Teach English, Speak English?
One thing I noticed since I arrived in Japan is how my own ability to speak English has gone down the squat-style toilet. When you listen and read to broken English everyday, it’s a given that you’ll start to speak and write it, too.
Does anyone actually ask “What are your hobbies?” in the English-speaking world? Maybe on the forms you fill out for dating services.
My words tend to jumble up, and my grammar ability has given up and stomped off somewhere else where it still gets respected. Writing on my blog and at 3yen.com has probably saved me from a complete Engrish takeover.
I’m not the worst affected teacher I know, though. There have been others that pronounce their words the same way that the Japanese students would - katakana style.
“Wat ah yoor hobbeezu?”
Sheesh. Hopefully it’s not a permanent impairment.
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May 24th, 2006 at 4:10 pm
Do you use hand gestures more? When explaining something of minimal complexity do you break it up into small, simple sentences?
If you pronounce “clothes” as “clozez” or refer to “shorts” as “short pants” it’s time to go home.
May 28th, 2006 at 4:50 pm
Argh I’m not even IN Japan, just studying it at the moment and I find my English is messing up!
Can someone explain why a country that seems to embrace english so much ends up butchering the language?!?!
It makes me want to cry seeing the Japanese use English words…
May 29th, 2006 at 6:06 pm
Donto gibu appu! ^_-;
May 30th, 2006 at 4:04 pm
yes, people use it. of course if you grow up in an metropolitan area, you probably rarely use it. yet, if you happen to be raised in a farm where the closest neighbor is 5 miles away, and you do not watch as much tv as most kids do these days, you would use “what’s your hobby” !
June 1st, 2006 at 1:27 pm
Apologies to everyone for the delay in getting comments moderated.
Yes, hand gestures are a lifeline. In some cases, you don’t even have to say anything or say very little.
It’s a bad example but the best one I can come up with at the moment: if a student asks what the word ‘borrow’ means, hold out your hand and say “Could I borrow your pen, please?”.
It usually leaves them completely blank but if you keep gesturing at the pen and holding out your hand like they should give it to you, all the while repeating “Can I borrow your pen, please?”, they’ll eventually give you their pen just to see what happens next. Scribble something on your notes then pass it back saying “Thankyou” and suddenly the lightbulb above their head switches on.
“Aaaaah! Sou ka!”
My job here is done.
June 6th, 2006 at 10:30 pm
Hi there!
Have been reading your posts and I would like to say that they really provided me with loads of insight with regards to teaching English in Japan.I come from Singapore and have been contemplating teaching English in Japan but as I do not come from a native English-speaking country, could you give me a rough pic of how my chances will be?I meet all the requirements i.e. have been educated using English as the medium language and I even possess teaching experience but will my being Asian actually ’screw’ up my chances?Thanks in advance for your time and hope to hear from you soon!
June 6th, 2006 at 11:17 pm
Hi Junn. You might get asked to do an English Proficiency test. Or they’ll just set up a special interview for you to prove your English ability.
The general rule is that 12 years of English education is required, but different schools are lenient on this. Just judging from your comment though, I don’t think you’ll have large problems :)