(no subject)
Life seems to have only three “scenes” for me now: At work, Studying, or On a Date with Miki (which shares a few aspects with Studying). I love the latter two scenes. I want more of the latter two scenes. I deal with the first scene.
In particular, I teach at Suzugamine, an all-girls high school and middle school (interestingly where Miki went to high school). I hate to say it, but it’s not that great of a school, or at least, the English department isn’t. They put me in a room, with twice the ideal number of students, without any kind of textbook, and expect me to do all the work (uh, ALT? Assistant Language Teacher?)
Fuck that noise. I don’t have time or desire to plan out 3 great interesting lessons for 30 girls who have barely mastered the difference between “I am” and “You are.” I don’t have time to choose an appropriate textbook- I just started working here in September. Why does the SCHOOL not have that type of material? And you want to put the pressure on me, to design lessons each week, nay, the entire freaking curriculum, from scratch? I have 20 other lessons to plan in a week. No. I’m not giving more than 15 minutes of my time.
Also, I came to Japan to study Japanese. This teaching English thing is NOT my career- it will NOT be my career. It’s something to pay my bills. I don’t care even if my lack of enthusiasm is apparent- I will do what’s necessary, I will be professional, but no more. Studying Japanese is my number one priority in life, and will open the way to far more enjoyable, profitable career paths (Translation, interpretation, etc).
So, I will go in there tomorrow, and not give a flying fuck. And the week will go by just a little bit faster, and I’ll get to study at night and maybe if I’m lucky see Miki Friday or Saturday night.
EDIT: Figured out, using MATH, that on an average week, I have roughly 20 minutes to prepare for any given lesson. I won’t tell them this, cause than they might actually expect me to spend that time just planning, but still, shit. Sorry, Suzu. No love.
EDIT 2: Reflection- this is a little bit of a turn-around, from a few months ago when I was dying for a job- now I have one, maybe I’m being ungrateful? Still, the least the school could do is provide some textbook or material of some sort. Or, you know, have the kids in smaller classes. One huge problem I’m finding- when students want to learn, as in, business English (for the most part) or private lessons, it’s easy and rewarding. It’s when the students don’t care, ie, Suzu, that I don’t want to put any effort forward.
In particular, I teach at Suzugamine, an all-girls high school and middle school (interestingly where Miki went to high school). I hate to say it, but it’s not that great of a school, or at least, the English department isn’t. They put me in a room, with twice the ideal number of students, without any kind of textbook, and expect me to do all the work (uh, ALT? Assistant Language Teacher?)
Fuck that noise. I don’t have time or desire to plan out 3 great interesting lessons for 30 girls who have barely mastered the difference between “I am” and “You are.” I don’t have time to choose an appropriate textbook- I just started working here in September. Why does the SCHOOL not have that type of material? And you want to put the pressure on me, to design lessons each week, nay, the entire freaking curriculum, from scratch? I have 20 other lessons to plan in a week. No. I’m not giving more than 15 minutes of my time.
Also, I came to Japan to study Japanese. This teaching English thing is NOT my career- it will NOT be my career. It’s something to pay my bills. I don’t care even if my lack of enthusiasm is apparent- I will do what’s necessary, I will be professional, but no more. Studying Japanese is my number one priority in life, and will open the way to far more enjoyable, profitable career paths (Translation, interpretation, etc).
So, I will go in there tomorrow, and not give a flying fuck. And the week will go by just a little bit faster, and I’ll get to study at night and maybe if I’m lucky see Miki Friday or Saturday night.
EDIT: Figured out, using MATH, that on an average week, I have roughly 20 minutes to prepare for any given lesson. I won’t tell them this, cause than they might actually expect me to spend that time just planning, but still, shit. Sorry, Suzu. No love.
EDIT 2: Reflection- this is a little bit of a turn-around, from a few months ago when I was dying for a job- now I have one, maybe I’m being ungrateful? Still, the least the school could do is provide some textbook or material of some sort. Or, you know, have the kids in smaller classes. One huge problem I’m finding- when students want to learn, as in, business English (for the most part) or private lessons, it’s easy and rewarding. It’s when the students don’t care, ie, Suzu, that I don’t want to put any effort forward.