So I Find Myself Teaching Munchins These Days

[akujunkan]

In which the JET Programme demonstrates a new low.

I began my work as a glorified ALT on Monday with a visit to a local kindergarten. I'd asked periodically if I should head round to the schools during vacation to introduce myself to the teachers, or at least call and ask what sort of preparation they wanted me to undertake. (Needless to say, there aren't a lot of 0-5 appropriate teaching materials in a city hall.) I was told that the above was to occur on my first visit to each school and not to worry.

I biked to the first school in the torrential morning downpour, became drenched in the process, went inside, located the principal and introduced myself. The meeting when something like this:

Me: Hi, I'm the CIR.
Principal: Yeah, and?

It turns out that while these school visists had been planned by the Board of Education over two months ago, it hadn't occurred to them to, you know, inform the schools or anything.

So I spent a good portion of the morning in the staffroom while the principal desperately tried to get someone from the BOE on the phone to confirm that I was who I said I was, should be allowed around children, and that I was supposed to be teaching at that school instead of an ALT.


I visisted another kindergarten yesterday.

Luckily they'd seen fit to phone ahead to this one and let them know that I was coming. Problem was, they apparently told them that I had a lesson all planned out, which I didn't, because this was supposed to be my staff meet 'n greet/getting to know you visit.

So I improvised on the spot. It went pretty darn well, actually. Then it was off to play with the kids while they prepared for their sports day. They were all quite shocked to learn that I was female.

I asked Reina, one of the more outgoing kids, why, to be told "Because your name sounds like a guy's name."

Which was a refreshing change from hearing, "Because you have a man's physique." (Japanese women have men's physiques. The confusion rises from the fact that I don't trounce myself out in 4 inch stilletoes, mini skirts, and talk like I was suffering from massive helium overdose.)

And when I'd considered it, my name probably does sound masculine to a four year old girl in a culture where most women's names end with "ko" (literally, 'child').


Anyway, the kids are all doorbells, which compensates for the fact that goddammit, I'm still teaching English! But seriously, I'll have to get some pictures somehow. Because seriously? Cute. Collect the whole set cute.

That will be all.

Comments

[p0is0n-the-well.livejournal.com]

aww you teach little kids? thats adorable. haha

[akujunkan.livejournal.com]

The official description is 'school visits' which I do in between city hall stuff. But yeah, the kids are so sickeningly cute. It must be seen to be believed.

[(Anonymous)]

Thanks for the heads up on the pics. Is cloning allowed there, cause I'd like some copies of the set;)

[bran420-7.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the heads up on the pics. Is cloning allowed there, cause I'd like some copies of the set;)

[akujunkan.livejournal.com]

Heh heh. I'll have to ask around. It's a very futuristic society after all.