Read the post below this....
Go ahead...
I'll wait.
How in the fuck...WHY in the fuck was I ever offered the top job even after being such a fuckup? Nobody asked that? 280-320..after 6 months experience?
REWIND...3 months.
I was given a Class. A 2 hour class. They were the lost souls of the School. Mixed ages.Mixed levels.
Do you remember that meeting Alex? That was the end of your "I know what the fuck I'm doing" dream.
You asking outta that class was the greatest thing that ever happened in my teaching life.
I TOLD the boss I was gonna do it MY way or there was NO WAY I was gonna take Alex's 2 hour "lost class" He was the 3rd teacher to give up on these kids. She said "do whatever you wan't...your style O.K.!"
The first class was....amazing..ly scary...for them.
The first time they ignored me I picked up a kids chair and smashed it off the floor and it bounced up and hit the door cracking it.
ALL EYEZ ON ME....They were stunned and 3 girls were crying as was Madoka the assistant teacher (for a few seconds everyone seems to have thought I was about to go "RAMPAGE"???). I told them (8 in all 5 girls and 3 boys ages 9-13) to push their desks against the wall and face it. Don't look,don't talk, don't do a fucking thing till I tell,em'.
"Turn your chairs around and face me"
(I asked Madoka to translate this exactly..please...and "I'll never ask you to be involved again"...I promised her, and she agreed)
"I am NOT Alex or anyone else, I am going to teach them and it could be REALLY fun or it could really REALLY suck!!, I will let YOU be the bosses of THAT. You will give me 70 minutes of 100% attention and I will give you 50 minutes to do whatever you want. MY time comes first and every second of MY time YOU waste will be less time for YOU."
"I am the person in charge but you can ask, inquire,question or give an opinion at anytime in the way I teach you...with respect. We are equals. You will begin to understand what you do not know now. Trust me. You will soon understand. I am the greatest teacher you will ever meet in your lives. I have more interest in your improvement than anyone ever will. DO NOT cry to your parents or you will miss this chance. You have to trust me. Next week. Sit the fuck down and give me respect for 70 and I will set you free for 50."
Amazingly, no comment came from the parents. They behaved and after I took them across to 7-11 and spoiled them with Yakitori and ice cream and drinks on my dime. We repeated this everyweek.
(I believe in pay for performance because THAT IS LIFE)
Results> Everything else (an equation for you dumb fucking JET's/ALT's)
5 months later at a Friday meeting my boss with the nice ass announced that my Saturday kids were learning too fast and I had to slow down...an odd pause/questioning looks followed that statement and I jumped in mouth first.
Me: This is a School. You want me to slow down the kids advancement?
Nice Ass: That Saturday class has brothers and sisters in other classes and your requesting the same book they are using. The parents are wondering why kids who started sooner are still on the same books as their younger brothers and sisters have. It's no good.
Me: You want to slow down? seriously? The other classes need to try harder. I'm just doing my job. Having young kids that are of high level is good for your School..don't you think?
Nice Ass: Thinking....
One week Later: Next Friday meeting.
Nice ass: Chris. Please teach Alex and the others your style.
Alex: What? I'm not gonna follow someone who has been teaching for 6 months.
Me: If you had done your fucking job bro this topic wouldn't even be on the table, besides...you could never teach like me.
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I was asked to come to a nomikai the next night with the owner and Philip.
Nice ass:"I want you to take over the main School and teach your system please. I will give you a raise to 300,000 per month. I never have done that for a teacher with so little experience"
Me: No thanks.
Philip: Let me talk to her can you go away for a bit?"
Nice ass: I'll give you 320,000 and you are teaching my biggest School and it's much closer to where you live.
Me: No thanks. That's Alex's job. I don't like the guy but we are plotting Ceasar's downfall. I thought you were his friend Philip?
Philip: Alex can take care of Alex. You should do this...now bro.
I walked outta there and directly to Alex's. I told him the boss and his friend had just tried to throw him under the bus. He said "Chris, I woulda taken it."
I give him credit for being honest which is not his strong point but I realized that Japan was a whole nother world. Backstabbing lazy mother fuckers. That's the good ones. The 1-2 year ALT's are the most clueless unprofessional, selfish group of people I have ever met. I have 9 Japanese English teachers in my School and today I talked with one about her ALT problem.
Me: What's the problem?
Teacher: The ALT is kinda shy and talks with a small voice. She has trouble with the bigger classes.
Me: What did she think when she came to Japan..teaching is easy? She's gonna study Kanji and travel around and get through her job like some unavoidable duty?
Teacher: How did you know she is studying Japanese?
Me: It's a stereotype. It's usually true. They do more damage than good They really suck.They are clueless or can ignore reality well...I dunno?
Teacher: Japan should change the system. At least the interview to make sure they can handle big classes. She makes my job harder.
Me: Has she ever tried practicing her Japanese with you?
Teacher: How did you know?
Me: Selfish is as Selfish does. They are bottom of the barrel types. I'll explain that to you next class.
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I got the biggest most successful School around. Results own all else and that's why I kick ass. Even my dramas haven't bothered my success. I cook full pigs and shit. I motherfuckin get down bitches. You think your co-workers respect you? You insult them without realizing it you dumb motherfuckers. DO YOUR FUCKING JOB. Cancel the trip to the temple with your expat group and prepare a good lesson. Put down the fucking Japanese language book and teach ENGLISH!! It's WHY you are here.
I hope William visits. His awesome comments got me all fired up.
This Blog post is a part of Budget Trouble's
Show me Japan Series