Teacher's Corner

Experiences of English Teachers in Japan

by: K. Trainor

日本語

When Japanese students ask me why I came to Japan, I am overwhelmed with a number of reasons such as decent pay, the ability to travel, the Japanese culture, etc. I suppose one of the main reasons for coming to Japan is that it allows me a chance to teach without going back to school for a Masters degree. Right now, it would take too much time and money for me to return to school. Anyway, I really do enjoy teaching English in Japan. The students are nice and extremely motivated. I like that. I don't want to teach someone who doesn't want to be in class.

I have taught English as a Second Language on and off for seven years. My first time teaching was in Osaka in 1997. I was hired by one of the large English conversation schools. Prior to that, I had a dull but well paying hotel job in Boston. Two weeks after arriving in Osaka, I wondered if I had made a wise decision. The school offered 50 min classes in cramped cubicles. Bells would chime, indicating the end and beginning of class. In the ten minutes between classes, teachers would scurry to find the files of students for the next class. This would go on for eight solid hours, which made up a hectic day.

People think teaching English conversation is easy. They believe that all you have to do is sit and talk. If only it were as easy as that. First of all, talking and listening requires a good amount of energy. Sure, some people can talk on and on for hours, but the student isn't necessarily learning anything. Teaching a language requires some thought and preparation on the part of the teacher. The teacher has to decide what to teach, how to present the target language and create an activity that allows the student to use the language naturally.

The school turned out to be a good place to work. The teachers were terrific. The head teachers were helpful and taught me a lot. When I went back to the States, I enrolled in a course to obtain my TEFL certification. During the training, I saw some of the same activities and methods that I learned in Japan.

One question that I'm often asked is "How can you teach Japanese without knowing the language?" Good question, it would seem impossible. In Boston, I took my TEFL training at Worldwide Teachers Development Institute. On the first day, the director came into class and started speaking Farsi. None of us in the class understood a word he said. He picked up a pen and uttered a word. He made a gesture and we knew we had to repeat the word. He wrote the word on the board and then we repeated the word. He prompted us to repeat the words of a number of items in the room- pen, blackboard, cup, etc. Within several minutes, we were learning our first words in Farsi. I don't remember the words I learned that first day, but I never forgot the lesson. I was impressed that language can be so nonverbal. Mere hand gestures can convey information. Also, learning a new language begins one word at a time. I was thrilled to be learning a new language even though my vocabulary was limited.

Many times while teaching, a Japanese student would shake their head and say "muzukashi". They find learning English difficult. I can sympathize with them. As a teacher, I have to always be aware that even the simplest grammar point can be strange and confusing to a foreign speaker. I like to think learning a language is akin to working out in the gym. I used to work out with weights about three times a week. When you work out in the gym, you develop bigger and stronger muscles. Soon you find that you feel healthier and you can accomplish more in your daily life. Students are developing their abilities when they are practicing in class. Like exercise, with more practice, they can speak English easier and communicate more effectively. One time, a new gym member admitted to me how intimidated he was being around some of the hard-core weight lifters who hang around the gym everyday. These huge guys could lift three or four times more weight than he could, so he felt that he had no business being there. The way I look at it is, those weightlifters had to start somewhere. I may have been one of the smallest guys in gym, but they had to respect me for going out and trying my best. I may be no Arnold Schwarzenegger, but I am in good shape for a guy my age. Exercise is hard work. So is learning a new language. Where you are now should not discourage you from getting to where you want to be. You can learn anything with enough time and practice.

(Eigocafe welcomes submissions from native English speakers who wish to share their experiences in Japan. Please submit your article (800 words or less) and photo here. Thank you!)

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