I’m at a high school and honestly I can’t really tell what the students think of me – they are quite hesitant to express their personalities in class. The teachers tell me they’re pleased with what I’m doing, and when the students had to “grade me” anonymously near the end of the semester, one JTE told me that the reception was positive. But, given that Japanese culture is not immune to flattery, I don’t know whether to take it with a pinch of salt or not.
In class, I find it hard to break past the barrier of “shyness” (though honestly, even though that word is used to describe Japanese people a lot, I don’t think they’re actually shy) and students seem to be slightly annoyed when I try talking to them. Well, some giggle, too, but it’s hard to tell what they’re actually thinking. Is there a way to get past this barrier?
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Do they use things you’ve taught them outside of class?
Are you in a T1 role? The shyness is completely normal in this kind of environment, especially in a class where the students are required to speak another language. This is probably why they seem slightly annoyed or will giggle, they’re just a little nervous.
While not all students find English interesting, others will be genuinely curious and excited for your lessons, even if they don’t fully show it. If the students really aren’t satisfied with you, the JTE will probably take note and tell you.
I teach at 4 universities and my students are so inundated with feedback forms I think that many just put 4 for every answer. It’s quite a lot to ask students to do two feedback forms for every class every semester. That’s like 30 or 40 feedback forms with the exact same questions every year
If you’re attractive, they like you
Kinda hard to tell. In my experience I’d have students that would willingly come to me to have conversations about their daily life, or random stuff, so that’s obvious that they like me. Then there would be some students that were completely normal, only talking when talked to but otherwise quiet, and then they’d come out and be sad when another teacher would take over for a while. Or tell me they’re happy to have me back. I say as long as they aren’t rude they probably like or are neutral about you, which both are positives. And it’s possible that if they seem put off it may be the subject itself that puts them off. Or it’s you, who knows
> students seem to be slightly annoyed when I try talking to them. Well, some giggle
I think this is shyness coming though to be honest… HS kids are definitely feeling peer pressure and don’t want to look bad in front of classmates. They will rarely offer up answers or be eager to speak English. I have much more luck with mine by allowing them to joke around, and by being friendly and silly myself.
How long have you been there? They take a long while to warm up
You need to understand that Japanese students hate English in general more than any other school subject. Most of them are not the “I’m shy but I secretly love English” type. They fucking hate it.
https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h01117/amp/
It can take a year to realise if anyone actually likes you, I’m not exaggerating. You both need time to get them to open up, and need time to learn to communicate well and read students’ feelings
You’ll find out at the end of the year when they graduate and you get messages/letters/praise and thanks from them. I thought the same thing but at the end of the year they all wanted me to come to their graduation and stuff. 👍🏻
There could be a number of factors why you’re unable to tell what they think of you. How regularly do you teach them and are you solo teaching or in more of an ALT role? When I was teaching once a week eikaiwa type classes at high schools with a JT for support i felt that i barely knew some of my classes and found it really hard to gauge how they felt about my lessons. However when i became a direct hire, was assigned a homeroom class and was teaching the same groups of students up to 9 times a week it was completely different.
They’ll tell you they like you. The japanese teachers say they like you if the teachers like you and that they think you’re difficult if the teachers don’t like you. It doesn’t matter what the students want. Met many teachers who the students hate but they kiss ass so they stay. Looks like youre kissing teachers asses and hey thats how you keep your job. So do like them and dont give a fuck