Graduation Round 2 - My Little Prides and Joys

A couple weeks ago my favorite students graduated. I thought I was sad at last year’s graduation, but the relationship I formed with this year’s 3^rd (9^th) graders was even stronger. I’m not sure if I will ever have students I’m closer to. Something about the combination of students, JTE, and amount of time I had with them was perfect for fostering our relationship. I don’t feel as close with the current 1^st and 2^nd years.

Let me start by telling you about these students and the things I did with them. In class, thanks to their awesome English teacher, I was able to do things with these students that I couldn’t do in other classes. For example, I sometimes had class long deep discussions with them about controversial topics such as war, the bombing of Hiroshima, and discrimination. I don’t think teachers in general do this sort of thing much. I believe that having important conversations with your students where you can share opinions with each other and teach them things that are often not discussed is very important because it opens their minds, enables them to voice their own opinions (in a country where that is often frowned upon), and because I gain can their respect by being honest and emotional in front of them.

This group of students was very clever. I arranged a way for them to exchange letters with American high school students because I was confident in their abilities. I had many students tell me after that this was the thing they will remember the most about their English class. They were so happy for the opportunity.

In their classes, I often gave PowerPoint lessons where I told them about my life, things I’ve done, places I’ve been, and American culture. I often told them embarrassing things about myself. They enjoyed it so much. I think it’s rare for them to have teachers that are so open with them. Even the “bad” students enjoyed speaking with me (even if they only spoke to me in Japanese). I often exchanged notes and letters with the 3^rd years throughout the year.

I really believe that their JTE had a huge part to do with their English ability. She always created activities and exercises that involved speaking, listening, and conversation. In the beginning of each class, one student would come up front and give a speech about anything they wanted to for one minute. I got to learn more about my students this way. We also did group chatting where I would take a group of 5 students into a separate room, and we have a conversation about set topics for 10 minutes or so. The last time we did it, there were no grades or scores. Students could simply enjoy speaking English with me and each other in a relaxed atmosphere. You wouldn’t believe how much confidence this gave them! Many kids told me that when they first started learning English, they were bad and not confident, but after getting to speak with me, they began to enjoy English and were amazed by the fact that they could communicate with a foreigner by the end.

So what I’m trying to say is that I was able to grow closer to these students compared to the other grades. So, on graduation day, I was in tears. I completely lost it when the male and female class presidents came on stage and gave their speeches…and again when the students sang their farewell song to the lower class-men. They were choking back tears and embracing each other while trying to sing to the 1^st and 2^nd years. Even the toughest boys were crying which made me cry more haha!

After the ceremony, I had students flock to me to take pictures and get my contact info. Last year, I took some pictures with students, but none of them asked for my email, LINE, etc. Now that they have graduated and aren’t my students anymore, they text me every now and then to keep in touch which is so nice. I told them that if they ever need help with anything once they become high school students they shouldn’t hesitate to ask. I just want to end this half of my blog by saying I’m really going to miss them, I know they will do well in the future, and I am so lucky and thankful to have been able to teach them.

The next topic I want to bring up in this post is about starting my 3^rd year of living in Japan. The end of July this year will mark my 2 year anniversary of moving here. From this time, I will enter my third year. In my town, there is a rule where ALT’s can’t work at the same school for more than 2 years, so I will be transferring. I have mixed feelings about this. At first I was upset, but not I’m beginning to accept it and even look forward to it.

At first I was angry because changing schools means basically readjusting to EVERYTHING! I will have new coworkers, new bosses, new students, a bigger school with more JTE’s, a schedule in which I don’t teach every single student because there are so many, 2 elementary schools instead of one (that I go to every week), different systems and rules, and new ways of teaching that I’m not used to. It’s very frustrating to have to learn new ways…but then again, I suppose it keeps things more interesting? This isn’t just something I have to do, regular teachers get moved around every few year as well. It’s just the way schools work in Japan.

The more I think about it, however, the more ok I become with it. I guess we’ll see once I’m actually at my new school, but for now, I will tell you some of the reasons I’m looking forward to it. First, I’m getting a chance to start fresh, but this time I’m armed with experience. Although things will be different, I have ideas to offer, I know how a Japanese school works for the most part, my Japanese language ability is a billion times better than it was when I first came here, I know how to actually teach a bit now, and I know what things to not take for granted. From the second I walk in the doors of my new school, my goal is going to be to form good relationships with my coworkers and students and try to influence them. I have confidence that I can. When I first started working here as a teacher, all I could focus on is figuring out what the hell was going on and trying to not look like an ass. I am excited for the fresh start and having the tools I need to be a good teacher and coworker. It’s not that I’m not good now, but I feel like I lot of time was wasted in the beginning, and that I could have had an even better relationship with my coworkers and younger students if I knew how things worked from the beginning.

Next, my new school is WAY closer to my apartment. Right now, I ride my bike for 5+ minutes, walk for about 15 minutes, and then ride a bus for 20+ minutes. The times I can go home are determined by the bus schedule. Once I change schools, it’ll be only like a 10 minute walk! I’m gona get to sleep more!!

Last, from what I’ve heard, the teachers at my new school are a lot younger and like to party and hang outside of work. Currently, there are not that many young teachers at my school and the few young ones don’t drink or go out. My school never has nomikai (drinking parties) like most Japanese normal Japanese schools. I heard that my new school has nomikai almost every Friday! :O

So yeah, I will let you know how it’s going once I switch schools after summer vacation. For now though, I’m gona enjoy my last semester here at Tawara Junior High.