Comments on: What kind of teacher you shouldn’t be

By: mirai

mirai — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 08:13:48 +0000

-commenting on an old blog…-

It’s really a shame that there are teachers that would even consider treating their teachers like that. Learning a new language is one of the hardest things to do in life and something that most people never attempt to do. In a society that’s nearly 100% based on respect for one another (even in organized crime haha) they treat people like trash :( that’s disappointing. I think it’d be one of the most exciting things to be an 英語 teacher in Japan.. Maybe there will be a revolution and will result in the riddance of all people that act like that haha

By: A

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:51:54 +0000

I think perhaps the reason people gripe in Japan is to vent the frustrations caused by the relentless and grinding nature of the job and the total lack of respect, professionality and appreciation displayed by the company.

You have pointed these things out yourself and I suspect the teacher’s room is where some of these things manifest themselves.

By: Chidade

Chidade — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 14:45:53 +0000

Dennis: I do listen to their motives. That’s what they bitch about in the staffroom. Occassionally, after arguing with a few of them, I get an extra reason like “I’m fed up” or “They’re idiots”, in which my argument of “Well, go home then” applies. These people seem to be unhappy here for whatever reason, so they take it out on the students. If they’re unhappy, why don’t they get another job or go home?

Or if it’s a question of having a bad day/week/month, then I argue that it’s not professional conduct. It wouldn’t be tolerated repeatedly in any other organisation, but it seems to be in eikaiwa.

Believe me, I’ve tried looking for their motives. I was amazed to think that people could behave that way, so I wanted to find out why. All the reasons I’ve heard are either weak or very immature. But I’m curious to know if you think you know of any other motives they might have.

By the way, I’m not sure what you mean by NT’s. Did you mean NOVA teachers? I’ve already pointed out before, that this post has nothing to do with NOVA specifically but everything to do with eikaiwa teaching generally.

As for why I target dickheads teaching English in Japan as opposed to dickheads in all walks of life, I’d like to point out that this is a blog about teaching English in Japan. Talking about dicheads everywhere would a) be irrelevant and b) take forever :)

By: dennis

dennis — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 12:14:19 +0000

I for one agree with you. BUT i can not help noticing your one eye. maybe you should try LISTENING to some of these dickhead teachers to see their motives. YeS Admittedly there are people in every walks of life who are dickheads. How nice of you for some unknown reason, to choose NT’s teaching in Japan.

By: nate

nate — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 06:54:55 +0000

28787 “dark experience of japan” blah blah blah. If a certain class of western men “don’t get it” “don’t get along” or “can’t do something” its the fault of the thing, and the world which that thing inhabits, never the incessantly complaining westerner. no one’s calling it a perfect system, but the sort of angry self-centeredness that drives the japan-hating japan resident is the worst.
angry begets angry begets angry. If you hear only bitching it’s for one reason. The only people who want to befriend whiny foreign bastards are others of their own type, and Japanese folks who have problems with their own country. Foreigners who speak decent japanese have anywhere near as hate fueled take on japan… then again, unlike the non-speaker, they have seen fit from the beginning to put some effort into getting along with those around them.

By: Chidade

Chidade — Sun, 25 Jun 2006 14:32:33 +0000

Firstly, apologies to everyone who commented that it took a long time to get your comments approved and on the site. I've been travelling recently so I've been slack at updating at 3yen. But, on th plus side, your comments shouldn't need approval anymore, if you keep the same name and email. Secondly, to 28787...umm, I don't support NOVA. I guess you haven't read any of my past posts but I can't say that I've written many positive things about NOVA. The best I can say is that I wrote neutral facts about it. In fact, if you read here, here and especially here, you might even find that I'm of the opinion that NOVA is not exactly the best company to work for. And you know, I don't even recall writing that I even work for NOVA. So, please, don't attack me if you're not even sure of what you know about me. You can also look at my past entries at what I think are people's reasons for working here and flame me in another comment, if you feel the need. Besides, I still think that criticism of teachers that behave so badly towards their students is totally justified, no matter which eikaiwa they work for. I don't care what their reasons are, I don't care what company they work for, I don't care if they just had a bad day. Behaviour like the examples I mentioned aren't mature, professional or acceptable in any job, not just teaching English. To risingsunofnihon: I guess that's true of any teaching job, where children and teens are involved. I know that high school teachers have a more important and stressful job than mine. Still, I would hope that if you show your students some respect, they'll respect you too. That, or hide behind the principal's authority :)

By: risingsunofnihon

risingsunofnihon — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 12:58:14 +0000

Wow, this rant brought back a lot of memories from my own full-time eikaiwa days! I mostly agree with you about teachers needing to respect their students and treat them decently. However, that’s really a two-way street. I clearly remember some junior high students (not mine, thankfully) who did everything in their power to humiliate and degrade the teacher. I know that if I had a lot of classes filled with students like that, my outlook would quickly sour…

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 18:28:38 +0000

I just wanted to say that I can’t believe some teachers are like that!! That’s disgusting..
I have the highest respect for the Japanese people. I have some Japanese friends and they are the smartest, most industrious, kind, gentle people I know, and most of all they show total honor and respect towards other cultures and nationalities.
It’s too bad that the world sends “dickheads” to teach English in Japan.
I really feel ashamed that they come from our culture…
I can guarantee you that if I teach in Japan one day (which is my dream), I’ll be the best teacher that I can be. I know they will love me as I love them.

By: travel Japan

travel Japan — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 23:59:07 +0000

Well said Chidade!

These people need to go home as you suggested.

Thanks for the great content.

Craig

By: 28787

28787 — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 00:39:44 +0000

I have met many an instructor like yourself. Before you start singing about the great things about NOVA and start bashing the instructors who complain about their students, remember this. You are a perfect nova teacher. Why? Because you are naive about the company that employs you. You said that you have been in japan for 8 months. Well done. Teachers who have been here a long time and are complaining about their students do so because their environment makes them that way. You also make little reference to their reasons for staying here. If students come to nova for therapy, teachers come here for money and some depend on it more than others. Being here for 8 months, you have no right to criticise those that have been experiencing this for longer than you. You say that a tecaher shouldn’t be arrogant but they should also have a mind of their own. Sadly, you seem to have not found yours yet. Incidently, how many students have you had that confessed they bought nova tickets for the stuffed pink bunny? Whilst we all rely on companies like NOVA for money, its people like you that allow them to think that they can continue to get away with the way they treat senior instructors who have a mind of their own but are sadly caught in the capitilist- money always required to live- machine. I”d say that you should stay here longer and wait for the dark experience of japan that everyone has at some stage. That is the reason why people leave. The only people that can live in Japan comfortably are japanese people. Even those japanese with minds of their own leave and not come back. I feel as a teacher you do not see the students who go to bed at 3am and wake up at 5am to take a lesson before they go to work. Go to the MMC and you will see the real students and the real reasons why they take lessons and it isn’t pretty. Above all, find yourself something to do other than sit by your computer and contemplate the shallow outlook you currently have of your role in this ‘money’ orientated company. Interesting also to note that the company president doesn’t actually speak english and neither does Usagi.