This week we have Advanced Mediation Theory and Practice. We have a new lecturer, someone who usually teaches in Perth, and already he’s great. There was a collective sigh of relief all around the classroom. It is immediately noticable when you are working with someone who shares the power. Im starting to realise that it is only when you refuse to share power in the classroom that you get challenges from students. I saw him clowning around, refusing to be an expert, not insisting on one point of view and apart from an incorrect definition and application of the concept of discourse (and god it makes me happy to see that most of my lecturers cant communicate fundamental Foucauldian concepts… its not just me!!! This stuff is genuinely ridiculously tricky), he was knowledgeable and entertaining, knew how to use powerpoint appropriately, and was an engaging speaker. Im back with the old gang from the basic course, and its gonna be a great week.

Im also noticing that my head is exploding a bit. Since my fellow student asked me about what its like to be a teacher, i have been learning so much about teaching from being a student again, and ive been doing some careful observation. Not only that, but but, but....

Individualism and collectivism. You know what these words mean. I taught these concepts in Japan. I learnt these concepts all last semester. For some reason, these words are causing earthquakes in me right now. There is a lot of cultural content in my courses, and the constant exposure to these concepts and to people who dont understand them, is really affecting me. I have a better understanding of them than most in the class due to experience and age, and i have good skills in framing the concepts in such a way that others can get an understanding of them (better than my lecturers sometimes), and explaining them in turn deepens my understanding… I spent so much time in Japan trying to make the Western experience of life understandable to my Japanese students, and now here i am trying to make the collectivist experience of life understandable to my individualist student friends… and i am Getting It on both sides of the coin in a way i never did before. I am starting to see the numerous ways that i was PART of society in Japan. All the time i was there, i could only see myself as apart from it, only see the boundaries i knew i couldnt cross, only feel the rejections. I took refuge in my Western identity. I entirely took for granted all the ordinary ways in which i was PART of it.

I know how to read everyone on the train. I know many, many nuances of good and bad behaviour. I can smell the mood changing around me. When im embarrassed, the first words that spring to mind are Japanese - my language for embarassment is Japanese too. I know exactly how much respectful behaviour to display to people older than me, and how to display it. I can see the human networks i was a part of and how i fit into them. I can cross at Hachiko and bump into people just the right amount. I can move around Shinjuku West exit (imagine a sea of people all moving in different directions) at my own pace and not bump into anyone at all. I can be part of the flow.

Before i left for Tokyo, the Riotous Redhead (who is frequently an inspiration to me) said “You are going to be a bridge, a cultural translator.” That got me thinking. It sounded great. Im starting to see what that means.

Im really enjoying school. Its so good to be learning again!

• MissSin said on 06/09/29 at 04:23 PM.....

  been reading your opinions & all the comments about teaching and have been thinking about how i feel about it all. 

  to be honest, it’s really hard to put it into words.

  
  but your comments about ‘power sharing’ struck a chord.

  
  as you know, i teach only intensives - from one day to 2 weeks.  and i find i have 3 basic stages during the intensiive…

  
  first is bond building - i try to build bonds with my students & also try to enable them to build bonds with each other.

   

  second is pattern building or routine building - this is really important in the longer courses.  it means that the students know what’s coming, and what to expect. so we have a similar kind of schedule each day…

  
  third is enabling - once everything is set up; the students are comfortable with each other and they know the routine, i take a step back & give the students more control. 

  
  but that power sharing is the most important thing.  it gives the students a sense of achievement & it makes things easier for me because i don’t have to do everything.

   

  don’t know if any of this is relevant - and sorry for my long rambling monologue…

   

• Kristen said on 06/10/02 at 11:18 PM.....

  This really struck home. I know I’m not part of Japanese society and never can be, but thanks to you now I see that perhaps I’m more integrated that I imagine. I am part of the flow.

• j-ster said on 06/10/03 at 03:13 PM.....

  MissSin, it totally is relevant. I was hoping to open up a bit of conversation about teaching here, spark some ideas, make some things go ‘ping’ like things have been going ‘ping’ for me in the last few weeks. If you said that i made you go ‘ping’ in any kind of direction, i would be so honoured! Please feel free to disagree with me, especially since your experience is more extensive than mine, and you approach teaching from more angles than i did.

  Kuri; Thank you! The role of outsider is incredibly important in collectivistic societies, both in defining themselves against and in keeping them from stagnating…

   

• Ashman said on 06/10/04 at 08:08 PM.....

  did i take that photo??? Love you miss you!!!!

• j-ster said on 06/10/04 at 11:01 PM.....

  You did indeed, and its not the first time ive used it either! Sorry for not crediting you, love you miss you toooooo lil bro!!!