I am indeed crazy

So this week I have been having my first classes with my new students. I was surprised as the students were quite quiet. They were generally eager, and answered fairly well, but when I ask them to be quiet, they actually shut up. zOMG! They seemed to be a lot more reserved than last years new students, who were already rather loud. But that is a hard comparison since I had my first lessons with those students well after a month of them being in school, a long time for them to get used to one another.

Well I had a class today that was pretty bad, pretty bad even compared to last years classes. The students talked back (no one wanted to sit in the front, and the teacher asking them got responses of "I refuse") So after about 7 minutes of struggling with that, we kind of went on. But about half the boys and 5 girls didn't want to stop talking. So I insisted on them being quiet, and some boys got the hint and started to shout to one another to "shut up" Which I suppose was nice.

Three girls didn't want to listen. I started talking, and despite the fact they were in the first row, they just didn't want to stop. So I went up to them and asked them "Are you ready?" And they actually just ignored me and kept on talking. I BURST out laughing, the kind of crazy laughter that...I suppose is scary.

Well that got their attention! And they started laughing in suite. So I moved on, and they started talking AGAIN. So I made them my example and got them to say "yes". They were so confused, but at the very least they started paying attention...kind of.

Well there were some problems with the projector in the class room, and they got to talking once again. In the end, instead of taking 30 minutes to finish up the three simple things I wanted to do, it took 45 minutes a lot of screaming, skipping things and laughter. I practically lost my voice and the JTE I have to teach this class with was at her wits end. She said she was exhausted, and was shocked that the class was so noisy so early.

I told her I was used to it, and soon many classes would become like this, she looked afraid. As for me, I really enjoyed it.

To me what is most important is that students are not afraid to talk to me. Whether it be broken Japanese that has 2 English words, or a whole sentence of bizzaro English, as long as they are trying to get their ideas out of their head and communicated towards my direction I feel like we are moving forward.

These students were indeed loud, but they actually were asking me questions. (I say the word question lightly as the question was just one word, spoken with an upward inflection.) They were really honest right away, when I asked if they understood, they all screamed at me "NO!" (After you know translation help)

While that was certainly insane, it was raucous fun. I've come to realize that I don't think I'd be able to handle the quiet reserved attentiveness of "good" schools. Give me the loud, won't stop talking, insulting teachers (two boys told the JTE to "Shut up" multiple times), madness.

They tell me straight when their bored "imi wakknaisu~!", they tell me when they are enjoying themselves "BARI UKERU!" and they react. Granted this is just the first class and I didn't actually ask them to learn or do much of anything.

Well I did ask them to write their names in Romaji, and got 4 kids who wrote it in Kanji >.< I even told them in JAPANESE to write their "First name" and they managed to write their family name instead. So I did actually ask them to do something and they failed rather badly at it. 10 boys could not figure out to write the rules I wrote on the board on the paper I gave them, despite the fact I showed them exactly what to do... Maybe it was the constant talking, haha.

I am sure three classes down the line when I actually want them to work, I'll be ranting about how impossible it is to teach those monsters. But for now, let me enjoy the madness. Because it is true, the feeling of reward and accomplishment is not as great when it is not filled with struggle. I realize I will have to struggle with this class, and I am up for the challenge.

Last year I was despondent by my students lack of cooperation, but after close to two years of experience I am really starting to understand what it take to move these kids forward. So bring it on, I am not just willing for such a challenge I was hungry for it.

I lamented the fact that I just didn't feel the need to get to know these new kids. I am after all leaving in three and a half months. But students like these drive me, and I will be pushing them forward despite the fact they will almost certainly be pushing back.

kowakune~suyo! KOI~