One must excuse the poor ordering of the last week's recollections. I was inspired and decided (and this was quite unexpected!) that the events transpired over the past couple of days were far more memorable than the weekend and prior.
So, at the most opportune time, I've been handed a Get of out of Jail Free card. Wait, perhaps that's way too harsh... I'll settle on a Community Chest card. (Hmm...perhaps after the last few games of Scrabble, I find myself all nostalgic and yearning for a game of Monopoly.)
Life, as it were, has begun to grow stale at the Junior High School as I realise that I need some variety in my occupational happenings. I'm guessing this is part of the reason why the company attempts to alternate our visits between at least two schools.
Now, I think maybe Joy might starting biting her lip whilst reading this in the thought that I might start crapping on my job. Rest assured my dear, that I daren't risk such a feat (I understand under her own experienced pretenses that she refrains to speak of anything directly under any circumstances). However, I shall continue to use the method of not mentioning any names. Despite this commentary, this is in all it's humbleness; a pleasant comparison.
I received a phone-call about a week ago informing that, if I were so inclined, I could accept an offer to split my time between my current Junior High School and an Elementary School. Not knowing what to expect entirely, I decided to take the plunge and give it a shot.
Now, when I received my initial training for the job (having no intentions of teaching at an ES and only being trained for the purpose of an JHS position), I was told that working at an ES was like being a rock star. I have formally decided that whilst "performing" for the children, that premise not only rings true, but is supported by the notion that the noise emulates that of a rock concert itself much of the time. In addition to that, the strain felt on one's body (my back is begging me to lie down as we speak) at times, can be said to emulate that of a mosh pit!
So, without straying from the topic at hand, I shall begin my comparison (which I would like to state, for those of you who haven't stepped foot in the country; might be inexplicably difficult to explain).
The teachers at the JHS are extremely busy and work long hours likening to that of any Japanese business man. They generally have no time during normal school hours to communicate for lengthy periods as they worked to the bone to make sure that their kids receive the best education possible in order to reach great heights of achievement in their high school entrance exam (and in turn; their university entrance exam and the job interview for what will most likely be their first and last occupation as an adult (although, the times are changing and people in this country are gaining the confidence to chop and change as the words "career" and "resume" take on a more Western meaning. But, I digress, the point I'm trying to make here is that you generally only get one chance at most things in this country and the teachers have a responsibility to the well-being of their students).
The teachers that you don't deal with are usually full of what I like "English surprises" in that they will quite surely (but very rarely) burst into a short, but somewhat skilled bout of conversation. However, as previously mentioned, nobody really has time for idle banter.
Nonetheless, this is not an attempt to show them in a negative light, as everyone is generally quite friendly and professional.
The teachers at the ES are quite the opposite. As is the case in any country, they have their class all the time and teach all of the subjects.
This whole teaching English thing is quite new to them (as it has only just begun to be taught to students of this age) and are all extremely excited to not only partner up with a foreigner, but to also learn and/or practice their own English.
When being trained for/informed about the job, I was told the kids are all so cute. But, I have to admit that the teachers are equally cute in a unique way!
They start and finish at the same times as me, which to me implies they have less work and therefore less pressure on their shoulders.
When teaching at a JHS, you are the assistant and present everything in conjunction with the English teacher. You are there to re-enforce all knowledge from the point of view of a fluent speaker and to provide activities to make the drills more fun.
At an ES, YOU are basically the teacher and control most of the proceedings. (Although, I think my teachers are yet to realise that they needn't put in the amount of preparation that they do...) That is to say, there isn't much English taught as it isn't necessary at this level. So, as the title of this entry suggests; there is a lot of singing and dancing to make sure the children's over-flowing energy is spent throughout the proceedings. That combined with my over-acting to keep them smiling and laughing, has convinced me that perhaps this is something I could be more suited to.
Although the kids at both kinds of schools are friendly and quite keen to play around, I find myself acting completely crazy and running around like a madman here at the ES, rather than trying to fit in and be the cool guy at the JHS.
Additionally, I feel that the atmosphere is way more relaxed and I can let things hang out a bit after observing some of the teachers.
At the JHS, you have the choice of the teacher's bento or the kid's canteen lunch. There is a great contrast here as the teacher's bento is very healthy and the canteen provides fairly unhealthy food (for example, fried ham and cheese sandwiches!). But, I guess if the parents want their kids to eat healthy food, they'll send them to school with a home-made bento. Everyone eats in the teacher's room.
At the ES, the teachers eat with their students and everyone plays a role in the serving and cleaning. All the meals are not only healthy, but are cooked at the school, so they are extremely cheap. And lucky me, since I'm designated to every single class, I alternate between the classes; eating lunch with a different group of students every day. (I can't remember the last time I drank milk for lunch!)
When the season was right,I did go swimming with the kids at the JHS (as posted previously, I was privileged enough to be given my own lane). Here at the ES, I've been playing soccer and tag (!). In addition to that, I've been offered to participate in a relay marathon.
Hmmm....that's all I could conjure during this session. More thoughts as they come to mind.
Also, the next post concerns events prior to this week.
