sheet as a proof that I am a diligent ALT who comes every workday.) With my bag on my shoulder, I bowed and said "Osakini Shitsurei Shimasu." Upon doing this, a most awaited thing happened. Three teachers closed their laptops. A few teachers started putting things in their bag preparing to go home. Some stopped shuffling papers. Others, who were busy checking were suddenly done. I know that in a few minutes, they'll all be ready to call it a day. I touched my bag straps and started going down the stairs chuckling to myself. All this time, the Japanese teachers are actually waiting for this one lazy foreigner to go home so they can go home too. How they must hate me for finishing my day. How I hate myself for not being lazy that day. Such a waste of a possible rest day, really.

Let's Learn Japanese: Do you like UNKO?

Several of my students had great fun yesterday when I keep on saying the word "UNKO." A naughty student told me to say it repeatedly for 10 times. It was supposedly a Japanese magic word. Being open-minded to other culture and all, I chanted "UNKO, UNKO, UNKO" with a sweet smile on my face. Then I saw the students's faces holding back laughter. Some students who were not aware of what's happening giggled and looked at me incredulously. When I noticed this, I became suspicious and started asking what does it mean. Everybody  just looked pleased but no one's telling me what it is. I went to the more serious student and asked him, "Do you like unko?" He burst out laughing along with his seatmate. I took that chance to ask him what does unko mean. Turns out, UNKO means poop. Such sweet students, I have.

UNKO!
photo credit: http://bebland.blogspot.jp/

Don't know why I didn't learn the Japanese word for poop earlier. It just never crossed my mind that I should learn it. I should have. It could have saved me from weeks of feeling alienated from my students. I'll just ask "Do you like unko?" and I'm pretty sure a handful of them will be my best friends. Kids say the dumbest things but kids like it better when adults say them, I think. Imagine the most serious kid in class broke into laughter because of unko. It must really be a magic word. It's worth knowing and chanting if it means I made some students happy.

I treasure the times when students take the first step to talk to me. It seldom happens. Sure, maybe 90 percent of the students in my school say hello and hi to me. Some would even ask me how am I. But, only a precious few would really talk me like a normal human being. I can't blame the students. They can't understand me and I can't understand them. (When I think about it, the feeling seems mutual.) No matter how friendly I am, I'm still an alien spurting alien talk, aka English. This alien is always the one to reach out and start conversations with the students. I'm okay with it most of the time but it's kinda tiring sometimes.

What I miss most in my previous teaching jobs is the chance to talk with the students beyond the classroom. I love it when  I can tease students and in rare cases, impart words of  wisdom. I love it when they confide and joke with me. I love being a friend, sometimes. It makes me feel that I'm a part of their lives. It makes my job more fulfilling and meaningful.

Of course, I can do that here in Japan... if I learn Japanese or my students learn English. I don't know which is the more impossible one. I feel I can do more if I can speak more Japanese or if they can understand more English. I have so many things I want to share and ask. I want to know their crushes, their favorite teachers, their dreams and even the things that bother them. I'd love to know their stories. Students have the most interesting take on things. I want to know that too! I want to go beyond "How are you?" and "How's the weather today?"

I can only hope that even with this HUGE language barrier, my students can see that I care for them somehow. I don't mind saying UNKO a hundred times if that would make them happy. And for a rare moment, I'm just their friend.

More Information on UNKO:

1. unpi 「うんぴ」 : Diarrheal stool. Could be connected to overeating, having a cold, or stress. It is usually a yellowish-color and it has a very strong smell.
2. unnyo 「うんにょ」 : Soft and tender poop, but not diarrehea. It comes out when you are feel some indigestion. Yellow-ish or light brown in color.
3. unchi 「うんち」 : Nice poop. It comes out when you’ve been eating healthy balanced meals. It has a clean brown color and doesn’t smell very much.
4. ungo 「うんご」 : Comes out when you’ve not been eating enough vegetables, and you’re probably constipated when you squeeze out an ungo. Ungo is dark black and really stinky.

[Source: This Japanese article, via Kokoro Zaeega]

Going Crazy over Stickers: Motivating Japanese Students

I found myself frantically searching for an open 100 Yen or stationery shop last Tuesday. It was almost 8 pm and in a few minutes the shops will be closed. Before they close, I have to buy a very important thing. I can't go to work the following day without it. I'd lose my credibility. It can cost me my job, my visa and my great life here in Japan. I really have to get the cute little random things which have a sticky back that you can stick on anything. I have to buy some "shils" spelled as s-e-a-l-s. For better understanding, "shils" spelled as s-e-a-l-s is the same as stickers.

photo credit: http://blog.modes4u.com/tag/sticker

I can't have classes without those golden cute sticky things. My teaching career in Japan depend on it. Students find me awesome because I have stickers. Stickers are my charms, my amulets, my secret weapon. Students are more eager to do the activities and participate more when stickers are dangled on their noses. Students suddenly speak in English to say "May I have stickers?" "Stickers, please." "Can I have this one?" "I want stickers." and "Faye Sensei, you are cute. Give me stickers."

Before I plunged in the Japanese school system, a trainer in the company I work for told us how magical stickers are for students- in elementary, junior high school and even high school. I didn't believe him at that time because I never had students go crazy over stickers before. And I've been teaching for almost 10 years. Until I started teaching in Japan. The magic of stickers is revealed to me. It's like a life source. Students raise their hands, blurt English words, get competitive and find me an angel. Thank God for stickers!

In a culture where cuteness must prevail at all times, I shouldn't be surprised that stickers as a reward works. Japanese love cute things from their Hello Kitty pens to their Pikachu bags, from their monstrous pink shiny ribbons to their character-filled clothes. Young and old, men and women, students or not, the Japanese people embrace cuteness in every color, size and form. Companies, stores and even the police have cute mascots to represent them. Office and school supplies offer a rich variety of cuteness with their designs. Tools and simple things used at home are also designed cutely.

It's only in Japan where I got to have an umbrella with rabbit ears, Hello Kitty watch and scarf, a lacy light yellow Pikachu stockings and a Mickey Mouse spoon and fork. I could go on and describe every cute thing I have in Japan. I can't help it. I just have to have them, they're so "kawaii" (cute). You know just like how my students can't help but fight to death for my stickers. So yeah, I should really be buying more stickers. Running out of stickers is detrimental to my teaching career.

Japanese Boy Likes to Say S

photo credit: http://www.clker.com

For some cosmic unfathomable reason a first grade student would always say the word sex when he sees me. When he sees me in the hallway, he'd smile and say sex. When I enter their room, he'd try to catch my eye and say sex. When I finish my class, he'd grab my things then give them back to me while saying s-e-x. He'd always have that naughty look in his eyes whenever he sees me and I know that he'd say his favorite word to me. He doesn't say that  to other teachers. It was only to me.

Sometimes, I wonder what he'd be his reaction if I say the same thing, and maybe more, to him. I'm greatly tempted to do that but instead of saying the S word to him, I'd just always utter "dame" (bad). What can I do? I'm just an ALT whose Japanese is barely for survival. Also, I'm not entitled to discipline the students. I'm just supposed to be a smiling machine and brush off such rude behavior. I'm so busy smiling I've no time for some spanking. I tried telling it to my JTE once. She burbled something to the student. Student nod, bowed at me while burbling something (probably I'm sorry but I can't tell), then off he went. The next day, he's back on his evil way.

I don't know what I did to him why he keeps on saying the S word to me. I always look decent, my clothes not revealing and I did not teach him to say that word. I told it to a few of my ALT friends. One said that I should be grateful he's speaking in English. The other one said maybe the student finds me hot and can't control himself. Nice friends I've got here no? To be honest, I'm not really bothered by him. I've heard worse and seen worse from my previous students. I'm just wondering why that word. He won't even be able to use it in everyday polite conversation.

Because this has been going on for months now, I've come up with some theories why that naughty student likes to say the word sex to me.

First, maybe he heard it somewhere and thought it's cool. Some students say F--- Y--! thinking it's how cool English-speakers talk. Some use B---CH, A-- and whatever curse words they know in English. I couldn't blame them if they always hear it in English movies. So maybe, this student thinks that the S word is the cool word for him. I just find it odd. Imagine someone angrily screaming "SEX" at you instead of FUCK YOU!" It doesn't make sense to me.

Another reason could be he's on puberty stage. It's the stage where raging hormones are, well, raging. It's the period of curiosity and discovery about sexuality. Puberty coupled with the stage of testing limits is the most "exciting" combination. You know how we all love coming of age movies and books, right? He's on this exciting time of his life. He wants to know and maybe saying the word makes him think he know whatever he's saying. Remember how when we're kids we'd name the things we know. I think it's like that during puberty. Then he also gets the excitement of saying a taboo word to a teacher. How exciting could that be?

The last reason I could come up with is because I'm a foreigner. Maybe it's not actually him, maybe it's me that makes him say that word. As I've said, I'm the only teacher who has to bear his verbal assault. He doesn't say it to any Japanese teachers. Some Japanese men find foreign women more liberated compared to Japanese women. (Another entry is needed to explain how I get to that conclusion.) I don't know if at his young age, he's already prejudiced.

As I've said, I'm not bothered that he says sex to me. I'm a big girl, I can handle that. As long as he only says that and not "do" that in front of me, I can manage. I think the coolness of saying sex will eventually wear off. It's like when kids get tired of singing their ABC's and they just want to move on with life. Or maybe a Japanese teacher would hear him and give him an earful. Maybe my friends are right too, he's just happy to know an English word or that he can't control himself because he finds me hot. Haha!