06/25/2008: "The life of an English teacher"

So.. I look out the window at my car, my cute little Suzuki Alto with huge company logo in the back window that blocks my view of the road and risks my life for the sake of advertising, and I wonder what it is that's wrong with this picture. Then I remember: wasn't the life of an English teacher supposed to be one of fast cars, sexy women, and amazing paychecks?

Apparently, I didn't get the memo that English teaching is not the fast track to riches, nor on some magazine's scandalous list of top 'sexy jobs', nor does it involve speedy vehicles.

This didn't seem like something I might want to know?

Please note that I'm not exactly being serious. I like my Suzuki Alto, kinda. Actually, no. I don't like it. Or rather, I'm indifferent to it, shy of the huge logo in the window that blocks about 80% of what's going on behind me.

I'm finally getting my internet set up on Saturday (you'll all be glad to know that Japanese installation times are just as vague and unhelpful as American. The install of my fiber-optic internet line is to take place "from 1-5". At least, unlike America, I'm relatively sure that they will show up). I'm not at liberty to discuss how I've been online until then, but let's just say that I have a need to hug whichever neighbor of mine neglected to put a password on their wireless internet. Thank you, whoever you are. I'm going to pretend that you meant to share your internet, and that I'm not just stealing it.

Otherwise, I'm doing all right. Just busy. Work until late, get home, watch a movie/play a game/read a book, then go to bed and start the cycle all over again. I'll finally have a cell phone this weekend (I get my foreign resident card on Friday, and can get a cell after that or this weekend), so hopefully that'll help in being able to actually meet people, or something. Other weekend plans involve buying a router (to share my new internet connection), and getting a membership at the local video rental store (Tsutaya).

I'm glad that I'm starting to get more classes with younger students. It's not that I mind older students, but not only do I have less in common with them (I was a student as of 1 month ago), but I feel that they already know what they want to get out of my class and out of English. Their mind is set up. With younger students, if I do a good job, I could change their mind, change how they feel entirely about a language. I can take English from a school subject to a hobby. This is still possible with older students (I teach up to.. 77? 80? years old), but not as likely nor probable.

Dunno, maybe it's selfish. But that's a strong factor for me.

Going against that entirely, though, one of my favorite lessons is at a wax company near here (one of the biggest in Japan, with about 80% market share. Ironically, they don't make any candles). The students are workers at the company, and all very kind, great people. Their job keeps them working like 12 hours a day, and overtime (oft unpaid) is just a fact of like here. But even if all their levels are totally different, it does seem to have a positive impact on their day to sit through my 1 hour of English-ing.

Outside of my students and people I work with, the one person I talk to most regularly is my mailman. I swear, we're buddies now. It's related, I think, to the fact that I'm one of the only English teachers in this area who speaks Japanese, so when he's got to give something to one of my coworkers or has some paperwork, I'm probably the guy. Yeah, it's great.

Mmm.. internet. Finally. Yay!

I need to go pick up my coworker from the train station, then I'll probably watch a movie, play a game, or read a book until I get tired. Tomorrow night's a long run, 7 lessons back to back in 30 minute increments, literally run from one room and back. Fortunately, I team teach both those lessons and I really like the Japanese teachers I work with. They're both so sweet. They actually prepare my lesson plan (except the last two lessons) and I just follow the paper and pretend I know what I'm doing. I'm really good at that.

I'll write again relatively soon. Ideally with something of note and, even better, on my own internet connection!


Jason