Lunch at my special needs SHS

Since I first came on the JET Programme, I've taught at five different special needs schools at senior and junior high levels in Osaka City - and I must say, teaching English to and spending time with these kids is such an amazing experience.

The teacher to student ratio is quite different than the normal Japanese classroom, where many junior high classes have about 40 students, with one JTE and one ALT. But special needs classes tend to be smaller, with three or four teachers for ten students. The teachers also know their students very well, too, and write a journal entry every day about each student so their parents can keep up with what's happening. Because of this relationship, the students are generally very kind and sweet, and from my entire time teaching them, they're always great and genki students!

I have to say, one of my favorite times to spend with students besides teaching is during lunch.

Today I was invited to eat lunch with my JTE's class, and noticed lunch was the same, in the sense that how it's done the same way at special needs schools.

Lunches are delivered to the school, and usually the students and teachers, while donning aprons and hair nets and gloves, go off to retrieve the lunch: most of the time being rice, a side dish, some yogurt or bread, and a glass of milk. Each student has a role to get something, even the silverware. It's a team effort, and the students keep tabs on each other making sure everyone does their part: setting up the lunch mats, putting down the silverware, making sure tables are clean, and so on. And contrary to thought that the lunch may not be that great if it's like cafeteria-style food from an American elementary or high school - it's actually quite tasty. (I'd have to say my favorite is curry rice.)

Portions are served by the students as well, and sometimes if there's extra food or glass of milk, janken is played and the winner gets the extra food prize. At every school I've been, whenever bread was served, there was always a popular request to have it toasted. I really wish I could do that at school at home, to be honest!

Students are called up in a certain order (that I still have no idea how that's done) to get their lunch tray, and no one is expected to eat until every student has their lunch and is seated. Then, a student who is chosen can commence the meal by requesting (in either Japanese, or English if an ALT is in the classroom) everyone to put their hands together, and say, Itadakimasu! Let's eat!

Generally during this time, I try to eat as quickly as possible, since it's also Q&A time for students to ALTs, as many special needs students have never had the opportunity to speak with ALTs before or people from other countries, at all. The conversations are very laid back and relaxed, and the teachers are quite friendly, curious, and anxious to join in the conversation, too. Even if you don't speak Japanese, students are more than happy to help teach you some. It's also a chance for those who were in your class to review what they learned that day.

Once you, your students and teachers finished dining, there's also the strict system of organizing the trays, silverware, trash, and recycling of glass bottles used to drink the milk, and if even one mistake is made, the students call each other out on it. (Makes me wish students who clean their schools would do that too, but that's an entry for another day..) At this point, the students are pretty ecstatic, mainly because of what happens after lunch: recess and free time!