Tara Brichetto ALT Monthly Report April 2012 This month's report will be all about my schools.

I wrote a lot, so I hope it's not overwhelming for the next person!! :) I was hesitant to write about a few things, such as teacher conflicts to avoid, as I want the next ALT to come with an open mind. However, these are all things that I would have liked to know beforehand in order to avoid awkward situations and to be used to my full potential as an ALT. The school year has just started, so I still have a lot to of unanswered questions myself. But I'm planning to leave pretty detailed information here at Shirasagi as well for my predecessor to receive, so that information will be more up to date. (Maps to the school, teacher seating charts, class schedules, etc.) Hayashida Junior High School (September-December) Location: 40 minutes by bus from Himeji station. Take the 6:26 or 6:42 #12 bus from Shirasagi Residence to catch the 7:00 #31 bus from Himeji station. Your Schedule: Morning meetings start at 8:10AM and you may leave at 3:40-3:45 to catch the 3:55 bus back to the station. (Don't miss itthe next one leaves an hour later!) I didn't receive an official schedule schedule my first year, so I came on an as-needed teacher. This made lesson planning really hard, so please ask Ms Hori for a schedule. My second year, I had 2-4 classes every day. The work load is really light. English Teachers: (Teachers may have changed since I have been there!) There are 3 English teachers at Hayashida: 1. Ms. Hori (Chin-length hair, thin, in her 40's.) Ms. Hori is very strict with her students and with the other teachers. But don't be taken aback she is very kind and warm-hearted when you get to know her. She speaks English pretty well and isn't shy about using English in the classroom, which is great. She likes to plan lessons well in advance, so I would recommend bringing her activity and game ideas well before the lesson. Make sure to bring stickers to her classes. She often will give mini quizzes to the students and likes to give stickers to students receiving 100%. I really enjoy her teaching style in general. She also goes on many business trips and may ask you to cover her classes alone. The kids love this, so please accept her requests. Ms. Hori may also ask you to participate in her town's festival in October. As a woman, you would carry a lantern and wear a happi coat and pants. As a man, you would join others in bashing lanterns on the end of sticks and wear a mawashi--like what sumo wrestlers wear. (Hope you're not shy!) I really enjoyed the experience and would recommend it. 2. Mr Honda (Longish hair, beard, classes, in his late 30's?)

Mr. Honda is an interesting character. He's very nice to talk to, has a good sense of humor, and his English is quite good. However, he uses a minimal amount of English in class and isn't the most enthusiastic teacher, depending on the day. . His teaching style usually consists of writing the passage from the book on the board, translating it, and explaining the grammar in Japanese for the full hour. However, he told me that he prefers doing games and activitieshe may be open to some if you show him in advance. I haven't been to Hayashida in a few months, and Ms Hori told me he was doing more games lately. The two of them don't get along, so please avoid getting involved with any drama you see and just be polite with everyone. I would recommend being polite but insistant on coming to his classes and recommending games/activities beforehand. 3. Mr Nabe (Young, wears glasses.) Mr Nabe is incredibly nice and speaks English very well. He is kind of shy, but has a really good sense of humor when you get to know him. He is in his second year of teaching. He and Mr Honda are friends, so his teaching style sometimes reflects Mr Honda's grammar lectures. However, he told me that he prefers doing fun activities but feels stifled by Ms. Hori as they originally taught the same grade. Again, drama to avoid. They would probably benefit from planning lessons and activities together, but rarely speak to each other. In general, he is really happy to work with ALT's. I'm not sure what grade he is teaching this year, or even if he is still at the school. Other teachers you'll often see: (I believe the principal and vice principal have left since I have been there, so I don't know anything about the new ones yet.) 1. Mrs. Tanabiki (Short, shoulder length hair, in her late 30's or early 40's) Mrs. Tanabiki is the school nurse. You'll know her right away because she is very loud and loves to joke with the students. She is probably my favorite person at the school. When I was sick, she even took me to a nearby clinic. She speaks a small amount of English but is eager to learn more. The students absolutely love her as well. 2. Mrs. Okamoto (Young, brown hair, thin) Mrs. Okamoto is the art teachershe recently got married so her name may have changed. She actually speaks English fairly well but is shy about using it. If you have a free period, she will probably let you join art class. 3. Mr. Ikeda (Tall, dark skin, about 30years old) Mr Ikeda is the boys' PE teacher. You'll recognize him right away from his loud raspy voice. He is in charge of some of the school sports if you are interested in observing. He speaks some English but is shy about using it. Although he seems intimidating, he is actually a very nice guy. 3. Mrs. Kishimoto (Short hair, big glasses, in her 30's or 40's) She is the girls' PE teacher. She is incredibly kind. She invited me to practice with the students before sports' day. She doesn't speak English but was patient when I was struggling to learn Japanese. If you are a man, I assume you'll go with Mr Ikeda for sports practice instead, but will still see her around. The Students: The students are great! I had such a positive relationship with them! They are very polite and although a little shy, generally eager to talk with you. I used conversastion cards to encourage them to approach me, and left a mailbox outside the teachers room. (I gave replies and stickers in exchange for student letters.)

There are 2 classes of students for each grade levelit's a small school. You will probably see all 3 grades during the week 1-2 times. The students are often split in half for English, so there are only 10-15 students in a class depending on the grade. Around October, please ask your teachers which 3rd year students are planning to apply for English high schools. They will need your help to practice for their English interview that takes place in February. Ms Hori has lots of resources you can use, and I'll leave some for you. You may be asked to help teach the special eduaction class as well. There are only two students Masaaki and Shin. (Actually, Masaaki may have graduated.) Mr Nabe cotaught these with me and we often planned the lesson together. I would recommend using lessons similar to ones at your elementary school, and borrow the picture cards from the Shirasagi library. Around the school: Hayashida is a countryside area north of central Himeji. It's a really beautiful place. You get to cross a lovely river every day when walking from the bus stop to the school. There is a family mart and 7-11 directly across from the bus stop in case you need to buy breakfast or lunch before coming to school. Also, I would recommend the Kilamanjaro Coffee Shop across the street from the bus stop. There is a really nice grandmother who runs it. The almond toast set is delicious, and affordable at 500yen. Usually the bus drops you off at 7:40, so you can feasibly have breakfast there, although it's a bit of a rush. Instead, I used to take an early bus on Hayashida Elementary School days since my start time was later and eat there before. There is a bank across the street from the bus stop just to the right (south) of the Kilamanjaro coffee shop. When you are let out early for the monthly meeting, you can pay your rent there and avoid lines downtown. It's not an SMBC, but they don't charge you a fee to go there. Just hand a teller your rent slip and the moneyyou don't need to fill out a form there. They will ask for your phone number which you can write or recite in Japanese. Of course, I'd recommend going downtown the first time you pay rent, so the other ALT's can show you what form to fill out, how to transfer money, etc. If you ever are let out early, are in the area on a weekend, or feel like hanging out after work, there are lots of places to see in the area: Yutarin Onsen: about 15min walk east of the bus stop. There is a fresh fruit and vegetable stand attached, as well as a souvineir shop and a simple restaurant inside. The onsen is quite nicethe baths are pretty swanky, the relaxation area is fairly expansive, and there is a co-ed foot bath with a nice view. Miki House: about 5-10 min walk from the school. This is a preserved old-style mansion with adjoining garden. I believe entry is 300yen. The students may visit here during the yearyou can ask to accompany them. Pepe Cucina Italia: A delicious Italian cafe. The chef trained in Italy, so I found it pretty authentic. His sister, who often works there, is fluent in English. They are open from 9-11 for breakfast, 11:30-1:30 for lunch, and 2:00-4:00 for the cafe period. Since it's during school hours, this would be for a day if you are let out early or coming early from elementary school.

Wild Duck Pond and Shrine: I biked here once for a Saturday picnic. There is a lake with many ducks and a land brige leading to a small shrne in the center of the lake. Although the concrete surrounding the lake definitely takes away from the beauty of the lake, (Japan is notorious for lining all of their lakes and rivers!) it's still a nice place to enjoy a picnic. Other shrines: If you walk west toward the mountain, you will see a bright red torii gate that leads to a small moutain shrine. There are many of them in the area. Inside Hayashida JHS, in the room with the shoe lockers, there are pictures hanging of all of the local shrines. Ask a teacher for directions to the ones that interest you.

Takaoka Junior High School (January-July) Location: 15 minutes from Shirasagi Residence by bike or about 40 minutes on foot. Your Schedule: Morning meetings start at 8:00AM and you are free to go at 4:00PM. Your vice principal is very kind and will often allow you to leave early if there is an afternoon meeting or if the teachers room is empty. There are 6 classes for each gradethe school is much bigger than Hayashida. 2nd year classes are split in half for English, so you will see each half every other week. You will see 1st year classes once a week. 3rd year students are busy, so you will come to their classes as needed. Because the new school year starts in April, your schedule will probably change at that time. English Teachers 1. Ms Sugimoto (Goes by Chie with ALTs, glasses, in her 40's.) Chie is my favorite teacher, and one of my favorite people I have met in Japan. You will probably meet her before you come to Takaoka, as she usually attends the welcome parties and Shirasagi events, and takes English lessons here. She lived in New Jersey in her early 20's, loves SNL and American comedies, and is completely fluent in English. She is very talkative and fun. She will be more than happy to help you if you have any questions about the school, Japanese, or places to visit in Himeji or Osaka where she's from. You will teach 2nd year students with her every other week. She loves games and activitiessometimes she plans them, and sometimes you will. She is a part-time teacher so she arrives late and leaves early. 2. Mr Yasumura (Very tall, glasses, short hair.) Mr Yasumura is very kind and speaks English well. He has fairly good classroom control and likes to joke around with the kids. They often make fun of him and tell him that he looks like a horse, but he seems to get a kick out of it. If a students says something really rude, though, I've seen him get really angry. He will always keep you informed and doublecheck with you beforehand if you have a class together and translate important information for you during the class. He enjoys games and activitieshe won't always use your game ideas if there isn't time during the class, but he is happy to receive them. He also teaches 2nd year classes (and some 3rd year classes,) and wants to make sure that 2nd year teachers are on the same page. So if you bring a game, make sure to use it with all three 2nd year teachers. 3. Mr Morishita (Kind of short, in his 40's)

Mr. Morishita is the third 2nd year teacher. It's his first year teaching at Takaoka, but he actually went to this school when he was a student. He majored in Russian and speaks English, but his accent is really funny. (The students think it's hilarious!) He's really nice and very fun to teach with. He likes to add a lot of fun and jokes to the classes. He often plays a question game with the students in the beginning of class, so they have ample opportunities for speaking practice. He has a lot of work at school, so he's usually pretty rushed during the day and you won't often see him in the teacher's room. 4. Mr Onoue (Very tall, young, big hair) Mr Onoue teaches the 1st year students. He's still kind of getting his class sorted out, so I haven't taught with him yet. But we have planned a lesson together and he seems really well organized and on top of things. He seems a little nervous about how to use an ALT in the classroom, but I'm sure that will be sorted out by the time you come. His English is really goodhe lived in Canada for a year and of course studied during college. He is happy to ask you for games and activities to use. 5. Mr Harada (Short, young, thick glasses) This is Mr Harada's 4th year at Takaoka but his 1st year with his own homeroom class, so he's incredibly stressed. Many things make him nervousstudents, ALTs, speaking English, etc. so don't take it personally. He's a really nice guy and clearly cares about his job and his students, but working with him sometimes requires patience . Sometimes he makes strange teaching decisions in the class such as rushing to squeeze WAY too much into a lesson, or only teaching the names of various Japanese foods (sukiyaki, tempura, etc.) in English class and asking you to pronounce them for the students. He has trouble with classroom control and time management, and has told me he feels guilty about any kind of discipline. He told me he appreciates when I quiet the class down, but please try to use ways that don't involve yelling and harsh scolding since ALTs are not supposed to discipline. He often prefers to plan the lesson, but it's fine to offer ideas. For some reason he often rejects the first two ideas, so save your best idea for last. 6. Ms Ohnishi (Older, glasses) Ms Ohnishi is very kind and somewhat reserved. She aids 1st year classes and I believe has a few 3rd year classes this year. You'll see her in class, but since she doesn't lead teach 1st year classes, you probably won't lesson plan with her. Still, you can offer to grade papers and help with other tasks. She's also very kind to talk to. Unfortunately, I've heard her 3rd year students do not treat her very well. 7. Mrs. Morikawa (Thin, brown hair, freckles) Mrs. Morikawa teaches 3rd year classes, so you won't often teach with her at least for your first few months before the new school year. She is very strict but very kind when you know her better. She has a very clear teaching style that works well, and very good classroom control. She often prefers to do her work upstairs in the small office, so you won't often see her in the teachers room. She's one of the busier teachers, so you can offer to help her with grading, but it's probably best to go to Chie if you need help with something. 8. Ms. Izuka (Kind of tall, long hair) Ms. Izuka worked at this school a few years ago, and came back this past year. She teaches 3rd year classes, so I haven't had a chance to work with her yet. She speaks English really well and is very kind. I've heard nothing but good things about her teaching style, so I am hoping to come to her classes soon. Other Teachers Your vice principal (Mr. Hasegawa) is great! He speaks a little bit of English and gets really excited when he can use it. He's a really funny guy and is always joking with the other teachers and making the

workplace fun. However, he manages to be really professional at the same time. Takaoka has a reputation for being a rough school, but Mr. Hasegawa has really worked to turn it around. As long as you have permission from teachers, he is fine with you taking nenkyuu days (but of course try not to use them during days when you have classes, and make sure to reschedule them if you do.) Sometimes he will let you out early as wel. Your principal (Mr. Yoshida) doesn't stay in the teachers room often. He seems generally very nice but is reserved and doesn't speak English. He's new this year for me, so I haven't interacted with him much yet. There are so many nice teachers, but too many to mention. Here's a quick list of a few others. Ms. Yuge is the art teacher. Her neighbors are foreigners so she will probably ask you for help with a few English phrases, but I think it's really just to make conversation. She's extremely nice and considerate. Mr. Kawani is the music teacher and likes to practice the English phrases he knows with the ALT's. Nice guy. Mrs. Fujimoto is the nurse and has a similar fun personality to Mrs. Tanabiki at Hayashida. Mrs. Bandou is the part-time math teacher. I've been writing letters back and forth with her two young daughtersthey initiated but I've been enjoying the Japanese practice. Students 95% of the students are great! They are a lot more outgoing than at Hayashida, and love interacting with you. The classes are pretty crowded but depending on the teacher, manageable. The 3rd year students can be a bit rough. There are a few in particular who are incredibly rude to the teachers, and I am not an exception. One even tried to vandalize my bike after I gave him a dirty look for singing loudly for 15 minutes straight in a class. Thankfully my nickname, Big Hip, hasn't carried over to this year. (Saying thank you to that comment was a good way to thwart ithere's hoping you won't acquire a similar nickname, though.) It's still the beginning of the school year for me, but I've had nothing but good experiences with the kids in 1st and 2nd year. They aren't as well behaved as the Hayashida students, but oftentimes they're only loud because they're excited about the activity. The 1st year students are especially excited to have an ALT in the class. Oh, be careful when bringing stickers to 2nd year classes. Some kids will try to sneak extra ones or grab a few while you're not looking. It's the only time I've ever had this problem. Around the School: By the time you come to Takaoka, you'll probably be familiar with the area. You'll ride by the pretty cemetery every day. The Mall is about 5 minutes away and Max Value is on the way home, so it's easy to pick up groceries. I've seen a few of my less studious kids at both, but they've always been friendly. There is a pretty tasty Indian food restaruant (Shakar?) across the street from The Mall, and a tasty shabu shabu place with a golden pig logo on the outside on the same street. Elementary Schools I haven't visited them since the new school year started, so I'll leave you information here at Shirasagi for when you arrive. :)