Last day of school before summer vacation

I had 5 classes today and 4 of them were final exams and speeches from students. It was quite a busy day and not one that I would have liked to end the semester with. But what could I do about that, since I was only responsible for one of the classes, well technically two, but since things got messed up a little bit it has been reduced to one.

The first class was the 11th grade. We did an activity about where their favorite place was and why. They only had 50 minutes to complete the whole activity and we were even stalled because a student had to give their final speech too. We didn’t have that much time to do everything, but we did the group work activity that I wanted them to get some practice before the real deal in September. I mean they were really pressed for time since I gave the other students in the 11th grade more time to start and to complete it. They were able to do a very good job and especially with the time that I gave them. It was better than I expected and everything ended perfectly, so I was glad. Then during the very last few minutes of class we listened to the CD, but didn’t pass out the lyric sheets because they just didn’t have the time to complete it. We did it for the Have you ever song in the rap book.

The second class was with the 8th grade was us hearing their show and tell speeches. They did fairly well, but just about the same as the other classes. Some took it very seriously and most just did their best. Some didn’t try very hard though and that was a let down since this class is one of the better behaved students in the 8th grade. They did fine and were able to complete what they needed to. They were smart enough to understand what they were saying and matched the words with the correct grammar and gestures. So they have the communication part nailed down. We didn’t give them any hints on the board to help guide them to recite their speech, so they really had it harder than the other students did.

Third period was with 10th grade and we were listening to their demonstration speeches. They also weren’t as ready as they could have been. They were in a bad situation because we didn’t accomplish the things that we needed to do before to get them ready for the class. The schedule change really messed up the way this class was taught and it showed in their scores. Some of the students were getting their papers corrected for the first time and were required to memorize it in the first 10 minutes of class. That’s a pretty difficult situation to be in. I felt responsible even though I shouldn’t have been. Since I was leading the class and then I had to do the grading for their speeches. We had a little mix-up during that time too. Overall, I think that the students did well with the lack of preparation that they received from the teachers, including me. They could have been a little bit more responsible and to let one of the three teachers know that there was a mix-up somewhere, but I guess it’s not their fault either. I had missed one of the classes because of a schedule change so for a time, I wasn’t leading the class and I had no idea what was covered and what wasn’t covered, and I think that was the time that everything got screwed up.

During lunchtime, there were also more tests being given by me and the other English teachers. I had to go downstairs to give two students the 9th grade directions test. They had it tough because I really wasn’t ready to give it. I had chosen some random place and they had to tell me how to get there using a map that I provided them. They did ok, nothing to be proud of, but then it was just like the other students in their grade level too. We were going to try to do it in the computer lab but there was another test being given in there, which I’m not sure I was supposed to be there or not.

Fifth period was with 9th graders kiku and we also did a test in this class. We did it on the topic of directions. So we passed out the papers for all the students to follow and mark. They are a very high level class, but just with a bad attitude. I’m not sure why that is though. It’s very different from last year, when they were in the 8th grade. Of course they were being a little whiny since they have their final today and it’s something that they aren’t used to being able to do. So it’s a bit of a stretch for them. But it’s something that they can do, so it’s not too big of a deal. I would expect a bigger hissy fit from the other 9th grade classes. Overall they did very well and I didn’t see too many bad scores.

Sixth period is with the 9th grade fuji, we pretty much did the same thing. I made the listening part a bit too easy for these girls though. I spoke really slowly, when I should have spoken a little faster. So they averaged higher scores than the other classes did. Not to say that they aren’t already smart, since they are, but it was a little too easy for them. I should have known about that and could have increased the difficulty somewhere else on the test. I think that the CD version would have been too fast, and my version was too slow, so I think that next semester I will try to make a CD for the test being given, that way it will be of a moderate rate and something that could clearly be understood.

I stuck around school for a little bit because it was my last day. I talked to some teachers that sat around me and then did more cleaning and planning for the next semester. I really wanted to get ahead of the game and started planning out my midterms and finals. I think that I already had the plan finished in my head and then I will start to get into the more nitty-gritty work by expanding on the worksheets that I will give out as part of a pre-work paper, to ensure that they will do very well with the tools that I provided them. Since I don’t use a textbook, I’m a bit more limited what I can provide them on resources, but I’m not limited on something that’s very strict on structure and I could allow them to be creative in their English. I’m all for them learning in the way that they learn and not particularly the way that I teach them.

I also took some time to study some Japanese before I left school. I think that its important to show that I’m working hard and I’m going to be improving with time. I was talking to some people about what I will need to do for the Okinawa trip and when the next time they will expect to see me. I haven’t heard much about the trip to Hakone over summer vacation yet, but I’m sure that more details will come to me later. They always do, but I’m easy-going, so when I get it, I get it. I think that I’ll probably get a call from the teachers that are still at school or something.