School in Japan Part 2

The sound of raucous laughter filled my ears as I approached the closed sliding door designated for teachers. Students inside yelled, cheered, and squealed. Was this a Japanese classroom, known for its quiet, complacent students?


I opened the door and poked my head in, looking for my lead teacher, or JTE. He was not in this classroom. I stepped back out and closed the door, wondering if I had the wrong class. I stood outside the class for a few moments, trying to remember what my timetable had said.


A student came out of the students' door toward the back of the class.
"You can come in!" She said, enthusiastically.
"Oh, I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be here," I responded nervously, "I'll just wait here a little bit".


A minute later, my JTE arrived.
"Oh! You're here early!"


I had forgotten that Japanese students have 10 minutes between each class to relax, go to the toilet, and eat if they want. As Japanese students stay in their classroom, the teacher leaves at the end of the period, and they are alone in their classroom for 10 minutes. During this time, the class usually erupts with chatter. Food is gobbled from bags, and students lounge in the chairs, desks rotated towards their friends. They don't have a recess break, so these 10 minute periods are their only time to eat, socialise and use the toilet, until their one 45 minute lunch break at 12:40.


After the lesson finished, I left the class, leaving them alone to their own devices. As soon as I exited the class, a small group of students ran out of the student door, cutting me off at the pass.


"Sharon! We want to talk to you!"
"Where do you buy your clothes!"
"Can we see your tattoo?!"
"Please tell me the difference between 'stuff' and 'things'!"
"Kawaii!"


These exchanges are common.


In lunch time, students come into the office to exchange notes with me in English, and sometimes just to talk (today's topic- "Please tell us about prom!").


In the halls, some students who are strangers to me gather their courage and practise their English skills with words of "hello" or even "how are you?". When I answer, they usually laugh and blush, or giggle with their friends. I am an amusement to them, but I don't mind.


The students have been lovely so far. I don't have to tell students off in class, and the only negative action that occurs is that some students sleep in class, especially in the afternoon classes. This of course, bothers no one else, and is usually a result of being up late studying.


The teachers are friendly, although not the best at explaining what they would like me to do. I have a new timetable with the new school year, although no one has explained my classes to me, or if I'm expected to plan anything for classes, or even which classes I'm in charge of (if any) and which classes I'm simply helping out with, or even just coming along to.


I usually have 3 assigned classes a day, although usually a teacher will ask me to join his or her class on the day. When this happens, they may want me to do a special activity like read a story or tell an experience, or they may just want someone in the room to help with English questions if they come up.


There is no homework for me, although I do sometimes get marking to do in my 4 hours of DOTT.


I'm not gonna lie, the ALT life is pretty sweet right now.