The Cat's Out of the Bag

About two weeks ago, I was informed that my request to transfer to a new school was granted. I suppose there's no need to remind you why, considering that a whole load of my posts posted in the past year were pretty... eventful i.e. I went through a lot in the past year and had decided that a change in work environment would be a good thing... healthwise.

I wouldn't say that I am completely happy about the decision, I enjoy working at my elementary school, and absolutely love my junior high school students. At my junior high school, most of the teachers are great at their jobs, but as people... the principal called it a mismatch, I didn't quite fit in. Personally, I think he's going to have to think of a way to get the ALT more involved, if he wants them to stay for the long-term, my predecessor only managed a year.

My principal informed the Japanese Teachers of English (JTE) that I was leaving at the end of July. One of the JTEs confronted me about it, asking me why I was leaving and when did I make the decision, then subsequently said that she hoped that I would leave all the teaching materials I had made at the school, and whether she can copy the contents of my USB stick... downright thoughtful of her, wasn't it? She's just one of those people who makes me wish I had a punching bag stored away in my locker, but you know what? I no longer have to deal with her after July! Needless to say, I refused her request to copy my work from my USB, but she was free to keep all the teaching resources I had made using the school's materials. I'm sorry mate, you're just going to have to work closely with the new ALT to compile up your own database of activities, lesson plans and resources.

 I think the new ALT who's replacing me is fresh out of university, and she majored in a non-education related subject. She won't be able to plan and lead lessons like I do, so I hope they'll work closely with her to train her up. I have the other JTEs, except the one just mentioned, trained up pretty well in informing me about changes in schedule and what's happening in class, I just hope they don't slack off when I'm gone. Going to an empty class or a different subject lesson, expecting it to be English, and not being told about this and that, can be pretty frustrating and, for me, upsetting... It made me feel insignificant, it wasn't a pleasant feeling. I've trained myself up to not take it to heart anymore, it's a waste of emotional energy, but I hope this recent graduate will be stronger than I was.

Just 3 more weeks left to spend time with my students, I've become too emotionally attached.