A shambles
I've never seen anything like it...you would think I had asked my classes to jump out the window, read Shakespeare aloud, or something else scary and unknown. But no...all I said was "Please work in groups of 3. Also, today you have to work with different people. Different groups today please!" I really hadn't anticipated the panic-ridden mumbling, the looks of confusion and fear, and then the general shambles of the next 10 minutes!!
I know that Japanese kids aren't very good / aren't used to thinking outside of their normal routine and class structure. They know that at the beginning and end of every class they must stand up and bow. They know that it's ok to confer with their classmates over answers. They know that they aren't going to be shouted at for sleeping in class. And they know that for most of their classes they will be tallked at, and not really expected to be active, participate, or work on their own initiative. That is my experience of teaching in Japan, anyway!! So in my classes I always have a bit of a struggle on my hands to get the kids to be active...to ask questions...to work in groups or pairs...they always seem a little reluctant and unsure of themselves, as if I am the only teacher asking them to think for themselves. But today, I really wasn't asking them to do much! I just wanted to mix things up a bit...and...shock horror...get them to work with people they don't normally work with. After I had made my request, they didn't move. They shifted awkwardly in their seats, but no-one stood up or started moving to make a group. Despite my enthusiastic cries of "ok, let's go!", and "start!", and finally "oh flippin eck, come on!" (yes, I was a bit exasperated!), they still weren't sure of how to form groups. I was giving them the chance to work with whoever they wanted, and the chance to move about the room instead of 45 minutes in the same seat, and yet they all looked quite bewildered!
That's when 'the moron' stepped in, and decided to draw a complicated diagram on the board, of which rows should switch places in order to create the new groups. But this drawing just added to their confusion as they then tried to work out which row they were in, and where they should move to. It really wasn't helping the situation, and besides, I really wanted them to think for themselves and just make their own group!!! Is that too much to ask??? Obviously, it is!!! After about 10 minutes since I had made my initial request, they finally settled into their groups. 10 minutes out of my 45 minute lesson time just to form groups! I really wouldn't have bothered suggesting it if I had thought it would take almost a 5th of my classtime away!!
I know that Japanese kids aren't very good / aren't used to thinking outside of their normal routine and class structure. They know that at the beginning and end of every class they must stand up and bow. They know that it's ok to confer with their classmates over answers. They know that they aren't going to be shouted at for sleeping in class. And they know that for most of their classes they will be tallked at, and not really expected to be active, participate, or work on their own initiative. That is my experience of teaching in Japan, anyway!! So in my classes I always have a bit of a struggle on my hands to get the kids to be active...to ask questions...to work in groups or pairs...they always seem a little reluctant and unsure of themselves, as if I am the only teacher asking them to think for themselves. But today, I really wasn't asking them to do much! I just wanted to mix things up a bit...and...shock horror...get them to work with people they don't normally work with. After I had made my request, they didn't move. They shifted awkwardly in their seats, but no-one stood up or started moving to make a group. Despite my enthusiastic cries of "ok, let's go!", and "start!", and finally "oh flippin eck, come on!" (yes, I was a bit exasperated!), they still weren't sure of how to form groups. I was giving them the chance to work with whoever they wanted, and the chance to move about the room instead of 45 minutes in the same seat, and yet they all looked quite bewildered!
That's when 'the moron' stepped in, and decided to draw a complicated diagram on the board, of which rows should switch places in order to create the new groups. But this drawing just added to their confusion as they then tried to work out which row they were in, and where they should move to. It really wasn't helping the situation, and besides, I really wanted them to think for themselves and just make their own group!!! Is that too much to ask??? Obviously, it is!!! After about 10 minutes since I had made my initial request, they finally settled into their groups. 10 minutes out of my 45 minute lesson time just to form groups! I really wouldn't have bothered suggesting it if I had thought it would take almost a 5th of my classtime away!!
posted by Lauren @ 7:39 am
2 Comments:
At 8:09 am,
Turning Japanese said…
I like that you wanted them to use their own iniative but to save me the stress, I always just point fast and say... you, you and you together. GO!
Mind you, I work in Sho Gakko a lot.
I would have thought that your kids could handle your request.
Actually, I think Japanese kids have that iniative and genkiness when they are young but loose it by the time they get to High School.
Seriously loose it by the sounds of things.
At 8:18 am,
Lauren said…
I think they prob still have it...they're just not asked to use it that much at high school, and so i suppose they forget!
I didn't want to make the groups, becuase I really didn't think I was asking a lot!!..Plus, when they're 15/16 years old, I really shouldn't have to spoon-feed them. Extra plus...I couldnt be bothered to keep track of who i'd put in a group..who was left..making sure they were random...listening to them sigh as i put them with someone they dont like...
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