Assistant Language Teachers in Susono

There are now six Assistant Language Teachers working in the city run elementary and junior high schools in Susono. The high school also has an Assistant Language Teacher who is employed through the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET).

The Assistant Language Teachers at elementary and junior high school are employed through the Susono Overseas Friendship Association.

This year most of our job roles as Assistant Language Teachers has changed. Firstly an extra ALT was employed. Now there is no longer just one Assistant Language Teacher for the elementary schools. Rather three of us go to elementary school for a few days a week and junior high school at other times.

Further, all but one Assistant Language Teacher in Susono changed schools at the start of the new school year at the beginning of April.

I quite like the system of moving to a different school as an Assistant Language Teacher as it keeps the job fresh.

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Pirates game – elementary school lesson

Since the start of April I’ve been visiting elementary schools a few times a week. A definite change to my school life routine. For our first lesson I am introducing the kids to a game I used to play as a child which went down really well at the last elementary school I taught at.

It’s based on the game Port and Starboard that I used to play when I was younger. This time round I am calling it the Pirates Game. You can read more details on my ALT Lessons blog.

So far the kids are enjoying running about like crazy as we “learn English”. Going to a variety of schools has definitely spiced up my life working as an ALT in Susono.

Mobile ALT

My school life has changed since the beginning of the new school year at the start of April.

Instead of being at one school almost all the time, I now visit four different schools. When I started as an ALT in Susono I was based at only one school. Then graduated to occassionally visiting an elementary school. Now I’m all over the place.

Initially I was reluctant to leave nishi junior high school. It is so close to my apartment and the teachers were great. However as I had been there for four years I thought trying something different would spice up my ALT lifestyle.

Going to four schools means I get to meet loads of different teachers and students too. Today I was teaching a 5th grade elementary kid who I used to teach at nursery school. Another reminder of just how long I have been living in Susono!

So far I am enjoying my new role as a mobile ALT.