Teaching in Japan - an elementary school visit

[xMarta9]

Hi there! I love Japan and I think your channel is so interesting as I'm doing a school project about how the Japanese Educational System works. Would you mind if I ask you some questions about it?

Thank you so much and I hope you will update more videos soon! :D

Marta

[myargonauts]

@xMarta9 Marta - I was an ALT at public schools from 2004 to 2009, and now I work at a Japanese university, so I won't be making anymore videos about primary schools, but feel free to PM me here on YT with a few questions if you like.

[MiniSweet4]

how many students are usually in a room

[myargonauts]

@MiniSweet4 it can vary quite a bit. A typical elementary school has 25 to 30 kids per class, but I would often teach lessons with class 1 and class 2 combined, so I was teaching 50 to 60 kids in a larger room for 45 minutes. Of course, I also had a small mountain school with only 3 kids in one class.

[CrazyGirll13]

when they something is 100 yen does mean it's actualy 100 or 1 dollar.because we have a student who came from japan before saying 100 yen means 1.00$ is that true?

[myargonauts]

@CrazyGirll13 for many years, 100yen equalled $1 with the exchange rate. So it was easy to think of say, a Coke, which was 120 yen as being $1.20 But now the exchange rate is about 78 yen to $1, so they really aren't equal anymore. That same Coke that is 120yen is about $1.50 now.

[roxas006]

why dont they have any grass in the soccer field?

[myargonauts]

@roxas006 not sure why - but it is rare here. My guess is that grass is expensive to plant and maintain so they just go with dirt

[Cyrus150]

How fluent in japanese do you need to be to teach, or specifically, teach english?

[myargonauts]

@Cyrus150 Japanese language ability helps, but is not required, to become a JET ALT. If you plan to spend more than a year in Japan tho, it really helps to be able to speak at least a little. It will help in your lessons too, especially in elementary schools.

[Grendelwasright]

@myargonauts

Thanks! I'll check it out. I'm currently flip-flopping between wanting to teach in Japan or Thailand, or painting cars/aircraft after I get out of the navy. I still want to teach though, mostly because languages in general facinate me.

[Grendelwasright]

Nice video, I'm currently stationed in japan and want to come back here to teach English or German (is there a demand for that?), do you have any advice for someone wanting to do that?

[myargonauts]

@Grendelwasright sure - go to my main channel page and look at a few of my playlists - lots of vids with advice about coming over to live and teach

[stankler]

hey ..what company recruited you?i am about to head to japan for march /april.

[myargonauts]

@stankler I was a JET ALT for 5 years with the JET Programme.

[PinkPrettyNikki15]

I learned the game Fruit Basket from the Manga Fruit Basket ^_^;

[myargonauts]

@PinkPrettyNikki15 yeah - that makes sense that the game would make it into a manga, since it's played in schools all over Japan

[thedocumentarian]

I'm curious, what did the announcements say?

[myargonauts]

it was after-lunch recess time, and the announcements asked a certain group of students to report to the "playroom" for a meeting.

[jacob7207]

I teach at an Elementary School in Korea. Your school looks a lot similar than mine, but it looks a little nicer. Actually a lot nicer.

[turbographics]

That was a very interesting video. I am actually going to watch the rest of yours as I'm gearing up to teach as well. This gives me some pretty good insight on what to expect! Thanks :)

[runnyrunny999]

I'm sure all kids are happy to have a great teacher like you. So is it common tthey have English program from elementary school ? Things are changed...We didn't have any English program when I was elementary school student:(

[djdicrispino]

I understand why you wouldn't want to show your students' faces, but I'd just like to know if there is a rule about that or is just a personal choice?

[myargonauts]

No rule really, and every school may be a little different. I've never had a school not want me to take pictures, but I did have a school ask me not to put those pics/vids on the open internet, so I respect that.

[Niiickoh]

Thanks for sharing, Jason! :)

[DarkNekoStudio]

Wow you do a lot of thing with your elemetenray students!so the school year end in march and restart during april isn't it?and that's why they have homework during summer vacations because technicaly it's during the school year...

[konY913]

Nice, really enjoyed this video...informative as well

I have a question, has there been a time when you had trouble keeping the class under control? or anything similar to that? maybe people getting into fights during recess? - It doesn't seem likely, but I'm curious..

Also that is one well maintained school/huge playground

again, nice video and thanks for the upload - am looking forward to more

[mostawesomestjes]

They asked me in my interview who I would be more comfortable teaching. Do many JETs do specifically teach elementary grades? I have recently had a lot more young students, but I told them I have a lot of experience with all ages so I am good with any. What sort of paper work are you to do? So much fun! I loved working at camp and getting "mobbed" by all the younger kids. They certainly are clingy eh? ^_^ Great video!

[myargonauts]

it used to be a rule that to stay a 4th or 5th year on the program you had to become a elementary-only ALT. But that has changed now, and now they are hiring and placing some ALTs directly at elementary schools with no Jr High. And I think that trend may increase since 5th and 6th graders will have mandatory English lessons starting this year and everywhere by 2011.

[Snifit]

I'm curious why you don't show people's face in videos? Is it to protect their privacy? I understand that then, great information bout elementary school!!

[myargonauts]

exactly - privacy issues.

thanks for watching.

[AZNWOKZ]

Spider Man Chopsticks FTW!!! LOL

[myargonauts]

USJ has a great Spider-Man shop. :)

[BusanKevin]

Another nice look at an elementary school. i want a set of Doraemon chopsticks!

[myargonauts]

tell your wife - I bet she can make that happen for your next birthday! :D

[BusanKevin]

"Yatta"!!!! Great idea sir :)

[Rictof]

Very nice chopsticks Jason! I haven't been around lately since I was part of a month long evolution out in the Pacific. They had this submarine decommissioning and we had to escort the tug. We pulled into San Diego for a weekend, then came back.

I was wondering if you had any problems with troublemakers in your class. If so, then what kind of disciplinary action is taken on your part? I hate bringing it up, I was just wondering if you've ever experienced a troublesome bunch before.

[myargonauts]

Sure - I have bad kids just like teachers everywhere. I beat them with a large stick when they step out of line...

OK - of course I'm kidding. It's not really the job of an ALT to handle the discipline in the class - it's the HRT's job. But being able to handle a class and keep it running smoothly despite restless or unruly students is a lesson learned over time - with experience comes wisdom and techniques to keep your classes running smooth.

[WhiteMatrix2006]

Nice vlog Jason. Those seats are small. For someone my size, one of my butt cheeks might fit on it. LOL!

-Billy-

[ryanakron]

20 days off plus standard winter/summer/spring breaks? Thats a good deal

[myargonauts]

well - to take time off during those seasonal breaks, you have to use some of those 20 days - so it's not as good as it may seem, altho I'm not complaining - it's a good deal overall.

[hardyboys0]

interesting they make you go to the BOe..from the beginning they asked me to stay at the school even if no lessons...I always have to help with the farewell ceremony at my elementary schools

For me too elementary schools are nice and fun, but junior high school is more rewarding, and you can build better friendships...simply because the kids are older..

[AJSensei]

I agree jr high can be rewarding.

[myargonauts]

I probably would have gone back to my Jr High this day too, but there was no school going on there this day, since it was their holiday in lieu of Graduation being on a Saturday, so I just went to the BoE to finish my day.

[MitsukoKitano]

great video! very interesting to see inside the classroom

[myargonauts]

cool - thanks for watching!

[angel21d]

.....I want the quiz. Lol how did you come up with 10+ questions to use for elementary kids about america (im amazed if they understood). Could you pm me the quiz so I can file it away under JET lesson plans (for shougakkou) when I apply for JET next year? Thanks.

[myargonauts]

I'll make a vlog about it - 9 T/F questions - it wasn't that tough and I did have help from the HRT if they didn't understand.

[ichibahn4]

I am going to be teaching elementary students in about 2 weeks, any particular tips you can give concerning teaching them?

Thanks!

[myargonauts]

be super genki - don't worry about your personal space - the kids will attack you - talk slowly and repeat as necessary - keep the pace in class brisk - don't do all the talking - ask them quesitons - dance, and sing, and play games - know the level of your kids before you do a game or it can be a disaster - don't worry if it ends up a disaster, just do something else.

Good luck!

[ichibahn4]

haha alright thanks

sounds like you basically just have to have a good time with them, I not expecting them to learn too much at that level really.. I hope they do, but based on the level of some o your higher grade students I've just based the assumption that they really don't.

[reynoldsair]

your kids' chairs are bigger than mine :(

[myargonauts]

yeah - but my butt is bigger than yours... LOL

[reynoldsair]

haha

[eyesonvoi]

Very interesting. Your lessons seem fun. I'm sure your students enjoy it a lot. ^o^

So school starts again in April?

[myargonauts]

yep - Japanese school year starts in April, is divided into 3 terms, and ends the following March.

[demonvamp33]

very interesting i always enjoy your videos about school in japan

[myargonauts]

cool - more on the way! :)

[ESOLStudent]

Very nice class room Jason, it seems to be full of English material. Does a worker never get paid overtime in Japan or the daikyo stuff only applies to Jet people or teachers? I mean if you work more than 40 hours in a week not going an extra day but working like 9 or 10 hours per day they paid you overtime or you accumulate hours until you get 8 for another daiyko ? If that system had been implemented here in Florida I will have like 60 daikyo days xDDD.

[myargonauts]

I'm not sure how overtime works for other Japanese jobs - just how it works for JETs.

[ESOLStudent]

I see. Hey a good idea for a new vblog can be to talk about Japanese style of work, holidays, vacations, retirement that kind of stuff in general, it will be very interesting. I think the most part of us dont know how is to be working there.

[myargonauts]

I did a vlog about that stuff last year - in my main playlist called "vacation days"

[GrapplerJMo]

usagi yojimbo? are you a ninja turtles fans?

[myargonauts]

Well, Stan Sakai's Usagi character and the TMNT both debuted in comics in 1984, but i read Usagi first. I still read the comic in trade paperback form - it's an excellent book!

And to answer your question, yes, I am a TMNT fan - but of the comics, not the films or cartoons.

[GrapplerJMo]

it's ok. i'm a fan of all the mediums. i actually have 3 figures of usagi yojimbo

[Jaglos123]

Woah, it's look like you don't have to be a uber english master to teach basics of the english in Japan elementary school, nice ;)

[Hevszel]

When does teaching start in Japan? Is it age 5 like in America?

[myargonauts]

do you mean, when does school start for students? First grade is age 6/7, but yeah, most kids do pre-school and kindergarten, which is age 3 to 6. They have to attend from first grade to 9th grade, and then they're done, altho 98% go on to HS.

[Radrey]

I feel like I'm an english teacher when I watch your work. Weird. But, it gives me a good feeling of what its like. Keep the videos coming!

[HardGaySuperFan]

If you can I would love to see you play Fruit Basket with them if you're able to.

[myargonauts]

nope - can't do it. And I always lose (on purpose). :)

[MrLeo34]

Not very different than what I remember my elementary school classes as being, at least in terms of how the room is arranged. Thanks for showing us!

I plan to apply to JET this fall, but am thinking about saying no to elementary school teaching, as I think I would be better with slightly older kids. I hope that doesn't hurt my chances of being picked.

[myargonauts]

I doubt it, altho starting in 2011, there is going to be a shift toward more elem ALTs as they will start to have an official mandate to teach English in 5th and 6th grade.

I wanted to be a HS teacher in America, and I never thought I would enjoy teaching young kids, but I gradually started to really look forward to my shogakko visits - as with most classes a lot depends on the home room teacher and the kids.

[jessman1999]

Do you ever miss your kids when they graduate and you no longer get to see them in school? I know it's a pretty mixed feeling and differs from person to person. I remember having a high school teacher that hated kids. It was rather amusing to see how stressed he was on a daily basis.

[myargonauts]

well - my elem kids that leave just go to my Jr High, so I still see them. My JH kids that graduate - some I see again at various HS events, but some I never see again, and yes, I do miss some of my kids. My great students is the number one reason I've stayed 5 years.

[6663000]

haha the bells at that school are so pleasent. My school bells were always so loud and obnoxious.

It's cool how they have all of those different chopsticks. You don't see many people using spiderman forks.

[poshko41]

First view and comment. lol!