Teaching Strategies
Teaching English gives a chance to learn how to tailor the mediation of complex universe topics with the needs and abilities of students. This way, they can comfortably understand as much as they can and be presented with challenging material that won’t be so hard that it makes them give up all together.
A lot of The Foundation’s teaching program includes material that will appear quite revolutionary to the minds of potential students. The task of the teaching mission is to ensure that it remains sufficiently evolutionary in it’s approach to be grasped.
Showing posts with label English Teaching in Japan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label English Teaching in Japan. Show all posts
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
God is a Fair Employer
Well, I'm back here and it seem that a lot of my blogger stuff has gradually moved over to my Perfect Futures pages and also my video-blogging. The latter is getting some attention, though I still need a lot of work on presentation. There are various series- Tech Talk, Cosmic Transitions (a kind of video-version of Starfire Teaches, or that's what I hope for), and the usual assorted clips and slideshows. I am also starting to pay more attention to issues- partly how they effect me (including emotionally- news seems to do that to me a lot, maybe I'm a bit of a news junkie) and how they potentially could do.
An amazing thing happened. I prayed to God for some financial reward for serving Him and compensation for my stress over the summer- a time when I tried to just do the right thing by my family, but was frequently misunderstood. I want to work for God and what kind of employer doesn't get around to paying? I was then promised a cheque in the mail, that would give me something to do with university in November, to the sum of about 1,000,000 yen, though there would be a 9 in there somewhere to make this possible. mysterious, huh?
A few days later, my mum emailed to say that she had been offered some more funds she was due from her parent's inheritance, $9,000 to be exact and she decided that she wanted it to be for me to study something in university to help with my future. I thanked her and asked if she wanted to split it or something- she said no, she wanted me to have it. It came and, converted to yen, it is about a million. but it arrived in October... hmmm. I took it to citibank, where it turns out they take 22 days or so to process the cheque, bringing me into that month.
So, for anyone paying attention, God does pay his prophets, his love is supra-material, but also in the material sphere. More to the point for me, it seems, with all this Nova crisis I had better improve my marketability and indeed employability for better-paying jobs- and an MA would seem to be the best way to do this (trying to drum up private students has yet to prove really profitable, but I suppose, like the occasional photographic job, it is fun and a good sideline). Come November, I will try to sign up for an online course.
Thanks, God, for this and of course everything else- dream girlfriend, apartment, job and beautiful co-worker too. I suppose many will say this is juts good luck or random chance, which is often what I say when I don't want to get too deep. But we all know how ridiculous it is to try putting any form of Worldly government before that of the Universe itself. God is in charge, sees all in our hearts and is very much not mocked. Clever words may impress one's fellow man- but not God- who respects the Love that is the essence of all things and ultimately rewards those who keep his most basic commandment- to LOVE.
An amazing thing happened. I prayed to God for some financial reward for serving Him and compensation for my stress over the summer- a time when I tried to just do the right thing by my family, but was frequently misunderstood. I want to work for God and what kind of employer doesn't get around to paying? I was then promised a cheque in the mail, that would give me something to do with university in November, to the sum of about 1,000,000 yen, though there would be a 9 in there somewhere to make this possible. mysterious, huh?
A few days later, my mum emailed to say that she had been offered some more funds she was due from her parent's inheritance, $9,000 to be exact and she decided that she wanted it to be for me to study something in university to help with my future. I thanked her and asked if she wanted to split it or something- she said no, she wanted me to have it. It came and, converted to yen, it is about a million. but it arrived in October... hmmm. I took it to citibank, where it turns out they take 22 days or so to process the cheque, bringing me into that month.
So, for anyone paying attention, God does pay his prophets, his love is supra-material, but also in the material sphere. More to the point for me, it seems, with all this Nova crisis I had better improve my marketability and indeed employability for better-paying jobs- and an MA would seem to be the best way to do this (trying to drum up private students has yet to prove really profitable, but I suppose, like the occasional photographic job, it is fun and a good sideline). Come November, I will try to sign up for an online course.
Thanks, God, for this and of course everything else- dream girlfriend, apartment, job and beautiful co-worker too. I suppose many will say this is juts good luck or random chance, which is often what I say when I don't want to get too deep. But we all know how ridiculous it is to try putting any form of Worldly government before that of the Universe itself. God is in charge, sees all in our hearts and is very much not mocked. Clever words may impress one's fellow man- but not God- who respects the Love that is the essence of all things and ultimately rewards those who keep his most basic commandment- to LOVE.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
An Interesting Lesson
Yesterday, when teaching at school, a boy kicked the boy next to him while he was reading his homework out, so of course I told him off. He then continued to subtly and not-so-subtly harass him (I'm not sure why, but it probably wasn't the first boy's fault and even if it was), leading to his 'victim', who also seemed to be his friend (to an extent) trying to escape from the situation by staring into his text book. Since it happening was right near me, (even though I'm technically an ALT and not in charge of disciplining the students) I made the 'bully' keep himself to himself. I pondered whether to temporarily move him, not really wanting to do anything overt that might lead to later recriminations of the 'victim', who might later be blamed for it when I'm not around. So, I decided instead to just dock his homework score by a point, however good it was. After all, interrupting someone else's homework is in a sense not being good at the whole homework thing:)
So, this I did, out of his sight, but he must have realised something had changed, as at that very moment, he accidentally kicked his own desk and said a loud 'ouch!' I looked at him with a mixture of sympathy and 'That's karma you little f***' and then from that point on he was very nice to the boy next to him, (who seemed to be his friend after all), offering to share his pens- a perfect result all around.
The incident made me think of the so-called 'Book of Life', in which angels are held to write the names of the righteous. What if all through life we have various tests and they mark us on them, just as I was marking my mark-book? What if these tests are not so much to see what we are already like, but more to transform us into something better, into more caring people, hoping for a better grade from such angels and the resultant promotions and blessings that come from such exhibitions of faith? Yes, our works may not save us, but our attitudes and how we respond on a moment-to-moment basis might. Every day, we are being helped along on this path- we just need to learn the right lessons.
So, this I did, out of his sight, but he must have realised something had changed, as at that very moment, he accidentally kicked his own desk and said a loud 'ouch!' I looked at him with a mixture of sympathy and 'That's karma you little f***' and then from that point on he was very nice to the boy next to him, (who seemed to be his friend after all), offering to share his pens- a perfect result all around.
The incident made me think of the so-called 'Book of Life', in which angels are held to write the names of the righteous. What if all through life we have various tests and they mark us on them, just as I was marking my mark-book? What if these tests are not so much to see what we are already like, but more to transform us into something better, into more caring people, hoping for a better grade from such angels and the resultant promotions and blessings that come from such exhibitions of faith? Yes, our works may not save us, but our attitudes and how we respond on a moment-to-moment basis might. Every day, we are being helped along on this path- we just need to learn the right lessons.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Falling Skies, Falling Wages... But Rainbows Are Still to be Found
Warning- long rant to follow!
It might be strange to change subjects like this, but I am just a regular man after all... and living in a material world like the rest of us. One depressing thing about life in Japan is seeing how the wages for English teaching have gone steadily down over the years since I arrived. Some may think me a picky snob, but, not wanting to fill up all my spare time with teaching, and thus reserve ample time for my blogging and photography, I want to get paid well for everything I do. I am pretty bitter about the amount of people wanting me to do them a 'favour' and teach them for free or for reduced wages.
Hanging out with friends and sharing English is one thing. Being manipulated for the other's gain is quite another- and if you can't guess- it is something that really riles me up. Teachers deserve to be treated just as considerately as other professions, they shouldn't be pushed to the point at which they feel the need to 'protest'- even more so, their protestations should never be disregarded or seen as a sign of a lack of appreciation. Teachers are professionals just like anyone else (even if they aren't perfect!) People may mean well, but they can be so inconsiderate! The abysmal result of this way of thinking has been the infamous Nova- where low wages for English-teaching have been pretty much institutionalised and teachers protests regarding conditions are routinely ignored. Let me explain...
Recently moving has meant a lot of extra expenses. True, I could get cheaper things, but then I am filling my place with stuff I don't really want, just cutting corners on it. This being stuff to use for a long time, my 'second generation', which may well be hard to even move out to replace it if I want better, I really see no point in that. So, some part of my mind yesterday said... "Universe, please send me another class, preferably a business class, with good pay".
Just when the thought went through my mind, my phone repeatedly buzzed (in it's silent 'manner mode'). Since I was teaching at the time, I left it and it turns out it was a friend and then Hitachi Business English Division. Had my prayers been answered? Well, yes and no (note the title). Indeed, it was a business class, but not of the 8-15,000/hr variety I have met many people teaching. No, this one is a lowly 4,000/hr. True, not bad, but on top of an already fairly busy schedule it isn't really what I'm looking for. Some may call me greedy, but I want something that pays really well for a business class, not just moderately well.
By my maths, I would have to do loads of those classes to get a decent amount of money, but far less of a better-paid one. But the class itself would be the same, in terms of all the other factors. The students would be just as good, the text would be the same, the level of appreciation. Put simply, I have enough, 'bread and butter' work. I need more of the cream to go on top of it.
So, I said the word I hate to say- no. In Japan it's considered very rude and even more rude to quibble about payment (which is exactly why it is better to get a well-paid job, people will be very reluctant to try to pay you less, not to mention the possible illegality of that, once a contract is signed). So, if i had wanted to work for them anyway, there would always be a subtle distrust of me, I would be labelled 'selfish'. The more polite, Japanese thing to do would be to keep it all secret, just as they tried to keep the pay for this job secret (my friend told me, she didn't mention it until I asked) and just say, 'sorry, I'm too busy to do that'. But I think I was helping her realise why they were having trouble finding, or keeping a teacher. The job isn't just about the pay, it's about satisfaction, enjoyment, helping others. Like it or not, in a world that revolves around money just as much as around love, this is a very important factor, which it is foolish to ignore.
She tried to sweet-talk me some more, in her squeaky, sugary-sweet voice (which may be the way she is, but I detected more than a trace of manipulation in it). "Please, it's only for 6 months- we really need a teacher." Well, if they aren't willing to pay as much as everyone else, it can't be such a high priority after all. Which leads me to my point- that wages for English teaching are falling all over the place here in Japan, despite it being an amazingly rich country. This is all to do with the perception that foreigners are a dime a dozen, and that any who come to Japan must be students/dirt poor, and thus will appreciate being paid a pittance as it's better than nothing for them. Also, being kind-hearted, they will do anything you nicely ask them to do. Not only that, but the less they work for, the more sincere their friendship.
All these dangerous misconceptions have driven a good portion of professionals away from English-teaching here, except in a few unaltered jobs with pristine conditions that the administrators have been wise enough to maintain (public schools who hire directly are a good example here, or well-paying universities). The rest is fast becoming a wasteland for anyone over the age of 22-odd as there are droves of people expecting you to teach for next to nothing, whilst they still get their (reduced) profits from it.
So the moral of this story is, if anyone hopes to come to Japan for a travel experience or a change of pace, that's a great idea. But if they are coming to settle down here, or to save, they had better be very careful what kind of a job they get (a teaching certificate or a masters degree in any English-related subject is a great help here), as the part-time work has fallen down through a hole and into a dark pit, at least in terms of the financial compensation. You will be treated better and far happier in the more-respected, better paid stuff- your kind self-disregard in accepting less pay will just be seen as a sign of your own gullibility, should you go for the work where budgets have been slashed to save for other departments. People will try to get you to help them out and to an extent they will appreciate this- but no more than the people who pay you properly, and if you are anything like me you will resent people trying to take advantage of you, whilst they enjoy their far more decent salaries and or familial support network.
This may well all sound a bit cynical to you, but Japanese companies have for a long time had to pay very comfortable salaries to their employees and have just realised all the loop-holes offered by employing people part-time- not having to give bonuses, not having to pay insurance, pensions, etc. So they are doing the same to Japanese part-time workers/ temps. Just don't get stuck in that rut, you'll be surrounded by embittered people who feel, quite honestly, shafted by a system that sees them as a cheap route to greater profits, as a saving. They may well be emotionally manipulated to stay there, made to feel guilty about looking for something better. Yet, this kind of exploitation is not what God wants for his children. We aren't here to be slaves for others, used and abused for their gain. Break free, children, break free! Find places that appreciate you and treat you well. Don't be afraid to say 'no' to giving someone just what they want, even if it isn't any good for you.
Rant over... for now! I am still on the look-out for the dream, super-well paid private classes which pay money like milk from a cow's udder. Tax-deductible toys for the company to relax with a foreigner, leading to streams of gold pouring into their pockets. I smell early retirement, endless electronic goodies, holidays in the sun... all for a silly few hours of 'neo-work'. I smell money for nothing and the chicks for free! I smell an escape from standardised micro-wages and into mega-bucks that fall from heaven, right into my very appreciative lap. I've seen it happen- a friend of mine actually made a private class that netted 15,000 an hour, two hours a week of it! Is it good or bad... I don't ultimately know. But it sure makes life easier to not have to money about the green stuff anymore!
It might be strange to change subjects like this, but I am just a regular man after all... and living in a material world like the rest of us. One depressing thing about life in Japan is seeing how the wages for English teaching have gone steadily down over the years since I arrived. Some may think me a picky snob, but, not wanting to fill up all my spare time with teaching, and thus reserve ample time for my blogging and photography, I want to get paid well for everything I do. I am pretty bitter about the amount of people wanting me to do them a 'favour' and teach them for free or for reduced wages.
Hanging out with friends and sharing English is one thing. Being manipulated for the other's gain is quite another- and if you can't guess- it is something that really riles me up. Teachers deserve to be treated just as considerately as other professions, they shouldn't be pushed to the point at which they feel the need to 'protest'- even more so, their protestations should never be disregarded or seen as a sign of a lack of appreciation. Teachers are professionals just like anyone else (even if they aren't perfect!) People may mean well, but they can be so inconsiderate! The abysmal result of this way of thinking has been the infamous Nova- where low wages for English-teaching have been pretty much institutionalised and teachers protests regarding conditions are routinely ignored. Let me explain...
Recently moving has meant a lot of extra expenses. True, I could get cheaper things, but then I am filling my place with stuff I don't really want, just cutting corners on it. This being stuff to use for a long time, my 'second generation', which may well be hard to even move out to replace it if I want better, I really see no point in that. So, some part of my mind yesterday said... "Universe, please send me another class, preferably a business class, with good pay".
Just when the thought went through my mind, my phone repeatedly buzzed (in it's silent 'manner mode'). Since I was teaching at the time, I left it and it turns out it was a friend and then Hitachi Business English Division. Had my prayers been answered? Well, yes and no (note the title). Indeed, it was a business class, but not of the 8-15,000/hr variety I have met many people teaching. No, this one is a lowly 4,000/hr. True, not bad, but on top of an already fairly busy schedule it isn't really what I'm looking for. Some may call me greedy, but I want something that pays really well for a business class, not just moderately well.
By my maths, I would have to do loads of those classes to get a decent amount of money, but far less of a better-paid one. But the class itself would be the same, in terms of all the other factors. The students would be just as good, the text would be the same, the level of appreciation. Put simply, I have enough, 'bread and butter' work. I need more of the cream to go on top of it.
So, I said the word I hate to say- no. In Japan it's considered very rude and even more rude to quibble about payment (which is exactly why it is better to get a well-paid job, people will be very reluctant to try to pay you less, not to mention the possible illegality of that, once a contract is signed). So, if i had wanted to work for them anyway, there would always be a subtle distrust of me, I would be labelled 'selfish'. The more polite, Japanese thing to do would be to keep it all secret, just as they tried to keep the pay for this job secret (my friend told me, she didn't mention it until I asked) and just say, 'sorry, I'm too busy to do that'. But I think I was helping her realise why they were having trouble finding, or keeping a teacher. The job isn't just about the pay, it's about satisfaction, enjoyment, helping others. Like it or not, in a world that revolves around money just as much as around love, this is a very important factor, which it is foolish to ignore.
She tried to sweet-talk me some more, in her squeaky, sugary-sweet voice (which may be the way she is, but I detected more than a trace of manipulation in it). "Please, it's only for 6 months- we really need a teacher." Well, if they aren't willing to pay as much as everyone else, it can't be such a high priority after all. Which leads me to my point- that wages for English teaching are falling all over the place here in Japan, despite it being an amazingly rich country. This is all to do with the perception that foreigners are a dime a dozen, and that any who come to Japan must be students/dirt poor, and thus will appreciate being paid a pittance as it's better than nothing for them. Also, being kind-hearted, they will do anything you nicely ask them to do. Not only that, but the less they work for, the more sincere their friendship.
All these dangerous misconceptions have driven a good portion of professionals away from English-teaching here, except in a few unaltered jobs with pristine conditions that the administrators have been wise enough to maintain (public schools who hire directly are a good example here, or well-paying universities). The rest is fast becoming a wasteland for anyone over the age of 22-odd as there are droves of people expecting you to teach for next to nothing, whilst they still get their (reduced) profits from it.
So the moral of this story is, if anyone hopes to come to Japan for a travel experience or a change of pace, that's a great idea. But if they are coming to settle down here, or to save, they had better be very careful what kind of a job they get (a teaching certificate or a masters degree in any English-related subject is a great help here), as the part-time work has fallen down through a hole and into a dark pit, at least in terms of the financial compensation. You will be treated better and far happier in the more-respected, better paid stuff- your kind self-disregard in accepting less pay will just be seen as a sign of your own gullibility, should you go for the work where budgets have been slashed to save for other departments. People will try to get you to help them out and to an extent they will appreciate this- but no more than the people who pay you properly, and if you are anything like me you will resent people trying to take advantage of you, whilst they enjoy their far more decent salaries and or familial support network.
This may well all sound a bit cynical to you, but Japanese companies have for a long time had to pay very comfortable salaries to their employees and have just realised all the loop-holes offered by employing people part-time- not having to give bonuses, not having to pay insurance, pensions, etc. So they are doing the same to Japanese part-time workers/ temps. Just don't get stuck in that rut, you'll be surrounded by embittered people who feel, quite honestly, shafted by a system that sees them as a cheap route to greater profits, as a saving. They may well be emotionally manipulated to stay there, made to feel guilty about looking for something better. Yet, this kind of exploitation is not what God wants for his children. We aren't here to be slaves for others, used and abused for their gain. Break free, children, break free! Find places that appreciate you and treat you well. Don't be afraid to say 'no' to giving someone just what they want, even if it isn't any good for you.
Rant over... for now! I am still on the look-out for the dream, super-well paid private classes which pay money like milk from a cow's udder. Tax-deductible toys for the company to relax with a foreigner, leading to streams of gold pouring into their pockets. I smell early retirement, endless electronic goodies, holidays in the sun... all for a silly few hours of 'neo-work'. I smell money for nothing and the chicks for free! I smell an escape from standardised micro-wages and into mega-bucks that fall from heaven, right into my very appreciative lap. I've seen it happen- a friend of mine actually made a private class that netted 15,000 an hour, two hours a week of it! Is it good or bad... I don't ultimately know. But it sure makes life easier to not have to money about the green stuff anymore!
Thursday, March 02, 2006
The Rock Band
I just went with my girlfriend to see some of my High school kids playing in a rock band they made, at a 'live house'. It was a fun event and they really were good. I saw it as a kind of farewell party to have with them- as I am changing to another school in the Spring. There was another small party we had with the English club and there will be a BBQ lunch with some of the teachers that I'm closest to.
They have a lot of talent - the lead guitar player was really into it and the girl doing vocals had a great voice, full of emotion. They played some Japanese classics which I know, with a lot of energy, even if they could do with more time to smooth out the rough edges in their act. We were surprised to see how passionate about it they are, we really felt like we were watching a band. Probably, it is pretty unusual for a teacher to go to this sort of thing, but I am pretty close to that class and also my girlfriend came along. I was glad she came, so she could see how cool my students are, and also as we had to wait a long time for them to play, before other bands got finished.
It was a great set-up- a small stage and cheap price for entry and drinks. Almost everyone in the audience was also a high-school student, or failing that an Akihbara-type, standing there in anorak and glasses, with folded arms. The other band we saw was all-girl and very 'cute', really playing at being a band. I thought, well if this is what they want to express, it's great that they have a venue like this and their friends can enjoy it with them. Much more creative than just listening to music, to also be making it themselves. So if they want to play at being cute- why not?
They have a lot of talent - the lead guitar player was really into it and the girl doing vocals had a great voice, full of emotion. They played some Japanese classics which I know, with a lot of energy, even if they could do with more time to smooth out the rough edges in their act. We were surprised to see how passionate about it they are, we really felt like we were watching a band. Probably, it is pretty unusual for a teacher to go to this sort of thing, but I am pretty close to that class and also my girlfriend came along. I was glad she came, so she could see how cool my students are, and also as we had to wait a long time for them to play, before other bands got finished.
It was a great set-up- a small stage and cheap price for entry and drinks. Almost everyone in the audience was also a high-school student, or failing that an Akihbara-type, standing there in anorak and glasses, with folded arms. The other band we saw was all-girl and very 'cute', really playing at being a band. I thought, well if this is what they want to express, it's great that they have a venue like this and their friends can enjoy it with them. Much more creative than just listening to music, to also be making it themselves. So if they want to play at being cute- why not?
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
High School Life
You might be surprised, but in my school, I'm told I have a very friendly personality. I certainly love the kids and they me. They constantly come up with new ways to delight me. Japanese high-school kids love to be 'cute' and are often more interested in staying kids than in growing up. For example, it was raining the other morning and I was walking from the bus to the school with a couple of cute girl students. One of them said, giggling, 'It's raining... But I like rain'. I asked why and she said 'I grow- with rain and sun I can grow'- pointing to the nearby plants. I said, 'So are you a flower?' and she said 'Yes, a flower! (giggling). Her friend had a yellow umbrella and said- 'Look here's the sun'.
They have such innocent, happy minds and they wave to me from the windows, jokingly blowing kisses. Despite having to make and give tests now, a school is such a pleasant place to be. I am glad to be able to bring so much happiness to the student's lives. Their happiness becomes mine, too and I leave from there each day with a full heart.
They have such innocent, happy minds and they wave to me from the windows, jokingly blowing kisses. Despite having to make and give tests now, a school is such a pleasant place to be. I am glad to be able to bring so much happiness to the student's lives. Their happiness becomes mine, too and I leave from there each day with a full heart.
Monday, September 06, 2004
School Festival (Emailed in Autumn 2004)
I just went to my High School's culture festival, or 'Bunka-Sai', yesterday. The students plan the whole thing themselves and teachers just help with the organising. You can really see the students’ imagination and warmth towards one another, and even better see them have a really great time with something they have created by and for themselves!
There were lots of games and food stalls and a play of Cinderella in modern terms. There was even a haunted school where a classroom is black and it is full of ghosts! The students set up food stalls in the school playground with fried noodles, curry, popcorn and other snacks, each with handmade signs and at cheap prices. They also made some cafes in the classes- some girls made one selling coffee and snacks called 'Heartbucks'. It was all so much fun- and I was practically the only teacher there. Lots of students came from other schools too, probably to get boyfriends or girlfriends. It was so noisy on the bus to the school because of this that I was very glad to have my headphones available. Seeing as I have taught in other schools in the area, some of them remembered me. One even said her little sister knows me from elementary school!
There were lots of games and food stalls and a play of Cinderella in modern terms. There was even a haunted school where a classroom is black and it is full of ghosts! The students set up food stalls in the school playground with fried noodles, curry, popcorn and other snacks, each with handmade signs and at cheap prices. They also made some cafes in the classes- some girls made one selling coffee and snacks called 'Heartbucks'. It was all so much fun- and I was practically the only teacher there. Lots of students came from other schools too, probably to get boyfriends or girlfriends. It was so noisy on the bus to the school because of this that I was very glad to have my headphones available. Seeing as I have taught in other schools in the area, some of them remembered me. One even said her little sister knows me from elementary school!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)