Do you (if you can speak Jp.) use Japanese in ES class?

[himitsu]

I had kind of a fight with a Jp. teacher about this topic (not the first time, nor the first teacher), so I wonder how it is.

[Paul]

I use it judiciously, in ES the nature of my classes not being English really, but International Understanding classes, I need Japanese and use it frequently. In JHS depending upon the lesson and teacher I switch between the two. It all depends upon the situation, school, and teacher for me personally.

[jeisensei]

I try not to pull out the Japanese very often during class, though I do use it often in the halls when talking to the kids. I only really use the Japanese in class if there is a joke to be made or a "ボケ" to be had by using the Japanese. At those times I say if the kids laugh (or groan) than all is well.

Edited to add that I teach JHS now but I did the same thing when I taught ES.

[Otaku]

I used to pull out the J-go because I had full run of the class. HRT sat in back. To explain game and some other minor details, I would change to Japanese, but the target stuff was all in English.

That was THEN. If I had another shot at ES, I would try to go ALL EIGO.

[himitsu]

@Otaku: so how would you deal with that problem now?

[Otaku]

@Otaku: so how would you deal with that problem now?

I would do two major things:

1. Make the class systematic. Meaning, set it up so every class goes down the same way: Warmup, review, new target, game, and finally review. Making things systematic would allow the students and I to transition through each step of the class because there would be a roadmap that both of us could follow.
Included in this system would be key 'catch phrases', English vocab, etc. that the students would learn to allow the system to be implemented via only English.

Stand up/Sit down.
Hand up/down.
Win/lose/tie.
Winner/Loser stand up.
Say "XXX" 1x, 2x, 3x, etc.
What is "XXX" in English/Japanese?
Make groups/teams of X.

2. Setup a base game and/or a game familar to J-students already. The game would be generic that could be easily altered to allow tweeks, changes, alterations, rule changes, etc. that would allow you to use it for practically any topic, grammar, etc. The first time you introduce the game, if you want to introduce it only in English, it would probably take about half the class for the students to pick up the rules, but after that, things would run pretty smooth.

From that game, you could literally keep making small tweeks to it to keep things fresh for the students w/out introducing a completely new game. This would not only save time in the long run, but the commands/phrases used in the game could all be in English since the students would know the game extremely well.

I would give a more long-winded response but I'm off to go play some ball...

[peet]

As a general rule I go with all English when speaking to the whole class, but I use some Japanese when walking around and helping kids one on one (esp. slower learners or shy kids).

But I'm only JHS at the moment. When I did more ES, I sometimes allowed nihongo Q&A for 1-3 graders after a culture lesson or self introduction.

[jessen100]

in ES, regular class progression and the majority of game explainations are all english. If after the second time they still dont get something, i might say it in japanese, or let the HRT do it. the HRTs are often inaccurate so i like to do it mysef. They say the same basic thing, but its linguastically farther than i prefer, so i keep it simple. If its something complicated, I always say it in English first then japanese when i know they wont get it.

one of my classes like to be loud and they all dont look up, despite my best efforts. which results in me using more japanese in their class. if i dont there are kids just MEXTing around not knowing what to do, because they cant ask questions when they dont know whats going on. they are 5th grade and there is currently a noticable difference in their English ability (lower) compared to the other two 5th classes. very HRT related.


6th grade i almost never use japanese for class, except for review. at the start of class Ill ask them in japanese what we did last week and what the expressions were, like "how do you say 私はオムレツを作れます in English" or "whats 私は野球をしますin Englsih"

I find using japanese very good for checking if they remember how to say stuff in english. or asking things like "what did we do last week?" I find this especially good in ES because it makes kids realize how quickly they can forget stuff.

[himitsu]

Yeah, I also always ask what we did last time (in ES).

I hate explaining games in English (unless it's very simple and I know they can understand). You are doing your best to explain for 5 minutes, and you know all the time they don't get it, but you have to keep talking, only to do it again when you are done, knowing that even then they probably still won't understand enough; and the worst are those random remarks "imi wakaranai" or "nani itteruno?" *grrr* If it takes 10 min. or so just to explain a game, and then you have maybe only 5 min. to play it, I think it's a waste of time. I prefer to explain it in Jp. in 1-2 min., they know exactly what to do, and can do the activity for 15 min. or so. To me, speaking seems more important than listening.

[gsuiris]

I use as little as possible. But because they are using Eigo Note, and some of the grammar can be a little difficult to understand, I use Japanese for that. Usually I ask the students if they know what it means and then pick a volunteer.
Sometimes I use it to explain games, but only after I have explained it first in English. Again, I sometimes ask a kid to explain the rules.

When I talk to them in the halls, or during lunch, I use Japanese.

At junior high I use English for any talking I do in front of the class. I will use Japanese when I help lower level students, or students who are confused. In the halls, I try to use English, but a lot of my conversations are in Japanese.

[mangakk]

About right.

I use as little as possible. But because they are using Eigo Note, and some of the grammar can be a little difficult to understand, I use Japanese for that. Usually I ask the students if they know what it means and then pick a volunteer.
Sometimes I use it to explain games, but only after I have explained it first in English. Again, I sometimes ask a kid to explain the rules.

When I talk to them in the halls, or during lunch, I use Japanese.

At junior high I use English for any talking I do in front of the class. I will use Japanese when I help lower level students, or students who are confused. In the halls, I try to use English, but a lot of my conversations are in Japanese.

I try not to use it, but then every now and then you gotta use it. I mainly use my HRT's for translation as I run the whole show. I try to talk to both the students and teachers in English. Kids would look up to their teachers if they speak a little English with you. (They would say Wow! ~Sensei can speak in English)

[himitsu]

Kids would look up to their teachers if they speak a little English with you. (They would say Wow! ~Sensei can speak in English)

Well, sometimes they say that even when the teacher only says hello or yes or no ^ ^
If a teacher starts talking to me in English, I`d usually reply in English as well, unless I`m sure he won`t understand the answer (which happens sometimes), so I won`t put him in an embarrassing situation and make him lose all confidence he just had. But it`s quite rare at the ESs that they would try.

[peet]

Kids would look up to their teachers if they speak a little English with you. (They would say Wow! ~Sensei can speak in English)

I used to get the flipside of that in ES sometimes when I would suddenly bust out a lot of Japanese (like if there was no HRT present and I had to explain something by myself).

They'd be like "Wait - you can speak Japanese!?! Why are you always using that crazy hard-to-understand English talk all the time then?"

But I still think it's usually good for them when listening to struggle a bit and rely on non-verbal cues, hints, etc to get meaning, otherwise they get too lazy

[himitsu]

but you`d have less interaction and communication with them..
I guess there are upsides and downsides for everything ^ ^

[mangakk]

but you`d have less interaction and communication with them..
I guess there are upsides and downsides for everything ^ ^

The problem is that a lot of the students don't even know ABC. I've drilled it into them in my first few classes, but seems like it has come undone by the end of the second term. lol

[peet]

but you`d have less interaction and communication with them..
I guess there are upsides and downsides for everything ^ ^

Yeah, that was also misleading because it's not like I never talked to them in Japanese. I talk to them in Japanese LOTS at lunch, recess, etc. but somehow inside the English classroom they forget all of that (I've had ES kids ask me if I can speak Japanese right after I'd already been speaking Japanese with them for the past 5 minutes).

But yeah, I don't think the all-English approach is for every school. That was at a school where it was more the English tanto's decision than mine, and the HRT's were behind him, and they'd (attempt to) convey to the kids the concept and value of language immersion.. The kids had enough English base to play along, and it worked pretty well.

The tanto even wanted all-English for the 1st/2nd graders and for the planning meetings between the ALT/HRTs, but I bent the rules for those. Had I gone over lesson plans with HRTs in English, I would have been staying overtime every week to teach basic English to adults and not getting paid for it

[himitsu]

yeah, that's what that JHS teacher suggested too, that I have the "uchiawase" (meetings with HRTs) in English.. I was thinking "no way". Not that I would care that much about not being paid (though it might not feel that right), but I would end up saying sth. in English and then translating it into Jp. for sure. Their level is just too low. And when they try to say sth. in Engl (which is usually probably about only 20% of what they would actually like to say) they miss verbs, particles and stuff, that I just struggle to imagine what they might be trying to say, and in the end have to ask them to say it in Jp. anyway (must feel miserable for them too, failing that bad)... Don't wanna spend all day explaining my lesson to the hrt..
Oh yeah, and we actually have uchiawase only with the Engl. tanto (person in charge), who sometimes even isn't a HRT. That means, even assuming that we use English only and they improve, it would be someone who can't even use it in class (so the only gain would be his better skill to use English in private life... hey, must save lots of ecc fee money).

[Kanashibari]

In Junior High, I'm strictly not allowed to speak Japanese to the kids, only the teachers. I think the kids have "caught on" that I speak Japanese and have tried getting away with using it in class, but nevertheless I always answer them in English.

In college, however, Japanese is pretty much all my students have the motivation to listen to, if they have the motivation to listen at all, so it's virtually impossible to teach a class full of 18-21 year old girls without it. I've always tried to make it more of a student-centered class, with me only lecturing for 15 minutes max, and the rest being group discussions/project work, but nevertheless, most students would rather be safely tuned into their ipods and makeup kits....

[himitsu]

In Junior High, I'm strictly not allowed to speak Japanese to the kids, only the teachers.

Is that even allowed? Can they do that? Sounds extremely discriminatory...

[Paul]

In Junior High, I'm strictly not allowed to speak Japanese to the kids, only the teachers. I think the kids have "caught on" that I speak Japanese and have tried getting away with using it in class, but nevertheless I always answer them in English.

Interesting, I wonder who put the limitation on you and what would happen if you spoke Japanese to the kids?

[Otaku]

In Junior High, I'm strictly not allowed to speak Japanese to the kids, only the teachers.

That's actually kinda funny!

Students, who don't know crap all about anything, are forced to speak a language they have never studied. But teachers, the people who are supposed to have all the answers, are not held to a higher standard? After all, they have studied English for at least 7 years...


**edited to change quoted name**

[himitsu]

You`re right, Otaku... (not sure if I should laugh or frown..)
btw, it`s not my quote

[gsuiris]

I try to talk to both the students and teachers in English. Kids would look up to their teachers if they speak a little English with you. (They would say Wow! ~Sensei can speak in English)

I try to talk with the JTEs in Junior High in English (especially in front of the kids).
At elementary school.... I don't even bother. Most of them can't speak it well. And during class most of my teachers are standing at the back doing other work.

[jessen100]

i speak to HRTs who can speak decently in english, in english. if they make mistakes i kindly correct them. it seems to make some students less afraid of mistakes since they know nothing bad will happen, and i find less negativity from other students, because even teacher can make mistakes. but at the same time, i dont want too much incorrect english getting into my students ears.

[himitsu]

1. i speak to HRTs who can speak decently in english, in english.
2 if they make mistakes i kindly correct them. it seems to make some students less afraid of mistakes since they know nothing bad will happen, and i find less negativity from other students, because even teacher can make mistakes.

1. "decent" is so relative.. ^^
2. I usually try to resist my urge to correct my JTEs, they are rather thin-skinned, and it would destroy their pride (actually one even cried once!), especially in front of the students. And if I started doing that, I'd need to correct about every single sentence...

[Kanashibari]

In Junior High, I'm strictly not allowed to speak Japanese to the kids, only the teachers. I think the kids have "caught on" that I speak Japanese and have tried getting away with using it in class, but nevertheless I always answer them in English.

Interesting, I wonder who put the limitation on you and what would happen if you spoke Japanese to the kids?

They've got this thing about kids never trying to learn English if the teacher responds to their Japanese.
If I speak Japanese to the kids, I'm fired.

[jessen100]

1. "decent" is so relative.. ^^
2. I usually try to resist my urge to correct my JTEs, they are rather thin-skinned, and it would destroy their pride (actually one even cried once!), especially in front of the students. And if I started doing that, I'd need to correct about every single sentence...

1. by decent i mean those who can correctly speak the current content of what we are teaching to 5th and 6th graders. some cant and its pathetic since 95% of the kids can do it just fine.

2. I mean, ES HRTs, not JHS JTEs. one of my JTEs doesnt make mistakes, and the other makes too many, so if i tried to correct them all we couldnt progress through class. he also NEVER stops his boring lectureing so there are no chances anyways.

[himitsu]

1. just meant it generally ^^
2. ah ok, if it's ES I understand..

[yesmikan]

I hate explaining games in English (unless it's very simple and I know they can understand). You are doing your best to explain for 5 minutes, and you know all the time they don't get it, but you have to keep talking, only to do it again when you are done, knowing that even then they probably still won't understand enough; and the worst are those random remarks "imi wakaranai" or "nani itteruno?" *grrr* If it takes 10 min. or so just to explain a game, and then you have maybe only 5 min. to play it, I think it's a waste of time. I prefer to explain it in Jp. in 1-2 min., they know exactly what to do, and can do the activity for 15 min. or so. To me, speaking seems more important than listening.

Yeah, efficiency of time is a BIG factor in deciding whether or not to use j-go, in my opinion. Those minutes could better be spent practicing the target grammar.

As for myself, I try to use it judiciously; either when I need to know for sure that students understand, or when lack of time is a factor.

I've done a couple of classes either proctoring a test or checking test answers with students when the JTE was not there, and in cases like those, it's important that students understand the instructions clearly.

Generally speaking, if the JTE is absent for some reason, I tend to switch to Japanese more. But if the JTE is there (most of the time), I only use it if I'm helping individual students. There's no reason for students to know words like "noun," "verb," "past tense," etc. in English, so Japanese is a must for those kinds of grammar explanations, imo. I don't know how people WITHOUT Japanese ability explain stuff like that to JHS students, to be honest. It's been pretty indispensable to me.

[himitsu]

well, I was talking mainly about ES but yeah, if JH JTE isn't there, it's hard with English only.