Typical Eikawa Classroom?

[fast_dave]

Hi!

Is the picture of the NOVA classroom/glassroom shown in the linked article typical to NOVA, or the eikaiwas in big cities, or???

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?fl20040601zg.htm

Needless to say, I've never seen a classroom like this...

Any insights and comments on eikawa classrooms are welcome.

TIA,
Fast Dave

[Taro Toporific]

Is the picture of the NOVA classroom/glassroom shown in the linked article typical to NOVA, or the eikaiwas in big cities, or???
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?fl20040601zg.htm
Needless to say, I've never seen a classroom like this...
Any insights and comments on eikawa classrooms are welcome.

Looks better than my Japanese classroom. And yes that's normal.

[devicenull]

the best part is the last line in that article.... adults dont whine and complain to be treated like adults.

[vvx]

Actually, that glass classroom looks more private than I had imagined them. I imagined them more like the H&R block "cubicles" here that are wide open, no glass..

[Mulboyne]

Do you think this guy is a NOVA teacher?

Escape from Narita

The man disappeared just before he was to be handed over to police, apparently climbing over a 2.5-meter glass wall and going from an off-limits area to the general area in the inspection area while immigration officials were not looking, police said.

[Taro Toporific]

Escape from Narita

The man disappeared just before he was to be handed over to police, apparently climbing over a 2.5-meter glass wall and going from an off-limits area to the general area in the inspection area while immigration officials were not looking, police said.

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-it. On crutches, I've cleared that wall when the elevator and escalator were not running. The deal is:
1) the officials seem in a daze all the time and
2) there are convenient planters to step on to gain a boost over. In addition, there are GAPS between the "2.5-meter glass wall" that even my lard butt can squeeze through.

[fast_dave]

Thanks to the Taro and VVX for responding to my question!

But with all the FG's working at Eikawas is it possible to get a lil' more action on this topic? I mean come on people - pipe up and be heard!

I've been following both this forum and the forum over at Let's Japan, and most of the posts deal with the students, the management, the antiquated/absurd textbooks, and the somewhat f'd up schedules. Very little is talked about the working conditions - i.e classrooms. Hell, if you're gonna' work somewhere for 8 hours a day, your work environment certainly has to come into play - am I right or?!

The glassroom shown in the picture is just plain creepy - kinda' akin to "big brother is watching you" (a-la Taro avantar)....

So, what say you?! What type of classroom do you work in?
Fast Dave

[Taro Toporific]

Hi!

Is the picture of the NOVA classroom/glassroom shown in the linked article typical to NOVA, or the eikaiwas in big cities, or???

Typical company class


Typical juku


Typical "semi-private" lesson


Typical private lesson

[AssKissinger]

if you're gonna' work somewhere for 8 hours a day

There's lots of jobs where you'll never spend 8 hours a day in the same building. I don't think I'd last a day.

[bejiita]

Typical private lesson

Hey, how come no Rabu Hoteru ultra private lesson pics?

[Taro Toporific]

Is the picture of the NOVA classroom/glassroom shown in the linked article typical to NOVA, or the eikaiwas in big cities, or???
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?fl20040601zg.htm
Needless to say, I've never seen a classroom like this...
Any insights and comments on eikawa classrooms are welcome.

As I said before, that's a picture of a normal classroom in Japan--- if not cleaner than most. Here is an Japanese Education professor's early survey/research option of the learning environment in eikaiwa and juku (private cram schools).

....All this is occurring within environments that are often characterized by crammed accommodations, uncomfortable school furniture, glaring lights, and late hours....

Date: Tue, 08 Jun 2004 13:55:00 -0700
From: "Julian Dierkes
Subject: NBR'S JAPAN FORUM "Futoko/School refusers"

The June 6 NYT carried an article on futoko (school refusers)
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/06/international/asia/06japa.html

.... I wanted to offer some brief comments on futoko and on learning environments:

In the course of my research on juku/shadow education, I have recently come across futoko in urban juku as well. What strikes me most about this phenomenon is that the discourse around futoko largely seeks explanations for school refusal in the schools and the school system. The NYT article thus focused somewhat on school uniforms....I am
not inclined to believe the arguments that see the causes of this behavor entirely in schools, but would suggest that the family and living situation
ought to be examined with at least equal urgency.

Regarding the other aspect of this article (changed environments as "therapy"), I would have to say that I see more and more differences between schools and juku in terms of the atmosphere that prevails in juku and the learning environment some of them provide. Mind you, I am at a very preliminary stage of this research and my impressions are not yet systematic (although I focus on smaller juku, not the corporate chains like Kawai or Shin-ichi, etc.). But I have seen many instances now of interactions between students and teachers that would not occur in the same way within schools (be they private or public).
Forms of address are generally quite casual, for example. Students kid around with teachers and are engaged in classes that don't necessarily seem to differ radically in their pedagogical mechanics. Contrary to most views of Japanese education, shadow education students are often not at all hesitant about speaking up in class even at the risk of perceptions of failure. All this is occurring within environments that are often characterized by crammed accommodations, uncomfortable school furniture, glaring lights, and late hours....

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