By Peter Hanami
As more and
more schools seek international students, teachers face a more difficult job of
conveying course information to a more diverse range of students. Japanese
students provide some unique challenges to teachers; here are a few tips that
may help you in the classroom.
1. Role of
the teacher in Japan
In Japan,
teachers are afforded the same status as doctors and lawyers and share the
honored title of “sensei”. Students
look up to and deeply respect teachers. This is good as you always get students
attention, but the downsides are that you are fully responsible for the
students learning, so what you say becomes very important, as does what you do
and the implied link that you will take care, guide and direct the student.
Tip: Always do what you say you will do,
(students will typically hang on your every word), make it easy for students to
approach you, for example: give your email address so students can communicate
with you directly, if they need to ask questions. Be sure to reply to it the
same day if possible and to use clear and simple words.
2. English
usage
Japanese
students are very sensitive about their English language skills. In Japan, if
students make a mistake, they are told immediately and are asked to repeat the
sentence and correct the mistake. This may sound, overly harsh and strict but
it is the way they are taught Japanese.
Tip: When you have an opportunity to give
feedback, provide accurate information that will help the student, for example:
“Yumiko, your presentation was very good,
your pronunciation was clear, you had good tone, you projected your voice well
and your research was very detailed, well done”.
3. Adjust
the subject content to accommodate the student’s skills.
As an international
student it is very daunting to study with local students.
Students
always feel they are missing something, either what is said, meant or implied.
Class time is the most challenging as they are called on to do many tasks
simultaneously, for example, listening, writing, thinking, speaking and keeping
up. As second language learners, they have to process all the above information
into their own language and back to English, a very tiring job! Japanese
students learn English in Japan but they are often not very proficient in
listening and speaking.
Tip: With this in mind, you can reduce a student’s
anxiety by structuring tasks to build on their key strengths, for example:
reading. By giving clear steps and using clear English in handouts, overheads
and board work, your Japanese students will be able to keep up and get more
from your classes.
4. Get to
know the student
Take time to
know your students, for example: family, education, sports, hobbies, movies, why
they choose to study abroad and their future plans.
Tip: Getting to know your students will
build trust and get the student feeling comfortable and confident, allowing
them over time to participate more in class.
5. Always
provide plenty of guidance
In my
experience, Japanese students can be frightfully shy. To overcome this shyness,
you have to build their confidence. I have found the best way to do this is to
set them up to succeed.
Tip: Take a task, break it into simple
steps, provide a good example, get students to practice, informally and give
individual feedback and give them time to learn the steps and practice. Try not
to ask direct questions, instead get students into groups to discuss and report
back. Japanese students are particularly scared of group discussions and oral
presentations. If you have these formats in your class, give plenty of notice,
provide detailed written information, plenty of chances for practice and
provide encouraging positive feedback.
The Japanese
education system is very different to Western education and so it is part of
your job as a teacher to carefully, show, guide and explain Western education
and to help them participate.
Copyright. Peter Hanami. 2004. All Rights Reserved.
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