Actually, the intros have been really fun. I put a lot of thought into them - when I was still working in CO we set up some great shots out at excavations and stuff that have really impressed the kids. I've printed oh, 20 or so pictures, and laminated them, and then I've got a bunch of "realia" - postcards, a map, a flag, bumper stickers, etc that I brought from home to show. I also came up with a game to keep them paying attention during my speech - a bingo game where they have to guess the answer to various questions about me (where am I from? how old am I? what's my hobby? etc). The answers are revealed during the presentation and at the end, if they got bingo they get an "American" sticker. Which is just one of a bunch of stickers in English I brought from home. Stickers are one of the best bribery tools in JHS - the kids go bananas for them. How a 14 year old boy can be so excited about a sticker is beyond me, but hey, this is Japan!
Anyway, my first self intro was on Tuesday, for the ichi nen sei (1st grade) at MJH during the 1st period. I was a bit nervous, being my first "real" class, and I had no idea how it would go over with the kids. But they really liked it! The greatest ooohs and ahhhhs and sugoi! (amazing!!!) were in response to the pics of the front end loader and the track hoe (thanks go out to Chandler and Darren for the help on those!), and of course the motorcycle pics. I really surprised them I think - I doubt many people with my background end up in the Japanese countryside teaching. And people are always surprised when they hear about the motorcycles ^_^
I eat lunch at MJH with the students in their classrooms. A student will come to the teacher's room to escort me, and carry my tray. It's fantastic, the service around here. heh heh. This month I am eating with the san nen sei (3rd grade) students.
The students are still a bit shy, esp the boys, so conversation was a bit difficult. But I did manage a few "what is this?" and "how do you say cucumber in Japanese?" type questions. The highlight of the meal came when the ni nen sei class found some kind of plastic wrap in their chicken, which was cause for excitement and chatter, and the san nen sei had a hell of a time trying to explain it to me, lol "dangerous chicken! be careful! watch out!" I had to ask Tom later what happened to get the full story.
In the afternoon I did the intro for the ni nen sei class, which Tom teaches. And he was awesome enough to steal my camera and take some pics ^_^
The Rockies section has been a big hit - they're crazy for baseball here
Both of my JTEs at MJH said my intro was really good and thanked me for the class ^_^ The biggest compliment I've received is that you can't tell it's my first time teaching. Not sure if they're just being nice or if it's sincere, but I take it as a compliment ^_^
Wednesday I was at KJH. At 8 am I was informed that at 815 I would be addressing the students in the gym... good thing they gave me plenty of warning, wouldn't want to have to give a speech on the fly or anything. They specifically instructed me to do it in English, which actually kinda disappointed me since I got such rave reviews for the Japanese speech at MJH.
So, at 815 everybody headed to the gym. I suppose since I missed the opening ceremony there, they felt the need to do like a little welcome ceremony or something. I felt like such a celebrity... and forgot my camera. D'oh! I am hoping I can get a copy of some of the ones kyoto-sensei took, but we'll see. It's amazing what not speaking the language and knowing they're all excited to see you will do for your self confidence - I haven't been nervous once with all of these speeches and lectures. After I spoke, one of the students came up onstage and read a speech he had prepared to welcome me to the school. Awwwwww! "welcome to Kuguno, we want to know you and be friends, and to learn about America", it was SO SWEET. I loved it ^_^
First class of the day at KJH was the san nen sei conversation class, which at KJH I am in charge of. I had hoped my JTE would give me a little help in leading it, being that I'd never done one before and I had no idea how they went. Instead, she did a short warm up (what's the date? how's the weather?) and then looked and me and said "ok!".
...yeah. So, we did some conversing. The class went ok, I suppose. I think I can do better. But not bad for my first try.
Did two intros after the conversation class, for the ichi nen sei and the ni nen sei. The classes at KJH are a little different from MJH; slightly bigger and the students are harder to impress. Which may or may not be because there are more of them. At any rate, the ni nen sei baseball boys are a riot and I think will be the main source of my entertainment, and headaches, at KJH this year.
Lunch at KJH is in the cafeteria with the students. I forgot to mention earlier that the entire operation at the schools is run by the kids - they dish out the food and do the cleanup. Have I mentioned the system here is incredible?
Once again, I sat with the san nen sei. And I got to sit across from the boy who read the speech to me at my introduction in the gym - he really likes English and is quite good at it. Which made conversing at lunch slightly easier, but by no means a breeze. "how was your summer vacation?" "do you play sports?" "what kind of books do you like?" "is this a grape?"
I did get asked how old I am, and when I said 27 she said I was so young! Automatic A for that one. ^_^
I didn't help out with soji at KJH as I couldn't spit out in Japanese "where are the brooms?", and my JTE was MIA, so I just wandered around and popped in on students while they cleaned. During the free time after cleaning I ended up with the ni nen sei, where the boys were practicing some kind of song with colored cards they flip in unison.
Also had some more hijinks by the baseball boys as they introduced themselves as various vegetables and proceeded to tackle each other, and I dubbed them "crazy", which they liked ^_^
Next up is my first day at Miya Elementary. Be prepared for an overload of cuteness!!
1 comment:
Wow, I think American middle school kids might let you eat the plastic wrap just to laugh at your reaction. These kids tried to protect you!
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