4 Takeaways from My First ESL Job in Japan

My First ESL Job Was In Japan. These Are My 4 Main Takeaways From That Experience.

I remember when I first learned about Global English Camp during my quest to find a summer job last year. It seemed too good to be true—spend my summer fostering the intellectual growth and confidence of bright, young students all over Japan while simultaneously drinking as many Lipton Milk Teas as I want? I was enthralled; what better way is there to spend your summer?

Apart from Lipton Milk Tea, as important as it is, I had a passion for teaching that I wanted to explore. As a nursing student, there are not many opportunities to explore teaching in a formal sense, as most of my time is dedicated to studying or taking too many sets of vital signs. Working as an intern for Global English Camp seemed to align perfectly with my passion for pedagogy; I could take a break from my nursing studies to spend the summer exploring my other interests. And besides, I thought to myself, what other chance would I get after my nursing career started to teach in Japan? It seemed like a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I took it.

Going into the internship, I had my worries. Would I be able to handle teaching a new group of adolescents all by myself every week? I had limited teaching experience and had certainly never taught ESL students before. Mix that with two spoonfuls of shyness and an extra large dash of I-know-no-Japanese-and-have-never-been-to-Asia-before and what do you get? A very worried Larissa.

As it turned out, most of my concerns were unfounded. It took some adjusting and improvising in the beginning, but my confidence grew quickly as the camp progressed. In short, I had a remarkable time mentoring my students and watching them grow and would do it all over again if I had the chance.

So, how did I do it?

What happened to the insecurities I had before the program started? How did I manage teaching beginner-level ESL students every week without extensive training? After some reflection on my internship with Come On Out, I have compiled a list of the four main points that I believe most contributed to my success as an ESL mentor. I recommend these takeaways/tips not only for future Global English Camp interns, but also for those working with ESL students for the first time:

1. Patience is key.

For the first week of Global English Camp, I was assigned with another intern to mentor the most advanced English-speaking students. Maybe this won’t be so bad, I thought to myself as the students worked quickly through reading and writing exercises. Little did I know that I would be assigned to the most beginner group of students every week after that. The transition was swift—I quickly realized I had to about halve my talking speed and enunciate words very precisely. This could have easily been frustrating, but I consciously adopted an empathetic approach early on. I recognized that learning a new language is difficult and that my students were trying their hardest; the best thing I could do was stick with them and remain patient.

2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Leaders are there for a reason! They have been in your position before and can help you work through any roadblocks you encounter. For example, I frequently looked to my leaders for game suggestions; playing games is a great way to boost students’ energy and enthusiasm for learning a language. I also looked to my leaders for emotional support. I was definitely overwhelmed at the beginning of the summer and was incredibly thankful to have compassionate leaders who cared about my emotional and mental well-being. My point is this—if you need help, ask unashamedly. In my case, by reaching out, I was able to turn lulls in the classroom into fun games and work through difficult emotions so that I could be more present with my students.

3. Review lesson plans beforehand.

The last thing you want is for your students to know your lesson plans better than you know them yourself. Allocate time every week to reviewing your lesson plans. Familiarize yourself with the writing prompts. Come up with synonyms for vocabulary words if you have time. The better prepared you are, the more confident you will be in front of your students. 

4. If you’re nervous, just remember that the students are probably way more nervous than you are. 

If you have ever taken a language class before, you know exactly what I am talking about here. Speaking in a language you do not know well in front of your peers is scary, uncomfortable, maybe even embarrassing. In this situation, however, you are not a student; you are the teacher and know the language well. Even if you are nervous (which is 100% okay!), it is helpful and important to consider what your students are feeling—establish early on that they are in a safe learning environment and that mistakes are great. Be a confident and trusting role model that they can look to if they are ever feeling lost or hopeless in class.

If you follow these four tips, you are already on the path to success! As I discovered through Global English Camp last year, teaching ESL students is incredibly rewarding and does not have to be intimidating. With adequate preparation, patience and empathy, and support from co-workers and leaders, the experience can be enjoyable for everyone involved.

—

Written by Larissa Nam, 2019 Global English Camp Intern / 2020 COOJ Marketing Intern