I’m an ALT in a tiny inaka town. My walk home from school takes me past the only large park in the area, and many of the kids from my school (and other schools) play there.
Every time they see me coming past, people shout, they run over to say hi and stuff, whatever lol. Recently, I’ve started getting invitations to join whatever activity they’re currently doing (usually baseball, dodgeball, or climbing some random wall that wasn’t made for climbing).
I have no real issue doing it; there’s nobody around here my age to hang out with (big city is an option but too far away for weekdays). In my home country, it’s not particularly weird to join in a game in a public park, and I’ve seen teachers at my school playing with kids at lunch and occasionally after school.
If the answer is a definite no, then so be it; I’ll go back to grinding on Genshin and save my sports life for the weekends when I can go into town. Just curious, is all.
30 comments
Seems fine to me and really is added value to your contract providing additional time with the kids and building connections with students.
Although I never have played with the kids outside of school myself, the closest I ever got was joining the high school judo team part time.
I wouldn’t mind at all if I were one of the parents but given that we are in a country that lives for the rules, I would check first with the school if there are any rules regarding interaction with students outside of the school.
Absolutely no problem. I had the same thing happen back in the days and kids at the park that I would teach near would run up me to talk or play. Some parents seemed to encourage too. If a Japanese adult male was sitting in the park, I doubt random kids would run up to play and it may not look good on his part unless his kid is also there playing.
Nobody cares, honestly. You don’t even need to ask permission, the kids asked you.
It’s not a problem at all. Even the kids from other schools will know that you’re a teacher through word of mouth. Some parents can be weird but the vast majority will really appreciate it.
Nah, play ball with the kids. It’ll be a great memory for them and for you. Don’t worry at all.
Not weird at all.
I wouldn’t be playing with them after school. At school is fine though.
I do it all the time
Engaging kids outside of the classroom is the best way to reach the students, especially if you live in the neighborhood. However, because you live in the neighborhood and are known as a teacher, i personally think you should still think about “ALT etiquette.”
Don’t favor these ball kids more than others if some are your own students, try to keep your interactions in English and allow them to try to use English with you, and under no circumstances whatsoever take pictures for yourself on your own phone and/or exchange personal contact info, since they’re, you know, kids.
I’ve known many ALTs who’ve exchanged LINEs with their students and had either their jobs or their lives ruined as one of the consequences.
Tiny inaka townfolk will love you for it
Same experience for me back in my super inaka town. In my case, my town’s BoE actively encouraged it.
Usually it was the baseball kids that would stop me since they knew I had played high school baseball (which is super lame, but has a different cachet here. lol)
Just remember the golden rule: friendly, but not familiar.
It’s a wonderful thing. They’ll never forget you. You’ve given the stories to tell later in life. How wonderful a thing to share.
Out and in the open absolutely. Go for it. It’ll come up in conversation and you’ll be praised for it.
I rev my motorcycle as I pass the big park in town when all my kids shout at me and it usually gets a cheer.
I’ve walked with a few of them on snowy days and met the parents who help facilitate the morning routes and have gotten to know them.
Being a part of the community where you live is appreciated by most people. Especially in public space.
Just don’t get overly excited doing it. I have a friend that did this with the neighborhood kids with some parents watching. The parents seemed ok with it until one kid accidentally kicked a ball to someone’s plants. He was blamed for it plus a few other things (noise, endangering the kids, etc.). This was in an inaka in Fukuoka about 5 years ago.
I wouldn’t. Seems like one of those things you do a few times and then it becomes the expectation. And if the kids know where you live, don’t be surprised if they come knocking.
Can’t you take part in their club activities at school?
I wouldn’t if I were you.
I’m sure their parents would be fine, as long as they were informed ahead of time, but that’s not really the issue.
This will become your job.
Other parents will hear that a foreigner entertains kids in the park at a specific time of day, so they will send their kids there at that time.
The parents will make requests: can you play with them in English? can you watch them for another hour?
When your employer finds out, it could be trouble for your contract–even if you do it for free.
If you don’t want to charge money for this service, and your employment and mental health are more important than those kids smiles, do not provide it.
Football is fine, wrestling maybe not
F.B.I. open da dam door
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There are so many ignorant posts saying “Oh it’s fine, there’s nothing wrong with it, go for it”. Don’t do this even just for the sake of courtesy.
First off, kids don’t know any better and think asking any random strangers to play with them is fine. What if the adult was a pedophile or a kidnapper? That’s a big no-no.
I’ve made this mistake when I was naive and didn’t know any better. I saw 2 sibling brothers playing at a park, and I thought the elder sibling was bullying the younger one. In which, I think he kinda was, but nothing serious. Somehow, I thought it was a good idea to intervene and stop. I didn’t do anything directly, I just stood there silently and gave him a look of disapproval that says “No, don’t do that”. And I guess he thought, “Uh oh, an adult is mad at me, I’d better stop”. And I don’t really know what happened next, but the next thing you know the younger kid was like “Yaay, play with us” which I was like fine, whatever. And the 3 of us were just talking and playing.
So next, the younger kid was now like “Yaay, come to our house and play with us, follow me”, and I was like okay, fine. And so I go to his house and obviously, his mom is there. And I guess she thought it was suspicious that some random adult was playing with her kids, and rightfully so. So she asked me some questions, like “Do you live around here? What’s your name?”, etc. And at that time, I just thought “Woah lady, I’m not trying to creep on your kid or something. I’m just playing with them. In fact, you should be thankful that I’ve stopped their fight” but I just answered honestly. But looking back, I totally understand her position. What if I WAS a creep or a pedophile or a kidnapper?
So anyway, the point is, most kids don’t know any better and think it’s fine to play with some random adult that they’ve just met. As adults, we know better and know that the world may not be such a nice place and there may be some creeps, pedophiles and kidnappers. So, we need to be the responsible ones and teach them those things.
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t play with kids ever, but like in my case, there may be some adults that wouldn’t approve. So I would at least ask for their permission first.
In the inaka, probably fine, but i’d run it by your BOE or school.
In a larger city, the cities almost always have very strict no contact with the students outside of school except for official school business rules these days. This means no social media, whatsApp, line, etc. And definitely NO meeting up with or hanging out with kids in person. All contact has to be done at school, using the schools phone or email, or calling the kid’s parents.
Mostly the rule for JHS and HS aged kids, but probably goes for elem. too. Too many pedo teachers in the news recently.
You’re likely fine…but do be mindful.
I once had a similar situation until a Japanese coworker told me that there are plenty of people about looking for trouble and can easily make your life a living hell by simply making wild accusations out of thin air. Caused me to only join when and where there were always multiple witnesses.
Yea you can play ball, just make sure you don’t hit any 2 year olds nearby with it.
sounds totally fine. If you are healthy clean looking foreign gentleman or a lady, the small town community appreciates your friendliness. Again with lookism issue, some people may be seen as creep while playing with kids if they don’t stay hygiene
I think it’s fine. Sometimes when I take my son to the park I end up playing with a bunch of kids. Everyone likes being chased by the gaijin. Just stay in public spaces, i.e., don’t invite them over to your place to play video games.
If you’re invited to play with them, there’s no problem.
I’ve been ‘plastered’ at the local village festival in front of some of the kids (plastered along with their fathers – doing nothing untoward, mind – just drinking and eating what’s offered after every one of the dozens upon dozens of lion dances performed in front of people’s houses). It only earned me appreciation and respect for participating in the declining local community where more warm bodies are needed. Context is king.
Not weird at all – I did similar but it was always during school hours (lunch breaks).
I’d say it is fine. They will love it and it can only increase their motivaton to learn English.
But if I was you, I’d only do it when explicitly invited by them. Only interact in very public places, like the park. Do not accept invitations to other places.
And to be on the safe side I would require that invitation *each* time they want to play.
Finally remember you are their teacher, not their friend. Don’t do or talk about *anything* that you wouldn’t do or talk about in the classroom.
I would say talk to their parents. If you don’t know their parents, you can ask them to check with their parents to see if they mind. Do you have a local lady that is always around running a small store or car garage that knows everyone? That’s the best contact for this kinda thing. When we get snow in the winter I make sledding courses for the neighbor kids, and sometimes they come by and help sweep / clean around the apartment outside. Their mothers don’t mind as long as they come home before sundown.