Not an overly exciting week this time, but I thought I’d post some of the highlights.
I had my first lessons at kurako on Tuesday. Kurako is a technical college, providing courses such as fashion design, electronics and mechanics. It is very similar to our TAFE and apprenticeship courses in Australia. Around 80% of these students are males and most will go straight into jobs rather than university.
I must say, having a class filled with 17-18 year old males is rather daunting – especially when you’re the only female in the room!! However, their energy (while it could be considered rude) was kind of refreshing. Although their English skills may be lower than my other visiting schools, they have an unexpected enthusiasm to communicate in English. One pair spent nearly the entirety of the lesson trying to translate a sentence they wished to tell me – ‘you must be very rugged if you are a gymnast’. I laughed at the very rough translation, but the boys got a real ‘kick’ out of it!
Attempted a very risky lesson at my base school this week with my second year class. Their task was to work as a team and navigate their blindfolded team member through obstacles using English directions only. I think I laughed more than the students. What was most amusing was when the boys gave each other false directions!! This was a great activity that I’d recommend for any second language classroom.
ESS (English Speaking Society) club also started this week. However, it didn’t go as expected. At my base school, the ESS teacher was absent and I was suddenly left to lead the club activities on my own! A very scary experience, but the students were patient enough. At a different school, the ESS teacher informed me she had a meeting and asked if I would be happy to take the beginning of the club activities. I’d already done this before, so I agreed to start the club that afternoon. Well, I think the teacher appeared after her meeting for a total of 5 minutes before disappearing again to never return!!! I was afraid I may have upset her or not met her expectations for the club activities. However, the students were highly engaged and all communicating in English. It was fantastic!! I felt it was really successful. I checked with the ESS teacher after club activities had finished. She apologized for her early departure – she had much work to catch-up on. She also informed me that the previous ALT just organised all the activities and no questions were asked. Well, this was far beyond my expectations for ESS!
The weekend slowly came and tonight was officially party time. I had a staff enkai (drinking party) with my base school held at a gorgeous hotel in Soja. I don’t think I’ve ever drunk so much beer in my life! Japanese beer seems to be weaker than Australian beer, but definitely more pleasant. The most nerve-wracking part was having to stand-up and say an unprepared speech to all the staff – in Japanese of course! I stumbled my way through, not really knowing what to say. They applauded after nearly every sentence I said; it was kind of amusing!
Now, I need to finish packing. I have a 3-day weekend and a trip to Kyoto prefecture planned. I am finally visiting my friend Erika, who I haven’t seen in quite some time! Early start and a long journey ahead.
Jya matta!
