| STUDENTS are, generally speaking, good and are not bashful about speaking up in class or expressing their reluctance to do so. |
| The General Course Division class size is about 40 students. There are almost 800 students in this division. (These students tend to be a bit more reserved than those in the Intercultural Division.) The size of the Intercultural Division classes is generally 20 students but can be slightly higher/lower depending upon the level of the class. There are about 240 students in this division, including students who have lived in foreign countries for months or even years. It's fair to say student behavior differs from what you might be accustomed to. Here are some examples of what you're likely to encounter: It is considered ill-mannered for students to eat once a lesson has started, but chatting throughout a lesson isn't necessarily frowned upon; don't expect students to keep worksheets unless you specifically tell them to do so; don't expect them to take notes unless you've emphasized note-taking (and continue to do so) in your lessons; most teachers will not reprimand students for showing up late to class. At this school, the discipline hierarchy during a lesson is roughly as follows: you; Japanese Teacher of English (JTE) directly involved in the class in question; your supervisor (who can serve as a liason between you and the student's homeroom teacher if the homeroom teacher and you cannot communicate with each other); the homeroom teacher; and finally, the homeroom-teacher/parent duo. To the best of my knowledge, the most severe form of discipline is a stern admonition from the homeroom teacher. |
| And contrary to what you might hear from fellow JETs at other schools, you can single out these students-- as long as you do it tactfully, encouragingly, and somewhat sparingly. |
| Additional TIPS & CONSIDERATIONS: Try to maintain as good a working relationship with the JTEs as you can, because when it comes to discipline concerns they're more likely to help you out if they regard you well. If you have a particularly friendly relationship with a homeroom teacher, you can bypass your supervisor if you need to voice your ongoing concerns about a particular student. Otherwise, rely on your supervisor (or another teacher who has a good relationship with the homeroom teacher) to relay your concerns. Think of the homeroom teacher as a surrogate parent for the academic year. These teachers are basically viewed as responsible (by fellow teachers as well as the parents themselves) for the students' well-being and success. Keep in mind that the students have the right to an education. As such, the system is skewed in their favor, and they are considered innocent until proven guilty. (For instance, if a student says he missed an exam because of illness, then you are expected to give him a makeup test--no questions asked.) |
 |
| GO TO: |
| The area. Transportation. |
|