This Month's (November) Satisfaction Level

I made a lot of activities for my high school this month. Some were big hits and some were just average. The rating of course depend on the satisfaction level of my JTEs, which, I have learned to decipher. If they really liked it, they won’t stop praising it till the lesson for all the sections is over. If they didn't like it, they’d say something like “hmmmm so, well that was a good activity but maybe it’s too difficult for the students.” Don’t you just love how polite they can be?

There is Joy everyday…

In my opinion, the best joy in the life of a teacher is when she knows that she is able to effect a positive change in her students. Before I came to Japan to study, I was a teacher at the university. I have seen many students fail and pass my courses. I saw them graduate college and high school. I saw in their eyes the dreams that they have and the will to achieve their respective dreams. Although compared to elementary, college level students are already a bit cynical and jaded by the realities of life but there is still that spark of youth, idealism and enthusiasm. That spark is what I always look for whenever I enter a class.

Now that I am teaching junior high school and elementary school students in Japan, I can see a lot of sparks every time. My heart jumps whenever I see enthusiasm for learning from my students especially in the elementary and kindergarten. But, I am most moved when I see a bit of light where there was none. It is like seeing a weak, drooping plant suddenly springing to life with the water it has just received.

Dealing with children of ages 3 to 16, I can see varying levels of enthusiasm. Sometimes, I see extremes in just one class. One day, they’d go through my class like zombies and then the next they’d be like wild animals suddenly out of their cages and of course on good days, they’d be well behaved, participative and cooperative in class. Whatever day it is, I always try to see something that would make my day. Even just one student who would stay after class to talk to me in gibberish English or even if there is only one hand raised out of 30, that is already enough to lift me up. I refuse to be dragged to a sea of desperation and negativism because I noticed that if I consent to it, I’d slip back to speaking Japanese to the kids which of course, would defeat the purpose of me trying to teach them English.

Kindergarten / Hoikuen 1 - Jaaa oppai misete!

There are two types of preschools here, the yochien and the hoikuen. I have been to both to teach English to the kids. Well, actually, not strictly to teach but to get the children to be accustomed to foreigners. Hoikuens are bigger preschools and they have more teachers because they are like daycares where working parents can leave their children (2-months-old to 5 years old) from 8 in the morning to as late as 7 in the evening.

Last Friday, I went to a hoikuen. It is at the eastern-most part of the city near the port. I was pleasantly surprised when I found that the community "bus" that goes to that are is actually a van which is mostly used by grannies thus one enjoys their chatter as the van cruise along the port with its music playing so that everybody would know that the bus is near.

Anyway, I was welcomed by the Enchou sensei (Principal) who I later learned, is just a year younger than my mom. She gave me a tour of the place and told me that it is a first time for the school to have a visit from an ALT.

The day started with the morning greetings outside the school. And after I have introduced myself, we did the morning exercise to the tune of Totoro's "Arukou!", with about 10 children hanging on me, shouting my name. Oh dear... it is all so cute and heartwarming.


Unchi Watching anyone?

My first class was with the 4 year-olds where we played fruit basket. The teachers had me teach the children how to pronounce the colors right (that is, orange is "orange" and not "orenji" or grapes are "grapes" and not "gure-pu").I had the children close their fists at the last syllable. Even the teachers did it and I can say it effectively removed the hanging "tsu" and "to" in "furutsu basketto".

The second class was with the 3 year-olds where we played "Trip to Jerusalem" and I used my English songs. Then, because there was still time, I had them follow me around just chanting "walk", "sit down","stop", "stand", "turn around" and "clap". Boy they went wild when I suddenly say "sit down" while they were still standing up. Then the classing "head, shoulders, knees and toes". By the end of the 30 minutes, they were already humming the song and doing the gestures.

The third class, where I spent most of my time until it was time to go home was with the 5 year olds. They are more behaved and obedient. We did the color bingo, some more songs, gestures, fooling around and ate lunch together. After lunch, it was a free time for the kids where they can do whatever interest them. Some grabbed their crayons and drew. For a while, I stayed with the drawing groups showing my ABC flashcards and had the ABC song played in the CD.

A budding artist!

Then I went to the more active group who decided to play house which turned into a restaurant and I was their customer. When I told them I don't have money to pay for what I ate, they laughed and went through a lot ruckus. Then I asked if I can just wash the plates instead and they said no, it won't do. Then the 2 boys who are ever so clever told me with naughty twinkles in their eyes, "Jaaaa okane nai kara, oppai misete!" (Well because you have no money, show us your breasts!) My mouth went, "whhhhaat???" And that started a "breast-themed" discussion until it was time for everybody to go out and do some physical activities.

In between the English, fun and excitement are some squabbles, tears and scrapes. Regardless of nationality, children are the same. I had a nice chat with the principal before I went home and we talked about the joys and rigors of parenting and teaching and English education. The more I am with these kids, the more I believe that they are the real "国際人"- kokusaijin or literally translated as "International people" defined as "people whose minds are open to international community". Their innocence and warmth know no color, go beyond any language barrier and discrimination. I think that adults should go back to the basics and learn from the children. And thus I think that English learning should begin at that age too.

And at a different note, the more I visit these preschools, the more I am motivated to build one!

Elementary School 2

My students at one elementary school are going to Tokyo for their year-end school trip next week. And because Tokyo to most of these kids would mean seeing/meeting a lot more foreigners than they are used to, the teachers thought it would be a good practice for them to practice their English conversation skills. So instead of the usual Eigo No-to today, I helped them with their dialogues. If you are in Asakusa in the morning of the 25th and groups of children suddenly approach you and ask what your favorite food or place or how long will you be in Japan, I hope that you will gamely answer their questions. They were so eager to practice their question/conversation with me that I didn`t have the heart to tell them that we don't usually say Hi, what’s your favorite and Bye to a stranger.But well, I hope those unsuspecting foreigners will find humor in the situation.

One of the students asked me last week what my favorite Disney character is. She said she has a lot of money and will buy me an omiyage when they go to Disneyland. It is against policy to accept any gift or favor from the children and I wouldn`t want to not accept her gift when they come back so today, I had a little chat with the teacher-in-charge and warned him about the student's plan. The teacher smiled and understood.

My classes today were pretty good and all of the HRTs (HomeRoom Teachers) were eager to participate in the lessons.The children had fun shouting numbers and just plain fooling around with each new vocabulary that was introduced to them.

Priceless....

The target sentence for today`s lesson was, “When I was two, my sister was born.” And as usual students were told to take down everything that they were able to catch from the conversation. Of course, sino pa ba ang @ag-uusapan kundi buhay ko. I had to bring pictures of my sister and my family too.

Seen in one of the papers:
“When I was 2, my sister was boring.”

– Hehehehe if my memory serves me right, she was indeed!

Top of the World

I don’t know what is in Carpenters but it seems that the students find their songs easy to follow. I was informed that our 3rd year class began singing their song since April and they are already on their third song. That being, Top of the World. They now dance and sway to Mr. Postman and Thank you for the Music. It is just so good to see them singing English songs which they really understand and find fun in doing so too. This school is so musical that it seems as if all of the students are gifted with beautiful voices…

The answer of the day during our crossfire:
Me:
If today was the last day here on earth, what will you do?
Answer: “I will play soccer!”

----There goes one die-hard soccer fan!

Priceless....

Crossfire answer of the day:
If the last money that you have is only 500yen, what will you buy?
“I will buy orange juice!”

---Either he didn’t get the question (or I wasn't clear too) or he just loves orange juice so much!