This is how my job will change at the start of the new school year (in April):
- Consecutive Days Off: Since one of my schools requires me to work Saturdays, I get a weekday off instead (and Sundays). I was offered Mondays for the current school year, but since there were so many national holidays on Mondays this year I didn't take it -- I'd have ended up with less time off than everyone else, and it seemed like a good idea to break the work week up by taking Wednesdays instead. It's worked out pretty well, but the one day weekend thing can be frustrating sometimes -- I often don't feel like I've caught up on my rest before going back to work. This time around, I requested Mondays.
- Fridays in the Office: Currently on Fridays I teach English Conversation to poorly behaved (bordering on out-of-control) seventh graders in the middle of nowhere. This will be replaced with a day in my company's office, where I will be part of the creative team that is putting together a system of English Conversation class materials. I talked with the coordinator for over an hour, and his enthusiasm -- for both the project as its own entity and it's potential contribution to revolutionizing the way English language education is done in Japan -- was inspiring and motivating. I'm really excited about this addition to my work tasks. I like making things, I like editing, I'm excited about education -- and I get to work with other people who will have new ideas and perspectives. The more I type the more overly optimistic this sounds, but even so this is definitely a majorly positive change in my routine. The worst day of my week is being replaced by a new challenge that is much better suited to my personality and interests.
- Make New Friends, and Keep the Old: At my main school I'll be moving up a grade with my most of my students (from seventh to eighth grade). This means I can't wash away our first impressions; I can't re-invent myself as a strict disciplinarian or someone with neat chalkboard handwriting, but it also means not having to say goodbye. We can relax with each other and continue to build on the framework we've developed. At my other school, however, I won't move up a grade -- I'll continue to teach seventh grade English conversation. I'm pretty happy about this, because I can reuse and fine-tune my lesson plans from this school year, building on the experience I've gained so far.
- Compressed Teaching Hours: I'll be teaching nearly the same number of teaching hours I have now, but in four days instead of five; my main school is increasing me from 11 to 14 teaching hours. This will mean busier days, but having settled into a routine there and gradually developed more effective methods of planning and time management, I don't expect it to be much of a burden. Two of the classes being added to my schedule are the same as three I'm already teaching, meaning I won't have to do any extra planning for those.
- More Work Days: Right now when my schools don't have classes for whatever reason (school events, testing, etc.), I often (but not always) get an extra day off. In the future I'll be required in the office these days. However, this shouldn't encroach on my vacation periods unreasonably -- my boss seems accommodating on that front, and I'm still guaranteed a lengthy summer vacation. Ah, the life of a teacher.
- Pay Raise: Because my overall work load is increasing, I'm getting a raise -- 8%. Not too shabby, eh?
