This is part 3 of my series: Five things I’ve learned about myself living in Japan Click here for part 1 and here for part 2 And now Part 3 Most everyday, by the time I get to work, I’m either a case study in apathy, nauseous from the obscenities I’d endured moments earlier or, on a [...]
I was wrong about Satou-kun. I thought he was the type that liked to remain in the shadows, be the right hand of da man. Be that reliable, capable, dependable, loyal soldier, willing to not only carry out assignments but adept enough to anticipate the needs of his leader before they arise. I remember I likened him to Bob [...]
This conversation took place between me and a student last night in a cafe in Yokohama: Student: So, I have some news. Me: What is it? Student: My company is sending me to New York at the end of August! Me: Really? That’s great news! Student: Is it? Me: Well, yeah. Aren’t you excited? Student: [...]
“Do you like to make lessons for our classes?” I asked Yoshida-sensei making sure my smile was intact. She flinched and said, “Unnnn chotto….” (well, kinda, sorta…) which I’ve learned is as strong a ”no” as you’re gonna get sometimes in Japan. But I treated it like a half-hearted yes. “Well,” I said, keeping upbeat. “I really like making [...]
When I first started working for this company I was told that they hired teachers for Elementary, Junior High and High Schools and was asked which I preferred. I’d told them anything but an Elementary school was ok. I’d had my fill of toddlers and pre-teen kids during my tenure at Nova. So, naturally when I received my first [...]
What can I say? It aint all Manzai and Kawaii kids… Yesterday a woman from the Board of Education came to observe me teach. She’s a nice woman, been at her job for a long time. Not Japanese, I don’t think, but she’s been here so long you can hardly tell she’s not from here. [...]
The day’s grammar point was: I’m too something to do something or I’m so something that I can’t do something. My instructions to the class: Make pairs and prepare a skit using the following guidelines, but feel free to expand beyond it. Let your imaginations run wild: Student A: Hey _____________ , let’s do something [...]
I have two third-year students who, over the course of the past three years, have made it their prime directive to shock and amaze me…and their escapades have escalated with each passing year. Just try to imagine Abbott and Costello, then picture them together as Junior High School students in the 21st century. Now picture them as [...]
Yet more pics from graduation day… Don’t let their smiley faces fool ya! This is the Girl’s Basketball team and they play to win. They can do anything but dunk. I ended up on the floor (and so did they) a number of times. We played at least once a week…I think I will miss [...]
…So, with Nanpa eliminated as a motivating force for study I moved on to the motivation that has given me the lowest level of gratification. Nevertheless, the hope of doing it effectively someday still springs eternal: Retaliation! In English, I have a whole arsenal of expletives at my disposal for use in those situations where [...]
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