parasitegirl | New least favorite Assistant

Saying, "I am a 33 year old woman. I am not a baby." looses a certain amount of impact if you're visibly on the verge of a temper tantrum.

I am glad I opted to go home and sleep in my own bed last night. I figured that waking up at 5:30 in order to make it to work on my last class day of the year wouldn't be good for my health or my attitude...and I knew I'd be working with one of my least loved assistant teachers.

Until today I wasn't sure why this teacher rubs me the wrong way. I've talked about it with the Milkman's Sister, and this teacher also bugs here...but we're not sure why. Was it the blanket statements about Americans/Foriegners/We Japanese? Those didn't help, they never do. I have my sweeping generalizations, but I try not to trot them out in social small talk with new people I need to work with. Was it the way she seems sort of detached in class in a way that doesn't befit an assistant who should be able to hold her own and support me? Not helping either. Was it the delayed "Aha!" moments on things we'd talked about the semester before and assured me she understood, totally forgivable. Some teachers take time! The Phonic-crazed one has joined me in my cause!!!..but today it hit me.

I am neither a baby nor a developmentally disabled adult.

It's the little things that pile up...because there need to be enough so you're not just the gaijin over-reacting.

I arrived and her first greeting to me was "We teach 5th and 6th today."
"I know."

I know my schedule before my assistants know.

Sure, I have problems remembering which homerooms I have taught which lessons to, it happens when you teach at 15 schools with 9 assistants. Because I teach at many schools, and because my lesson plans are heavy on the visual aids, I prepare and bring the teaching aids for the day's lessons to whichever school I am teaching at. I have learned not to rely on a school having what I need, or remembering to prep for me. I have not yet forgotten a single teaching aide in my two semesters at 15 schools. I came with the maps, dots, worksheets, dvd, cd, and a variety of picture cards for 5th and 6th...they were in my hand

But, whatever.

And I've been to the school 3 times this semester, the last time being last week I was having problems breathing and talking, so she should know I know my drill and that I do my homework. I taught with her two days last week at two different schools.

We talked with the 5th grade teacher about what I need of them and why. I'm big on insisting that we explain the why of no translating, the why of being aware of the message their body is sending and so on, because if they understand the value of it they are more likely to try.

My assistant did something I noticed before but hadn't picked up on. She likes to translate for me. Not just English to Japanese, but my Japanese to the Japanese she thinks they will understand. Today I realized that she is not clarifying key points, she's repeating the whole thing with minor tweaks. No other co-worker or assistant treats me like my Japanese is pure crap. She does it automatically. She also likes to automatically jump in an translate things for me into English...and in doing so sometimes doesn't listen well enough to the speaker to translate correctly or gives me contrary information. Sometimes in doing it she talks over my reply to the original speaker.

I was not enjoying this.

Then there was the 6th grade teacher. She told me he wouldn't speak English, doesn't like it, but I felt it was worth explaining the why to him. He's young and cute and not yet set in teaching ways. I started in Japanese. She told me she could translate and I should just do it in English...I started in English...and then changed back into Japanese. The correct way to connect to a teacher who doesn't like English is NOT by not speaking his language. The correct way is to be humble, speak my Japanese and explain the why, show by example. He seemed to understand...and indeed he was GREAT in class and interacted with his students and seemed to enjoy the lesson. The Milkman's Sister asked how that class was, because her chat with my assistant left her worried that he'd be a total asshole. Nope.

I suspect that the teacher doesn't like English because of how he was taught and he doesn't like her. It was my first time working with him and he seems to be open to English taught my way.

Right after we talked to him I explained in English to her why I didn't want her to translate for me. Giving the impression that I need a translator creates an automatic wall between me and teachers. It allows them to think that I won't understand them or how things are done in Japan. It keeps me a super Other. I've learned that having a translator with teacher communication at schools. I asked her how she'd feel if she were in America and her friend always spoke for her and people, when they wanted to talk to her, would address all comments to her friend...even though she understands English She said that wouldn't be fun.

Then I said I needed to use the bathroom and would be right back. As I have said, I have been there before. I got up and headed out the faculty door.

"Do you know where the bathroom is?"
"Yes, and if I'm wrong I'll figure it out"
There is always a teachers only men and women's room near the faculty room. It is always labeled in Japanese and often in Japanese and English. You step out of the faculty room, look left and right, and you've got it.

I stepped out of the faculty room and she rushed to follow.
"There is the bathroom!" she pointed out to me.
"I know. I see it. I can read and it has icon for women. "
She continued to the door where the large light switches are.
"This is how you turn on the lights" (click) and she turned to go back to the faculty room, showing me that she'd made this unneeded effort for me. Plus, the bathroom has frosted glass windows and it was sunny.

I can figure out a light switch. Even if one switch is for the fan and one is for the light...preeeeeeetttttty easy stuff...even if I haven't had my morning coffee.

Which is about when I snapped.
"Do you think I'm stupid?"
"?"
"I'm sorry, I've just never had an adult show me how to press a light switch."

Yes, I am a 33 year old woman...

After I used the bathroom I returned to the faculty room and tried to apologize for my being snappy...I didn't want to...but thought I should before we started teaching. I really just wanted to ask her "Do you know why you bring out the bitch in me? Because I am trying to figure it out." but instead explained how she'd caught me off guard with how much she kept explaining despite the fact I do this job every day.

Now, when I teach a class for the first time I have a little speech I give to the kids. It's in Japanese and it goes something like this:

"Is it ok if I speak Japanese? Great. Now, when I teach I have only one rule. Please don't say (delivered in an comical voice) "whiiiiiiiine" " I don't understand English!!!!!" "this is impossible!" "Japanese pleeaaaaaassse?" If you don't understand. When you don't understand, and it will happen, think, listen, and look...and you'll be able to understand enough of it...ok? ok! Back to English!"

Now, I do this is every class. It serves many purposes. First, it cuts down on whining before it starts and addresses the fact that students WILL have moments of frustration but they also have the brains to get past it. It also is when they learn that I speak Japanese, so when they have a clarifying question in Japanese they know they can ask me, I will reply in English and gestures, but I will understand them...they don't have to only ask my assistant or the teacher. It also makes me more approachable. The whining is usually silly enough that they laugh and it sets a more relaxed mood for class.

So, I started.

"This class is good, they won't say those things." she interrupted.
Not really the point. But when you've taught with me four times earlier in the semester you should have figured out I always do this. And even if you do think these students are super good and don't need the rule...that is information to give me before class, not interrupting me talking to the class...

So, the upswing is I was able to explain, bit by bit, to the milkman's sister WHY it is I don't like teaching with this lady. It's always worse because she likes me there early even when there is no meeting, free "English conversation time" I guess

Bonus dork picture so you can see what I mean by "heavy on visual aids" missing from the picture is the color coded map and worksheets