I just came in to work today and they said they couldn’t do class because there’s a sports event they’re preparing for. I asked if I could go and help since I literally have nothing to do, but they said it’s fine. They’ve done this to me twice already. Should I be concerned? Am I not putting out quality English lessons so they’re avoiding my classes? It’s so odd they are doing because I have good relationships with the teachers and students.
29 comments
I don’t know the situation at your school but I think your worry might be making you take this a little personally. Even if the school is less than satisfied with your classes, they;re not going to go out of their way to cancel them.
It’s happened to me before on more than one occasion that I was scheduled to teach X number of classes, but when I got there found out I was only teaching Y because there were exams or an event or something that they legitimately forgot to tell me about, or a schedule change that someone failed to mention.
I wouldn’t say its necessarily that you’re not doing well, more that we are last on the list in terms of getting things communicated to us and it slips people’s minds sometimes
They just want you to show your face. Everyone else has to show up and work. This nullifies the question ” Where is ( your name)? I worked at the same school for 14 years, they would often make me show up, I think just to placate everyone else. I would hang around for a while, then the VP would tell me to go home. It’s Japan.
It has nothing to do with you, this is totally normal for Japan.
English class is often considered low priority, so that’s the class that often gets cancelled when other events are planned for the day.
It likely has nothing at all to do with you personally. If they had issues with your teaching specifically, they would let your company know; and you can bet your butt that the company would then let you know.
The Principal throws his foot on the desk, cackling while clipping his toenails. “Regular-Swing-kun hasn’t been doing well in his classes has he, JTE-san?”
“That is correct, Kocho-sensei. He constantly arrives late, smells bad, and is practicing the ABC song when they should be practicing past tense verbs.” JTE pushes up her glasses while holding a clipboard.
“Sou desune. Swing-kun should know better about his place in our school. Let’s teach him a lesson.” Kyoto-sensei (Kyoto-sensei means vice principal) responds.
“Wh..wha..what will you do to poor Swing-kun” the JTE sheepishly says.
Kocho-sensei guffaws “Let’s make him be the office-meatbag!!”
“Ma, ma, ma, ma, let’s not go that far. After all, he can’t sit that long in his chair when his doctor told us about his.. (laughs) … IBS.”
Everyone in the room laughs except for JTE. She hurriedly leaves the room and approaches Swing-kun. “Swing-kun, um, eh to, ah no, you will … be … here… ah … no class… ok? Ihavetoteachclassnow bye!”
No, you’re fine. Those days are a blessing, have a fat chill and enjoy your rest.
As long as they pay you for your time just relax and enjoy it. Otherwise go to the labor board.
What you’re experiencing is 100% normal. Unless you are expressly prohibited, there is no reason you can’t walk around the school to see what is going on. I used to chat with the librarian or the special education teacher. She or he likely doesn’t have anything going on either.
Do you think the school intentionally made a sports day just to spite/annoy you?
It’s more than likely the information was available long in advance if you had a copy of the school calendar. Ask the school where it is or for a copy of it.
I regularly get copies of the school calendar weeks or sometimes months before someone translates it and sends it out in English. Schools don’t just cancel classes for non-emergencies.
Oh wow, & I thought the “students need to prepare for sports day so your class is cancelled” situation only happened in Korea.
Classes getting cancelled is pretty normal, but (as you suspect) can also be used as a smokescreen to sideline/test a teacher whom they are wary of. If you’re suspicious they might be sidelining you, trust your gut. The other posters here aren’t in your school, and can’t verify what they mean.
It might be a “test” to see what you will do or how you will react.
It could be a passive-aggressive way of saying your classes aren’t worthwhile
It could also be a simple oversight, or even a show of confidence or familiarity (if they have to announce stuff every time, they might consider it infantilization)
Basically, the only real rule in Japan is “trust your gut and fit in.” The “rules” are usually post hoc justifications to punish or avoid people based on subjective dislike, not actual “rules” that can or will be followed. If you feel sidelined, perhaps make an English board or something to display publicly that “I’m here and part of the group.” Being part of a group in Japan is like having your foot in the door of a room at all times: You’re either sticking it in or being pushed out. You’re never really “in” the room, but never really “out” either (unless something egregious happens).
It happens. I’ve had classes cancelled (last minute as in I didn’t find out till the day of) for special occasions like events, guests visiting the school and etc.
It’s normal. Its out of your control and nothing against you personally. Like another poster said, English classes are usually the lowest or one of the lowest priorities at schools, so typically classes get cancelled or rescheduled with little notice. It happens to an elective eikaiwa class I teach at a SHS all the time. Over the course of 3 years I’ve been teaching that class, it meets twice a week. Maybe every 2 weeks, one class gets canceled or rescheduled to a different period due to a school event or something similar. Doesn’t bother me and it isn’t a reflection of my character.
Nothing against you at all. Take a deep breath and enjoy keeping that desk warm today 😎
They should really tell you, especially if you’re just teaching at one school. However, it’s probably in the calendar and also the mental calendar of everyone you work with. You could try asking them for a gakkou reki 学校暦, karendaa カレンダー or nitteihyou 日程表. At least that way, if something is written you can ask about it.
There are often sports days in May, so they are likely getting ready for that.
Enjoy your day off.
It’s normal and everybody’s classes, not just English get cancelled.
Just go and cheer the kids on as they practice for sports day.
It’s also an excellent opportunity to practice in context small talk as well.
It sounds like the English lessons weren’t scheduled to begin with rather than canceled.
School staff rooms usually have a chalkboard/whiteboard with the month’s schedule on it and a paper schedule gets distributed to pupils and parents.
This stuff never really happens to me, the JTE just swaps around the classes so I still do six a day, the poor kids come in to class all exhausted and hot and really don’t want to do anything, I feel so bad for them!
It’s undoukai (Sports Day Festival) season! Some schools do their’s in April, others in September. But yeah, use this as a chance to go out and interact with students and teachers in a low-stress environment. Ask the staff how you can help.
I throw my hands up in the air and shout “Hurray!” when my classes get cancelled.
Of the 6 months I served as an ALT, at least 3 had no English due to preparations for Sports day and Cultural festival. It was one of the main reasons I quit.
Study Japanese
When this happened to me early on at my first school, no one could summon up the courage to tell me all the students were outside in the sports grounds.
I sat there for a while working on whatever, then a random teacher came over and said, “Do you like McDonald’s? There’s McDonald’s outside.”
So I was like, “Yeah I love McDonald’s, I’ll go outside and see what’s happening.”
And off I went. And like that kind of thing really killed me inside.
That and the bi weekly screaming for 10 minutes straight at students for talking, pulling them off their desks until they fell on the floor while everyone laughed, slapping boys butts to be assertive, disciplining me in the middle of classes, and telling me I should go look for another job. Didn’t go so well at my first school really, kinda killed the dream lol.
Never had anything remotely like it since I moved area 👍
My advice is to view the school as your own sort of amusement park, go around and find things to do, join scheduled events, make the most of each day. There’s always a big staff notice board in the staff room with today and tomorrows schedule on it, so you can see if there’s some event, or what time homeroom is etc. Join PE or art classes if you have a day with nothing in it, and join homeroom in the morning or afternoon too (vary which class you go to until you find classes you like)
You will be absolutely miserable if you’re not a self studier and don’t go hunt for things to do, because like people are saying it happens a lot. Message me for advice if you want (this goes for anyone struggling as a new ALT)
A school will usually post the weekly schedule a week early, why don’t you try checking that and see if their are any big things scheduled that might interfere with your regular classes
you are the elementary school music teacher of japan. nice to have but STEM comes first.
don’t worry about it. just enjoy the easy day and chill. eventually you’ll work out that english class is mostly just a formality in japanese schools and no one really gives a shite about it.
I literally lived this way for a year. It’s annoying but got nothing to do with you
They did not cancel class for 400+ students and hastily organize a sports day just to avoid your teaching.
Main question is did you get to go home? Or have to stay and do nothing all day?
It’s happens with Japanese schools