Teaching in Japan

Here are some more things I have learned more about being a teacher in Japan and less about going to school here.

In Japan, teachers are regarded as an honorable profession. When you tell people you are a teacher here they are very impressed. While I would say that is true in the US, outside of the NCS community when I tell people that I am a teacher (especially 5th grade) I get a lot of sympathetic replies. I think that the NCS community regards teachers highly, but not the US on a whole. Current salary scales for teachers would reflect that!

Since the schedule is very dense in Japan, there aren't many times that you can take vacations. Currently most schools are starting a 2-4 week vacation where they don't have school. However, this is the longest break they get! I think that would be a hard change.

Also, every Junior High and High school has a Language Assistant just for English. These are usually students from the US, GB, or Australia who have just finished college and are looking for a fun experience. That is what my friend Dan has been doing here since her graduated last year. These teachers are a direct resource for grammar, spoken and written word, and also culture. Wouldn't it be interesting if we had students who were just out of college in our schools to serve that purpose? I think that is a wonderful idea.

Off to the Imperial Palace and Osaka for the day...rain rain rain. Going back to Tokyo tomorrow to visit Keio school and University.

One last comment. Last night we went to one of Kyoto's themed restaurants...it was called the Lock Up and it was a jail theme. Apparently themed restaurants are huge here. Although not one for this kind of restaurant, Dan and his girlfriend Isabel said it would be really funny. And it was! Anyway, half way through the time we were there they cut the lights and had black lights and an escaped convict was prowling the restaurant. Then they had to "catch him" not before he came into our "cell" and tickled us...quite a scary escaped convict, huh? Anyway, the best part was that they played Thriller the whole time, and I thought of my 5A class from 2 years ago who loved doing the Thriller dance! :)

Any more questions about culture or schools? Keep 'em coming! Tomorrorw I am going to post about the advantages of living in Japan and the main cultural differences...but I have to log off now!