Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Thursday, February 07, 2013
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Elementary
Good evening!
It's been a cold cold week in Shiga. It's nothing compared to Upstate-NY, but that doesn't mean I haven't been huddling underneath a blanket all week. I've been running as quickly as possible between one heated room to the next, trying to avoid the chilly hallways.
Today was an elementary school day! 5 days a week I teach at my base school, which is a Junior High, but once a week I spend half a day at elementary school teaching 5th and 6th graders. On these days I also eat lunch with a pre-determined class, which today was 1st grade, class 2.
Fact: small children are adorable.
Fact: Japanese children are especially adorable.
.... this, coupled with...
Fact: White people are pretty non-existent in Japan.
When you put this all together, what does it add up to?
Annica becomes a celebrity at lunch time.
Seriously, I "signed" about 10 notebooks. AUTOGRAPHED. They should keep them. Some day they might be good for kindling. I also read aloud every one of the kids "Engrish" shirts, recited the names of many household objects, and shared my love of Pokemon.
Today reminded me that children are pretty fantastic. If I could get each of these kids' signatures, I would do it. They have so much energy and happiness. Their outlook on the world is so young and innocent. Just the fact that they couldn't stump me with an English name for something was mind boggling to them. "You really ARE an English teacher!!" (Never mind the fact that I speak the language natively).
One boy wanted to know how I was getting home. When I said, "by car", he seemed surprised. "America?!"
"No, I live in Minakuchi."
"........!" <------- SHOCKCONFUSION!
My sixth grade classes have been going less smoothly, and it's mainly because I'm not a novelty to them just by existing anymore. I'm that person that they know who teaches them English. I love that I've gotten to know them, and today made me realize that I need to work harder to make sure that I keep their class just as fun and exciting as it used to be. If it means that I have to be over the top and work twice as hard to find good material for them, then so be it. I am determined to not let their apathy towards English continue! And not to let myself be apathetic as well.
Although I didn't have too much time to ponder my lunch, I was able to snap a picture before I went to the classroom.
It's been a cold cold week in Shiga. It's nothing compared to Upstate-NY, but that doesn't mean I haven't been huddling underneath a blanket all week. I've been running as quickly as possible between one heated room to the next, trying to avoid the chilly hallways.
Today was an elementary school day! 5 days a week I teach at my base school, which is a Junior High, but once a week I spend half a day at elementary school teaching 5th and 6th graders. On these days I also eat lunch with a pre-determined class, which today was 1st grade, class 2.
Fact: small children are adorable.
Fact: Japanese children are especially adorable.
.... this, coupled with...
Fact: White people are pretty non-existent in Japan.
When you put this all together, what does it add up to?
Annica becomes a celebrity at lunch time.
Seriously, I "signed" about 10 notebooks. AUTOGRAPHED. They should keep them. Some day they might be good for kindling. I also read aloud every one of the kids "Engrish" shirts, recited the names of many household objects, and shared my love of Pokemon.
Today reminded me that children are pretty fantastic. If I could get each of these kids' signatures, I would do it. They have so much energy and happiness. Their outlook on the world is so young and innocent. Just the fact that they couldn't stump me with an English name for something was mind boggling to them. "You really ARE an English teacher!!" (Never mind the fact that I speak the language natively).
One boy wanted to know how I was getting home. When I said, "by car", he seemed surprised. "America?!"
"No, I live in Minakuchi."
"........!" <------- SHOCKCONFUSION!
My sixth grade classes have been going less smoothly, and it's mainly because I'm not a novelty to them just by existing anymore. I'm that person that they know who teaches them English. I love that I've gotten to know them, and today made me realize that I need to work harder to make sure that I keep their class just as fun and exciting as it used to be. If it means that I have to be over the top and work twice as hard to find good material for them, then so be it. I am determined to not let their apathy towards English continue! And not to let myself be apathetic as well.
Although I didn't have too much time to ponder my lunch, I was able to snap a picture before I went to the classroom.
WHALE! I ate whale today.
That is all.
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