Silver Lining - I'm Good At Reading People

So, here's the deal:

My paranoia about the school that might not like me... turned out to not be paranoia at all. It was very much true.

Turns out I'm a good judge of character after all... \o/!

But, yeah... back to venting...

After 6 months of working... you'd figure I would know about doing something wrong...

Well... truth is... I still am unclear of what exactly caused this school's dislike.

All I know is... they said they don't want me to return and want a new ALT there.



So, now to begin with what exactly went down.

Funny how today at the school was not bad at all. Maybe it was my knowing that I only had two more days at that school then wouldn't have to return until April... or so I was thinking... heh heh.

My boss then called asking if I was okay to talk at the moment since he had read my email. He told me that I was not wrong for thinking something was wrong, and he asked if it was okay to talk. Being currently at the school, I told him it was not an appropriate time to talk. He then told me to call him back once I was done for the day.

I called him back and he told me to let him know anything that led me to believe the school might not like me. I broke it down to him... you can read like two posts ago to give you an idea of some of the stuff I told him.

I told him how I was confused as to what I possibly could've done to get a school to not want me back. Especially since I do the same exact thing at my other 3 schools and they actually returned the completely opposite feedback that this school returned.

My other schools love me so much and hope... really really hope I return back. So, I told him I wanted to know what could be wrong.

He said he was confused as well, but went to tell me some things that they mentioned... all which seem ridiculous to both of us.

First...

-During my observation... they complained that I wasn't dressed appropriately.

He asked me, "what were you wearing? Weren't you wearing a tie and dressed up?"

"What?!? Yes, I had a tie and a dress shirt and pants and everything. I mean... it's really cold at that school... so, I was wearing a hoodie like I always do at all my schools. But, you could see that I was dressed up under my hoodie. In fact, I dress up better than most of the teachers... who... ALSO wear sweaters themselves."

Next...

-During my observation... they complained about me mixing up Japanese and English...

?!?!?

An example being... "game play-mashou!"

Okay, yes... I did do that... AFTER I said "Lets play a game!" I always throw in "game play-mashou!" to make the students laugh... which they always do. I know the difference between Japanese and English... I'm not a moron. All my other schools (including the teachers) always laugh. In fact, I've done it at that school several times... and now... right before contracts are renewed... do they complain about it. I was trying to be funny... it's what I do. Sorry if I want to make teaching English fun. If you wanted me to be monotone and boring like the teacher whom I dislike (and probably the rallying teacher in the "Victor rid-mashou!" Lets get rid of Victor! party), you could've just told me. Though... boring ain't really my thing... sorry.

Next... and most preposterous of all...

-I teach the wrong lessons or change them.

Yeah... NO!

I always have taught the assigned lesson. And, had I taught a wrong lesson... the right time to have told me was directly after the lesson... or, as the lesson was going.

"Hey Victor... wrong lesson dude!"

"Oh shit... my bad... good looking out!"

See... no biggie. But, I guess you can't tell me I'm teaching the wrong lesson... when I've never taught the wrong lesson. Look at how that works out.

And, yes... I have changed some activities/games. But, I only did it when: A) It was too complicated for the students to grasp. I mean, if I have to read something 3-4 times... chances are the students will not understand. So, I changed the game to make it easier to understand. No biggie... especially when a certain teacher refuses to help me out... unless of course... she's being observed by the higher powers... psssh...

B) Another teacher at the school even encourages me to change the activity.

"My students might not have understood the game... so, can we change it a little bit?"

"Sure, no problem. What do you think we should do?"

^Look... I asked for feedback... something I apparently don't do.

So, how are you going to complain about something I've never done and something I do to make it easier for the students to understand and one of your own has encouraged?!?

Mixed signals much?

But, that's basically the complaints I was told about.

Now, for the issue at hand.

That school doesn't want me back... no biggie... I really don't want to return at all.

I love the students... I'll miss them... but, the teachers don't make it worth it.

My contract, I believe... is for my 4 schools. If I renew... I have to have the 4 schools.

But, one school made it clear they don't want me back... so, even if I wanted to... don't think I'll be able to renew my contract.

However, my boss let me know that he and the company are behind me 100%. They don't think I'm to blame here... especially when my other schools have nothing but positive and outstanding things to say about.

So, he offered me a new position. It'll be in Tokai in the Ibaraki Prefecture.

Everything seems to be positive about the new position. Bigger, more active city... one school only... elementary school to boot.

But, it comes with two drawbacks... I have to leave my students and teachers/schools that I like. My two favorite ones have already ended... so, I will basically leave without an official goodbye and with them thinking I'll be returning. Sucks... especially since I don't want them to think I lied to them or that I ditched them.

::sigh::

And... yeah... it's a nuclear active place... where there was an accident 15 years ago... 0_o

So, I have until Monday to make a decision... but, to be honest... it doesn't look like I have much of a choice.

I take the new position... or, well... looks like I won't be getting my old position... so, that is my only option really since I'm not ready to head back to Miami just yet.

They wanted to make it clear that I wasn't being fired or let go. The company and my boss really like me and know that I'm a good person and I do my job pretty well. So, he even said... "We want you to come down to Tokai... and I'm really really really hoping that you'll say yes and want you to say yes."

Heh heh... it's nice to know that it's not me after all.

Not to mention I heard negative things about the school this week... from various sources. So... it's definitely not me.

Also... it does help that since the transfer wasn't my option... just something that happened... I won't have to pay for moving.

So, it's looking like my decision is pretty much made... but, just need to think it through some more and get some feedback from what others might think... mostly my mom.

I have until Monday... will let you guys know what happens.