I just got contacted by the person who will be overseeing me, and I found out that I will be teaching English at a few elementary schools and a middle school. The elementary schools have 2 JTEs between them, but the wording of the email implies that I’ll be on my own at the middle school.
I applied to the JET program because I like teaching, so I think I could probably wing it without a JTE, but I’m afraid of leaving a successor to flounder if they’re not in the same boat. Plus, middle schoolers are scary, and I don’t know how I’m going to manage a classroom full of kids that age alone. Does anyone have any insight into the situation or any tips for how to deal with it?
Edit: Here’s the wording of the email. I interpreted “I will oversee you” as the sender working as some kind of admin for the board, but based on the replies I’ve gotten, it seems more likely that they’re actually going to be my JTE.
There are four schools, three elementary and one junior high school. Also, there is a kindergarten too. You will basically teach English in the junior high school, and a few days in each elementary school from Mon-Friday 35 hours a week and day off is on Saturday-Sunday. We’ll show you the details when you arrive. If you have any difficulties in your work, MH and YN will support you. They have been teaching English in the elementary schools, so you will see them there. I will oversee you. Let me know if you need any help.
6 comments
First, Middle schoolers in Japan are totally different. Very chill and not scary at all. Second, there is absolutely no chance that you will be in a scenario where there is no JTE. That’s simple not the job. You misunderstood the wording of the email. Between three grades, the school couldn’t function without actual English teachers (no offense)
You probably misunderstood. The chances of a JHS not have atleast one JTE is extremely rare, especially since your ES has JTEs. BOEs will normally prioritize JHS for JTE allocation as HRT are qualified to teach English in ES but specialized teachers are required for JHS.
Also JTEs for ES is rather new and it’s not uncommon for ES to not have them and they’re usually for year 3 onwards, HRT usually teaches year 1-2.
Edit: you’re not allowed to be in a classroom without there being a licensed teacher present. You maybe asked to T1 but you should never be doing solo.
No way the JHS has no JTE. There must be a certified teacher in every class. ALTs do not require certification. It’s possible your elementary school has no JTE since it’s primary education and they will have a home room teacher who in all likelihood did not major in English.
One year we were short an English teacher and I taught with another subject’s teacher in the room. Like people are pointing out ALTs are generally not supposed to be alone. I think it is unlikely someone would walk into a situation like that though – it was my third year at the school.
I taught solo often at middle school, but that was more in my 3rd and 4th year. We had 4 JTEs, but one of them took a year off on maternity leave and I picked up a lot of solo classes during that year.
But it would be unlikely for a junior high to have no English teachers as it is required curriculum. My guess is that the elementary school teachers are more involved with the ALT position as the junior high teachers are “too busy”.
There should be a JTE at your schools. Even if there’s a shortage, a certified teacher will be in the room with you. Buddy of mine worked at a school where the Vice Principal filled in for the lack of JTEs. Its illegal to leave you in the classroom alone. You’re uncertified, and according to my Prefectural Advisor, certified teachers at the school have a certain kind of insurance that protects them if a student is hurt in their classroom. We do not have that insurance, so keep yourself out of legal/financial trouble by always having a certified teacher present.
Japan is hierarchical. On the bureaucratic ladder, you are at the bottom. Directly above you are your JTEs, then the school secretary, vice principal, principal, whoever is your supervisor at the local BoE and above that are people you’ll hear of but never meet. If you have multiple JTEs, one of them will be picked to ‘oversee you’. All of them are in some way your supervisor. My JTEs generally keep track of my vacation days, working schedule and carry messages from the BoE to me and from me to the BoE. Its weird and can be frustrating at first but you get used to it.
Teenagers are teenagers no matter what country you’re in. They’re smelly, have attitude and can sense fear. In my experience they can be little shits, but if you respect them they’ll respect you. If you set clear and reasonable boundaries they’ll push them, but respect them if you stick to your guns (and not be a hardass about it, remember they’re kids).