Search where?

This Portfolio (chomonkyo)

All of Writing.Com

◄ April ►
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30
Archive				RSS

Create New Item

Read & Review

Community

Browse By Type

Browse By Genre

Writing Resources

Thursday, May. 2, 2024

6:17pm EDT

Members: 1,028

Guests: 1,150

Total Online: 2,178

Across the Table, a Devil on my Shoulder

by Dis-Ease

Rated: 13+ · Book · Other · #1809650

The beauty and horror of what I have seen and felt in 11 years of teaching ESL in Japan.

After 11 years of teaching English conversation in Japan for the biggest money-grubbing school, which went bankrupt through very corrupt business practices, I feel the time has come to either share what the beauty and horror of this experience, or sink further into the desperate frustration of the misunderstood.

What will follow are descriptions of the students I have taught, my observations and thoughts of them, and tidbits of their conversations with me. Names will of course be changed to protect identities. It is my hope that through reading these descriptions, people interested in learning about Japan and its culture will find new, unexpected insights into its people.

So, without further ado, I need to start. But who to start with? The good or the bad?

Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

Nada

Apr 20, 2013 at 11:22pm
In response to "Invalid Entry"

A great story.

Nada

Apr 20, 2013 at 11:21pm
In response to "Invalid Entry"

Wise man.

Nada

Apr 20, 2013 at 11:20pm
In response to "Invalid Entry"

Sorry I've not been commenting. I find this very interesting. I see you've been writing in your book and sharing, I hope to be able to read it one day.

Dis-Ease

Feb 7, 2012 at 5:52pm
In response to "Invalid Entry"

Book's coming along.

Long time, no hear! Hope you are good. Thanks for coming back (or just commenting).

But now that your son will probably want to kick me, I'm going to have to be careful of my future posts! :)

Nada

Feb 7, 2012 at 5:14pm
In response to "Invalid Entry"

I was just kicking myself for making life so easy for a certain son of mine. This confirms my thoughts. Thanks for sharing.

How's the book coming?

PuppyTales

Jan 31, 2012 at 8:53am
In response to "Invalid Entry"

Sorry, typo, meant in the past*.

Dis-Ease

Jan 31, 2012 at 8:50am
In response to "Invalid Entry"

That made me smile. Thanks.

What does it mean "I've taught in the mast"?

PuppyTales

Jan 31, 2012 at 8:36am
In response to "Invalid Entry"

Thanks for all of your thoughts. I've taught in the mast and I'm studying to become a teacher, and I've spent a lot of time thinking about the different educational systems and philosophies and wondering what works best. Your blog is an excellent tool for me; I'm able to see something of the inside of a different culture's educational system.

Dis-Ease

Jan 31, 2012 at 8:12am
In response to "Invalid Entry"

PuppyTales,

Finding a way to meld the two has long been one of my goals--and putting it into practice in my own home has been a source of constant frustration, something my wife and I "discuss" often. Process philosophy of teaching? Not sure. A work in progress.

I often praise the Japanese education system, too, but not without reservation. I criticize the American one, but not without some regrets my son doesn't attend school there as I did.

Anyway, thank you for reading, and for the comment. Much appreciated.

PuppyTales

Jan 31, 2012 at 7:23am
In response to "Invalid Entry"

My brother, a Marine who has traveled all over the world and spent some time in Japan, was praising the Japanese education system while all I could think about was this blog. I think the most interesting thing that you put forth was the observation that Japanese parents will look with envy at the independent thinkers the American education system produces while American parents look with envy at the hard working, maths and sciences -capable students the Japanese education system produces.

It makes you wonder if there ever could be some kind of "perfect" education system, held up by some kind of "perfect" culture. I don't think so, but naturally, you wonder if both cultures and education systems could and would learn a few things from each other.

This book is currently empty.

Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/books/item_id/1809650-Across-the-Table-a-Devil-on-my-Shoulder/month/4-1-2024