Oh, the joys of teaching English in Japan!

Just a funny story from yesterday. 

Recently, my first year students have been learning the days of the week.  There is even a little song that they learn, though I had never heard the song before in my life until last year.  Anyway, so yesterday in class, we did a word test, so I said days and they had to write the day I said.  To spice things up, I say them in a random order and also mixed in some number review questions.  Here is the conversation:

Me:  " ok...number 6... Thursday" (students stare at me like I am crazy)
I repeat: "Thursday"
one student: "We have never learned that one before!  Is that another day?"
Me: "How many days have you learned?"
Students: "seven." 
Me: "Ok, well there are only seven days in a week, so you have learned this one... Thursday."  At that point, I knew what the problem was but it is fun to play with them a bit.
Students : "No, we have never learned that one!!!  This is unfair!!!!"
Me: "ok, try this... (pronunciation change) Saazuday"
Students: "OOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!   Saazuday!!!"

If you did not get that, let me explain.  There is no "th" sound in Japanese, nor is there that sort of "ur" or "er" sound.  Up until yesterday, the students had never heard a native pronunciation of the word "Thursday."  So, while this is entertaining (and it was, it really was) it brings up a major point of frustration for me.  The JTEs do not have perfect pronunciation.  Not even close.  Except for one... but anyway... there is a major disconnect happening here where the students cannot understand native English and cannot pronounce words correctly because they are rarely exposed to the proper pronunciations.  The school does have CDs they can use when I am not in class, but they do not.  I admit, the CDs are sort of hokey, but, I would rather the JTEs use a hokey CD than teach the kids that "Saazuday" is an acceptable pronunciation of "Thursday."  And when I am in class. they rely on the JTE to translate things I say or on me to speak a bit slower and adjust my English to more "Japanese English" in which you leave out "th"s and replace them with "s" or "z" and you leave out "l"s and replace them with the Japanese "r" sound, etc etc etc.  If these kids ever went to any English speaking country, they would be screwed!

The most frustrating part, at least as far as pronunciation goes, is that they CAN say words properly.  BUT, it is too embarrassing or there is too much peer pressure from the other kids so they do not.  I know that Crystal and Kim (elem ALTs) are working with the kids on sounds, and the kids can say the words beautifully, but if you put them on the spot, they immediately revert back to their Japanese English.  A lot of the problem is the need in Japan to conform.  They have to all fit in together, and if one kid is good at English and stands out, he gets made fun of.  A lot of students one-on-one with me are fantastic!  Perfect pronunciation, they know a TON of vocabulary, but as soon as you put them in class, they just refuse to be good at English.  I imagine it is also frustrating for the ones with good pronunciation to do the communication activities we do in class.  If they speak properly with a lot of their classmates, they will not be understood, so it is easier for them to just use the Japanese English to get by most of the time.  Clearly I am not going to be able to convince most of  these kids to stand out, and thus, I am left in a bit of a bind.  Any suggestions are welcome.

Oh yeah, since I am in a Japan criticize sort of mood anyway...the Japan Post service has implemented a new policy as of yesterday that packages over one pound cannot be mailed to the US.  So... do not expect anything from me anytime soon.  Nice going, Japan.  HOWEVER, you lovely people can still mail things TO Japan!  And I certainly encourage you to do so!!!