posted by Paige on Uncategorized

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“So what’s new with you this week?” I ask the first of the four adult students squeezed into my cramped Tokyo classroom. His chair sits in the corner, squared in by a wedge of intense August sunlight. He mops his brow with a neatly folded handkerchief as he answers slowly, choosing each word with great care.

In turn, I ask each student some version of this question, stalling here and there to tease out the conversation and inwardly dancing with my own indecision. I could easily drop the plan for today’s lesson and just have a chat with them. Part of me leans toward that option out of the urge to avoid discomfort, but my curiosity gets the better of me and I ask them to pull out the packets I’d given them for homework the week before.

Before coming to class today they’ve read two newspaper articles—one chosen by me and one by a fellow student—and answered the corresponding comprehension questions I’d written out for them. They’re all advanced students, dedicated to learning English, and they’re here only because they enjoy it.

Still, like many Japanese students, they can sometimes become reserved to the point of total silence, fearful of saying anything incorrect or untoward. This is especially the case when the topic is controversial, and in the past when we’ve discussed politics or sexuality or Japan’s role in World War II, the room has filled with the kind of painful stillness that a conversation teacher tries to avoid at all costs.

Pairing them up, I direct their attention to the first article, the one I’ve chosen myself, and ask them to discuss it. They pause often to consult the article or my questions, keeping their eyes down, but for the most part their conversations move along at a relatively natural pace. Walking back and forth between them, I listen as unobtrusively as possible and make notes for feedback to give them later.

As we wrap up the first conversation, several of them turn to the next article—the one submitted by a student, and the source of my slightly nervous curiosity. My eyes find the headline upside-down on one student’s desk: Court allows transsexual to change her registered gender. I move them into new pairs and once again invite them into discussion, unsure of what to expect.

Standing back, I keep my eyes on my notes, not wanting to add to any discomfort they might be feeling. But within seconds their conversations start off engaged, animated, dynamic. I look up to see that they’re all leaning in toward one another, making full eye contact. They volunteer their own opinions and willingly, openly ask after those of their partners. Somewhat to my surprise, they all agree that this decision is right, that it treats Japan’s transsexuals with fairness.

Stepping back farther, I lean against the whiteboard, respect and admiration blossoming in my chest. I place my notes on my desk, forgetting them entirely, and just listen.