My Students

Being a Nova teacher has its ups and downs. The company itself is shit to work for, but the students who you get to meet are kind and quite interesting to talk to. Working for Nova means that I deal with a complete cross section of different people; middle aged housewifes, rich business men, retired scientists, school teachers, actors, engineers, high school girls. Id like to describe some of them to you, if I can.

I have one student who is in his late 70's. He's been learning english at Nova for 5 years and he has never progressed passed the beginner level. He doesnt seem to mind. He's always so amazingly cheerful, although very difficult to teach because he cant hear very well. Once a week he schedules a one on one lesson were he gets the instructor to check his personal journal (which he writes in english to practice). This man has such a simple life. Every day is the same for him. In simple english, he describes waking up, eating, listening to the radio, walking around the block and visiting his bone doctor. Day in day out, he does exactly the same things. A simple, balanced and practiced way of life is very Japanese indeed.

Another student I have refuses to be tought the same lesson twice. Once, a teacher did this by accident, and the student went down to the Japanese staff area and yelled at them for nearly two hours. This guy is kinda like that nerdy kid with glasses from another town in your grade 6 class who just didnt fit in and caused alot of trouble. Hes got the same maturity level too, even though hes a father. However, in a country were so many people act the same, its refreshing to see a true character. Another character I have is a student who calls herself "Hime" or princess in Japanese. She believes she's a Samurai warrior. Every Saturday she comes to Nova dressed in her Hakata (martial arts outfit) and carrying her sword. She takes lessons right before Nova. Once I asked if I could see her sword, but she got offended. Once, when I asked her what her job was, she told me "its a secret". Other interesting students include a kindergarden teacher/champion tri-athlete, a man who works for 14 hours a day and has 3 days off per month, a guy who designed the engine for the Honda Accord, and a woman who teaches blind and deaf kids. Honestly, Japanese people are a fantastic lot to teach English to. Always so polite and eager to learn things from me. Ill miss them.