First Day of School… in Japan
The first day of school, students are nervous, but teachers are nervous, too.
Arriving 30 minutes before schedule, I plopped down on a park bench and gathered my thoughts. All suited up in wool, I weaved through students towards the school premises. At the door, a student motioned to ring the bell, at which the speaker mumbled something. I responded, ALT desu (I am the ALT), and the door clicked open. Upon entering, I found some community slippers because I had forgotten my indoor shoes. The head English teacher greeted me and led me upstairs to the teacher’s office. I was instructed to wait in the principal’s office with student teachers until it was time to give introduction speeches, one to teacher colleagues, and the other to the whole student body in a television broadcast. I scanned my notes, trying to absorb them.
I could feel the formalism in the air and an absolute order of affairs was in order. First the new English teacher introduced himself to all the teachers. I was next and then the student teachers in their respective subjects of Japanese, English, PE, Social Studies, and Math. I managed to read my rehearsed speech with smoothness, I thought. Concluding with Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu, “please look favorably upon me,” I then bowed. The speech to students was short as well. Once formalities had been concluded, I was shown to my desk, across from one of my JTLs (Japanese Language Teacher. I was given a tour of the building and introduced to my Kyoto Sensei (vice principal). The rest of the day was mine to prepare my self-introduction lesson and meet teachers.
One thing that struck me at Motomachi Junior High School was the deep sense of interdependence as well as a teamwork mentality apparent in the office. Teachers speak openly to each other, laugh together, collaborate in groups, and maintain an atmosphere of harmony. While the teachers have heavy work loads and long hours, there seems to be very little tension; lightheartedness is the word that comes to mind. There is coffee and tea available, and tea is served every morning by the tea lady. Though I am an outsider looking in and though I understand not even a fraction of a fraction of the language, this is my impression so far.
