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Discussion: Japanese Teachers of English and Native English Speaking TeachersReported This is a featured thread

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mickstout
mickstout
Japanese Teachers of English and Native English Speaking Teachers
Mar 12 2008, 6:09 PM EDT | Post edited: Mar 12 2008, 6:09 PM EDT
How can we encourage greater co-operation between Japanese Teachers of English and Native English Speaking Teachers? 2  out of 2 found this valuable. Do you?    

MarthaMac
1. RE: Japanese Teachers of English and Native English Speaking Teachers
Mar 18 2008, 3:54 AM EDT | Post edited: Mar 18 2008, 3:54 AM EDT
It's a tough question.... I think more joint conferences and some practice team-teaching are a good start. The JET Programme prefecture BOEs often have a conference for JTEs and JETs to attend together. However, once a year doesn't seem to be often enough. It would be great if local BOEs would be more supportive and offer their own conferences as well.

How are native English teachers working together with JTEs outside the JET Programme. I only know about my own situation. 2  out of 2 found this valuable. Do you?    
Arangadillo
Arangadillo
2. RE: Japanese Teachers of English and Native English Speaking Teachers
Mar 31 2008, 5:46 PM EDT | Post edited: Mar 31 2008, 5:46 PM EDT
I think it would be a good idea to start a community web site for JTEs and JETs. Maybe a message board / forum. Where a monthly or bi-weekly news letter that deals with concerns of the JTE and ALT. Maybe it should be mandatory for at least one JTE to participate. Do you find this valuable?    
KantoCanuck
KantoCanuck
3. RE: Japanese Teachers of English and Native English Speaking Teachers
Apr 12 2008, 1:39 AM EDT | Post edited: Apr 12 2008, 1:39 AM EDT
"The JET Programme prefecture BOEs often have a conference for JTEs and JETs to attend together. "
I attended three Saitama mid-year seminars that all the JETs in Saitama (prefectual and municipal) and some JTEs had to attend. Most of the JETs that I knew had to laugh at many of the JTEs who were in attendance because many of them (male teachers) were sleeping throughout the speeches and couldn't wait to get out of there. It seemed that if the JTEs didn't have to present or conduct a workshop, they weren't interested in being there. It gave me, and many of my friends, a rather negative impression of JTE's willingness to work with JETs. 1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
mickstout
mickstout
4. RE: Japanese Teachers of English and Native English Speaking Teachers
Apr 12 2008, 5:44 AM EDT | Post edited: Apr 12 2008, 5:44 AM EDT
I can understand how you feel. Nevertheless, I think we have to remember that many JTEs are VERY overworked and if we were in their shoes (and we could get away with it) we'd have a wee nap too. On the extrinsic side of things. we often see that there is no accountibility necessary - so why not just show up. On the intrinic side, there's no reason given why these busy people should tear themselves away from their families in order to attend these conferences. NOTHING - and the reason has to be one that has face validity for the JTE. Think of what's already been said here, People attend presentations given by people who have NO experience in the learning context and the presentations are entirely theoretical with no easily understood application in the classroom. We need to make this worthwhile everyone!! Do you find this valuable?    
leanderhughes
leanderhughes
5. RE: Japanese Teachers of English and Native English Speaking Teachers
May 31 2008, 6:56 AM EDT | Post edited: May 31 2008, 6:56 AM EDT
When I was a JET, I observed the same phenomena as KantoCanuck, and I believe, Mike, that you are right about why many of the JTEs were sleeping (in my case, a few JETs were also dozing off).

It's very hard to come up with general ways to help JETs and JTEs cooperate more with each other, and the same goes for providing support for primary school English teachers.

The only thing I can think of at the moment is volunteering to conduct workshops at JET or BOE seminars, and making sure those workshops provide information and skills that are both innovative and practically applicable - enough so to keep all parties awake and feeling like their getting something out of the experience. Might be tricky. 1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
SteveWWilliams
SteveWWilliams
6. RE: Japanese Teachers of English and Native English Speaking Teachers
Mar 3 2009, 11:41 PM EST | Post edited: Mar 3 2009, 11:41 PM EST
As someone who has been working in an elementary school the past three years I have reached the conclusion that what needs to be done to develop a stronger relationship between JTE's and NEST's is the feeling that both are there to teach not to just be "human tape recorders" and on the other side that the HRT's are wanting to learn how to teach English instead of just trying to get through the lesson as quickly and easily as possible.

What this means is the NEST's have to be experienced teachers and experienced English Language teachers. NEST's have to be willing to bring this experience into the classroom to help get the HRT through the initial "OMG! I HAVE TO TEACH ENGLISH!" nervousness. And the HRT's must look at the NEST with respect for a fellow professional.

For the past two years, I have made it my aim to provide teachers with other ways to teach English other than just the "repeat after me" method. I have made attempts to show that student mistakes are not to be critically commented on but used in ways that make the student feel comfortable making them and learning from them. My feeling has been that I am not just the NEST but also a trainer as well. I am trying to teach both the students and the HRTs and learn from them also.

What I would say is needed is to start hiring qualified professional teachers who speak English and treat them as such. We are more than "human tape records" or "pronunciation correctors", we are teachers.

My two Yen. Do you find this valuable?