What is it Like Working in a Japanese Elementary School?
Hey...wonder what it feels like to be a celebrity? Well, I've got the job for you: elementary school teacher as an ALT in small-city Japan.
Sounds oddly specific but honestly that's because this is my life here.
In South Korea I taught Kindergarten and after-school programs and I often felt like a mini-celebrity. If the students saw me outside of the classroom (aka going to get a coffee at the Ediya next door) they'd cry out in delight. But I had 10 students in my class and a handful of other after-school classes. It never felt too...overwhelming.
Well, nowadays I teach at one of the large elementary schools in my city in Japan. It's near my actual apartment.
I've transformed into a literal celebrity.
I understand it completely. I'm recognizable as a Caucasian woman. I'm also exceedingly popular. My English classes are full of games and the students love talking to me. High-5s are a way of life. I also live only a couple of blocks away from my school. The students are young and absolutely infatuated with me since they only see me once a week on Fridays.
Basically, I'm a celebrity.
Sometimes I'm walking home from my Junior High School and I have to walk close to my Elementary School. I'll often hear them first, "Eh....sensei?" They'll whisper to one another in confirmation about my identity before I hear the screams of, "SENSEI!" And then they're swarming me and wanting to talk to me. It's adorable even if a little cumbersome since I'm heading home.
Overall though being in the school is really nice. The kids are super sweet. I teach Grades 1 through to Grade 6. Grades 5 and 6 have a curriculum they follow and a textbook. The homeroom teachers for these grades are the main teacher. They're the ones who know the goals of the textbook and where they want to go. For these classes you should be assisting. Now, at my school of the 4 teachers for these two grades only 1 is comfortable with English. I do most of the talking in these classes but the HRT should still be the one guiding the class.
For Grades 1-4 though things are different. English is currently not part of their curriculum but they get an hour with an English teacher approximately once per month. These classes are really loose. For me I get a general plan for what the teachers want to do but once I get to class...I am the main teacher. Almost none of these teachers are confident in English so I do a majority of the teacher. Scratch that. I do all the teaching. This is fun for me because I love being the ones with the kids. Plus the kids are really flexible and fun. However this does not mean you should be left alone with a class. There should always be a Japanese teacher present.
It's good to have a bag of back up items in case you need them. I have supplies for games including 6 dice, blindfolds, small items for passing around and also a laminated version of the game 'Typhoon'. It's also good to have some games in your mind to play if you need to fill time. Here are some games I use often:
4 Corners
Sounds oddly specific but honestly that's because this is my life here.
In South Korea I taught Kindergarten and after-school programs and I often felt like a mini-celebrity. If the students saw me outside of the classroom (aka going to get a coffee at the Ediya next door) they'd cry out in delight. But I had 10 students in my class and a handful of other after-school classes. It never felt too...overwhelming.
Well, nowadays I teach at one of the large elementary schools in my city in Japan. It's near my actual apartment.
I've transformed into a literal celebrity.
I understand it completely. I'm recognizable as a Caucasian woman. I'm also exceedingly popular. My English classes are full of games and the students love talking to me. High-5s are a way of life. I also live only a couple of blocks away from my school. The students are young and absolutely infatuated with me since they only see me once a week on Fridays.
Basically, I'm a celebrity.
Sometimes I'm walking home from my Junior High School and I have to walk close to my Elementary School. I'll often hear them first, "Eh....sensei?" They'll whisper to one another in confirmation about my identity before I hear the screams of, "SENSEI!" And then they're swarming me and wanting to talk to me. It's adorable even if a little cumbersome since I'm heading home.
Overall though being in the school is really nice. The kids are super sweet. I teach Grades 1 through to Grade 6. Grades 5 and 6 have a curriculum they follow and a textbook. The homeroom teachers for these grades are the main teacher. They're the ones who know the goals of the textbook and where they want to go. For these classes you should be assisting. Now, at my school of the 4 teachers for these two grades only 1 is comfortable with English. I do most of the talking in these classes but the HRT should still be the one guiding the class.
For Grades 1-4 though things are different. English is currently not part of their curriculum but they get an hour with an English teacher approximately once per month. These classes are really loose. For me I get a general plan for what the teachers want to do but once I get to class...I am the main teacher. Almost none of these teachers are confident in English so I do a majority of the teacher. Scratch that. I do all the teaching. This is fun for me because I love being the ones with the kids. Plus the kids are really flexible and fun. However this does not mean you should be left alone with a class. There should always be a Japanese teacher present.
It's good to have a bag of back up items in case you need them. I have supplies for games including 6 dice, blindfolds, small items for passing around and also a laminated version of the game 'Typhoon'. It's also good to have some games in your mind to play if you need to fill time. Here are some games I use often:
4 Corners
- Take the flash cards that you have been reviewing and spread them out throughout the classroom. Say the keyword or target sentence and kids must go to the correct flashcard. Remind them not to run because injuries can and do happen if they do.
Missing Card Game
- Have all of the flashcards on the board. Have students cover their eyes and then remove one flash card. Students must put up their hand and guess which card is missing. Increase to taking away 2, 3 or maybe 4 cards.
Keyword Game
- Students get into pairs and put an eraser between them. Hands go on their heads. Pick one of the flashcards, that is your Keyword. Start listing off the vocabulary as the students repeat after you. When you say the target Keyword students must grab for the eraser in the middle.
Secret Card
- This only works if you have enough flashcards for either each student or each pair of students. Distribute cards to students face down. Have them check them secretly. Then call out on of the words and students with that card must come to the front and show their card. At the same time they'll declare what card they have.
You'd be amazed with how much small kids love repetition. Elementary kids are super easy to please and can get pretty rowdy. But they're pretty darn fun!!
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