Teaching and translation

Kate — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 22:04:31 +0000

I had two classes last night and I have to say that these particular classes make me feel very unhelpful. I love the Japanese teacher to death, but she spends so much of the class translating for the kids…I know they’re not really learning anything. When I took the job, I was warned of this. The American teacher whose position I took, told me that as long as I don’t care too much about whether these kids are learning anything or not, that I should be fine. Because they really don’t do these kids much service. But, it’s my language and it pains me to see these kids struggle to understand me when they really should have much more comprehension than they do. This was really evident today when we split the second class into two groups. I stayed in the classroom with two of the girls and we worked on vocabulary and adjectives while the other teacher took two boys into another classroom to work on studying for an English level exam that’s coming soon. So I’m in there alone and going over the same things that we always seem to be going over, and they just don’t get it. And I realize that they really don’t understand a word I’m saying because the other teacher isn’t there to translate everything. They must just completely tune me out knowing that they’ll get a translation after I stop talking. Yesterday was quiet and uncomfortable and I know I wanted out of there just as badly as those girls did. I’m not even sure I can say anything to the teacher because that really isn’t done here. This is her classroom and it would be considered extremely rude. I’ve got another year here, and I don’t want to ruin a good relationship.

But after that class I was able to come home and relax and watch some American Idol. I do enjoy it, and I enjoy watching it with D.J. (he hates it, but watches with me because I insist), but I could see this or the next year as its last. I think it’s about time.

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Teaching and translation