Being an ALT is honestly a learning curve.
When I first started, I had no teaching experience. I just followed whatever my JTEs were doing. Eventually, I found my footing, and before I knew it, all lessons for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years became my responsibility.
Here’s where things went sideways. Last year, I thought I was helping with English Communication, so I assumed it was the same this year. I used the textbook at first, until one JTE told me, “Don’t use the textbook.” Another said, “You don’t have to use it.” Okay, I thought , communication is my goal anyway. I built lessons to give students a chance to actually use English.
Halfway into 2nd semester, the JTEs suddenly decided my lessons weren’t effective because the real priority was preparing students for university entrance exams. That’s when I found out …surprise! I wasn’t in English Communication at all, I was in charge of English Logic and Expressions. No one had actually told me that from the start.
And here come the contradictions:
– Textbook drama: First I was told not to use it. Then later: “Why aren’t you using the textbook?”
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Vocabulary drama: Each unit had a big list of “key words.” I made slides with all of them plus examples. → “No, that’s too many.”
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So I cut it down to 5 essential words to talk about the unit “Preparing for a natural disaster”: prepare, natural disaster, emergency bag, evacuation shelter, emergency food. → “No, wrong words.”
Instead, I was told to focus on: charge, liquid, portable, flavor, compressed. Like… how does flavor help students talk about natural disasters? -
Database drama: Then a JTE says, “You should check the database to see if the words overlap with the textbook.” Me: “What database?” JTE: “Oh sorry, we should have shown you earlier. Here, it’s another textbook.”
So not only did I get told opposite instructions, but every “solution” came with more moving goalposts.
The kicker? Every single time I asked beforehand, “Is this okay? Should I change anything?” I was told, “No, this is perfect.” Then later I hear, “Actually, your lessons aren’t effective.”
I’m honestly tired. I came in wanting to make English something students could actually use, but the system seems set up just to drill for entrance exams. It’s exhausting and feels pointless sometimes.
by Fantastic_Tourist560