I’m usually shy and quiet so the teachers in the teachers room always ask why I’m so quiet… but when I teach, a new persona comes out and I am genki and popular and amazing… my JTE says I unleash “The Animal” when I’m in the classroom… now I have two names – Kevin-sensei and Animal-sensei… anyone else similar?
by FewSherbert461
27 comments
Don’t worry fellow teacher! You’re not alone. Keep it up!
New copy pasta
You’re out here unleashing some cringe.
Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of …. EFL teaching?
Whatever helps the students
At the end of the day, they have little to do with your own mediocrity.
This is a backhanded post to take the piss out of people from a 0 history account and people fell hard for it.
Ignore the haters topic creator
Frankly, I would much rather go drinking with “the animal” than some of these jaded, bitter people I see in the ESL industry
Let your genki and ninki flag fly!
It’s awesome to be genki in the classroom; genkiness is contagious! (I taught in Gunma for 5 yrs. Best years of my life!)
Yes! Ignore the negative comments, I was also surprised when I started teaching and a new bright bubbly persona that I’ve never been before and that I didn’t purposely create came out. I like my animal!
So….. you are 2 people working for an ALT salary. Your dispatch company is reaping a whirlwind of benefits here. Snark aside, if it works for you, it works.
I would consider it like acting. Unless you are into method acting, most actors don’t walk around off set still in character.
Also, teaching can be very draining when you have to bring the genki, especially if you are an introvert. You sometimes need to switch off.
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I also don’t think Kyoto-sensei would be impressed if you went up to them and asked them ‘hows they weather today?’ in a super genki voice.
A lot of teachers are introverts by nature, and put on a different persona when they’re in the classroom. A lot of actors I know do it too. What you’re doing is not unusual, but there are some things to be cautious about.
The first is that you take time to recharge. That extroverted personality you’re faking is taking a lot of energy and unlike introverts you don’t “recharge” through social contact. I’ve seen a lot of people fall into this hole. Be careful what you sign up for and don’t over-commit. My rule of thumb is that for every hour of classroom time I need an hour of “downtime”. I’ve seen a lot of first-time teachers burn out.
The second is that it is an act that you’re putting on. A show. Remember this. This isn’t you. Just like an actor on the stage isn’t their character. Keeping these two separate in your mind is important to prevent some of these behaviours from bleeding over into regular interactions. I’ve seen this happen way too often too. In class you need to engage in behaviours that are not okay in normal society. Like being the centre of attention to keep the students focused. In class? Cool. At social events? Jerk.
The third is to get rid of that idea that you’re genuinely “popular and amazing”. I’m sorry, but you’re not. You’re amusing and entertaining, like that goofy adult actor in most children’s shows – y’know the one you can instantly picture, but can whose name you can barely remember. The phrase used most often is, “Dancing Bear”. You’re big, you’re entertaining, you’re funny. You’re not actually “popular and amazing”. You’re doing things that shock the students into paying attention because no Japanese teacher with an ounce of dignity or self-respect would behave like that.
Now if it helps the students to learn English that’s okay(ish), but be careful about thinking that you’re “popular and amazing”. It’s setting yourself up for a major disappointment when you find out that the students just think you have zero self-respect or dignity and it’s okay to kancho you because clearly you’re up for anything.
There’s a razor-thin line between “being entertaining” and “maintaining your dignity and authority as a teacher”. Be careful to police that line both in your own mind and in your students’ minds. You can be fun without being an animal. Or at least if you’re going to be an animal then choose one that the students like being around, but that fosters a healthy sense of respect. Because when they’re thinking about kancho’ing you need them to go, “Naah, I’m gonna get my arm ripped off”.
Just some things to think about with regards to your “animal” persona.
Miss Tanaka-sensei only called me The Animal that one time after the bonenkai when we shared a taxi home that she offered to pay for, and she insisted I thank her for the ride quite aggressively…
I get it. When I work, Im loud,vibrant, and I enjoy my job. Otherwise, Im kinda quiet, but I dont run away from people (hate crowded spaces/love small towns), I just save my energy.
Otw to bleach my eyes
No one has commented on it but that’s me too. I just call it my teacher face.
Just keep the animal in your pants Kevin
Hey guys, Kevin is Genki and popular and amazing. Can we get a round of applause for Kevin, please? 👏👏
As the saying goes, you got the dawg in you.
Just a few notes from an old vet:
You seem to be doing a very good job. It’s also important that the other teachers and the kids know that you are acting a certain way because it’s appropriate for the situation. You should never feel like you have to act that way in a situation where it wouldn’t be appropriate. For instance, when you see a kid outside of school, don’t feel like you have to put on the in-class act. I’ve had to tell kids (I’m an elementary school teacher) that we have to speak quietly at the train station.
As you add more techniques and knowledge to your arsenal, you’ll find you need to rely less and less on being *genki*. Teaching is a performing art. All teaching is, to one degree or another. The amount of performing you have to do depends (again) on the situation and what tools you have in your toolbox to complete to goal of the lesson.
When I wore a younger man’s skin there were times where I could get by on just being super *genki* and powering my way through lessons. That got tiring very quick. I was lucky enough to come to Japan as a qualified teacher so I was able to analyze what I was doing and why. I would have likely burned out if I hadn’t done that. I (with the help of some great colleagues) figured out better ways to do things that left me more sane and less exhausted at the end of the week. I have a feeling you can too.
The best ALTs are the ones who have a background in acting (theater) and improv.
I’m quiet in the break room because all of my energy goes to the students. I can definitely relate! Exhausted by the time I get home but my day is more fun because of it
Isn’t this the plot of the movie “Split”? lol
I thought the same thing in the past. I thought I was an introvert and depending on the people I’d become or pretend to be enthusiastic and outgoing. After teaching for years, I realized that I’m actually an extrovert and my shy quiet side was the mask.
Extroversion explains many problems that I had growing up.
Everyone has a teaching persona. Whatever works for you, m8.
Mine is known as “THE BEAST.” He has only been unleashed once in the real world, in an event that my former colleagues would come to call “The Incident.” After that I had to pack up and leave town, before the students regained the ability to speak.
You now have a third persona – Cringe-sensei