I’m sure that my experience is not a unique one before coming here I knew that Japan have their notions about black people. But all the same I’ve learned to generally ignore most of the things that I would consider borderline racist or it could be outright at this point idk.
I’m an ALT at a JHS. I’m there 4 days out the week so I see the students pretty often. I won’t pretend like it’s all bad, there are some great students that don’t make you feel like an outsider. However, this school has some of the worst behaved students in the city. When I share some of my experiences with other ALTs they are unable to relate in anyway.
My negative experiences started when these students were 1st years and now that they’re in the second, some have gotten worse. They’re a group of boys 7 they all were in the same grade last year. They would make jokes about monkeys and gorillas and then look at me and laugh which I’ve ignored not really offended by that one. One of these students referred to me as “choco gorilla” while the JTE was standing there and she didn’t say or do anything so I just ignored it.
Fast forward to this year and they’re all split up amongst the three 2nd year classes, and one students started calling me “gako” I figured it related to “Gaikokujin” which i don’t really have a problem with because I am in fact a foreigner. Since he’s started calling me this, the other group members have taken to start calling me other names. Today’s newest is “choco Mami” and “big Mami”.
I honestly don’t know what to do because the school really doesn’t do anything outside of talking to them and their behavior doesn’t change for more than a few days or weeks at best. Should I say something to the JTE that’s in charge of my schedule and my dispatch company?
Will anything come of it ? If anyone has a similar experience I would appreciate if you shared how you dealt with it.
Edit 1: I probably should have noted that I’m a female. Seen a few responses that think I’m male.
UPDATE : I spoke to my head English teacher today and she spoke to the other JTE’s. They then spoke to the students and they’ve all denied the things they’ve said (of course) one said he didn’t say anything but another said it (also they gave another name that apparently said racist things that I didn’t know about). I only sat in on one student meeting and he was all red eyes and sniffles, said he’s never said anything or seen me outside of class or in the halls or during a break (honestly i laughed as I’m with their grade the most.) The main said he doesn’t call me by name cause he doesn’t speak English, he then proceeded to call me by my name during the meeting when asked what does he call me he couldn’t answer.
I expressed that while I might ignore the behavior others might not be as it is very offensive (I touched on the fact that some of the things said might not have negative connotation in Japan but in western countries it’s a negative slur for black people, more over they can say insults in Japanese and I wouldn’t understand so to say things in English where I can understand they are obviously intentionally being rude.) THEY HAVE TAKEN IT VERY SERIOUSLY! They’re trying their best to get students to admit what they’ve done. The JTEs said that they will have a student assembly to address these things. The HRTs will contact the students parents and then I guess from there who knows.
The boys mentioned being scolded to other students and one came into class shouting “choco choco choco” he did it twice and the JTE stopped the class and asked him why he’s saying these things and told him to be quiet. So progress on them being more aware. The JTEs have all apologized and I’ve told them that it’s not their fault but I expect to receive the same respect that I give to the students. They don’t need to like me but they should respect the dynamic.
by Novel-Repeat5311