This morning, out of the blue, I got a call from a parent who wanted to discuss my lesson plans. He's Japanese, but was a university proff in the States for a while and his English is excellent. His daughter is in grade 3 which makes her one out of approximately 175 grade 3 three students I see, at best, every two weeks (for a total of 12 times a year). He is concerned that the content is too difficult for the students as some have private English lessons and others do not. Apparently one student did not understand phrases like 'are you ready?' and now hates english. The father is worried that I am not noticing patterns in my classes of which students are not answering the my questions. He wants to see all my grade 3 lesson plans, which he is welcome to. He will find that I have taught greetings, body parts, 'How are you?', colours, animals, Where's Spot and other rocket science. I have 5 grade 3 classes left before April and he would like me to to preview the next class at the end of each of my current classes 'so the kids can be ready'. I did not thave the chance to point out that classes can sometimes be 2 months apart. I can't be mad at him as I share many of his concerns, but wouldn't it be nice if the schools/ministry were the one's being questioned instead of me?

2007-11-19 13:59:01

wow. that certainly is a new one. perhaps you could "use" him to bring the system down. explain that because you only see the students ever 2 months, theres really no way for you to notice things like that. also, the BOE does not treat like you like an "actual" teacher, and hence anything beyond a performing monkey is out of the question. I'm sure if you explained this is in a nice, non-aniki kind of way, he might be pursuaded to voice his opinions in a city or country wide newspaper. this is a wonderful opportunity if you ask me... indeed, get him to question the BOE and ministries about the serious lack of classes, and the fact that real teachers like yourself simply arent being allowed to do your job because of the fear of the japanese system to let you in beyond your performing monkey role. 

how does that sound? notice how its not my usual "fuck him" response.... 

(dont worry about your job, you know will pretty much certainly have one here next year if theres an opening, which is also pretty much certain) 

2007-11-20 12:06:29

I am pretty much not worried, just tired.

Thank god for long weekends.

Your response was still very Aniki-ish. You did say fuck the BOE. I would worry if you hadn't. ;)

2007-11-20 12:15:36

at no point did I mention fuck the BOE, h'actually. Unless you were speaking metaphorythmically. So~ whacha go~nna do?

2007-11-21 16:01:47

Well, I say Fuck the BOE!!  And that's very non Aniki-ish of me, cuz I don't even know who Aniki is.

2007-12-06 14:47:33