Another better than average day

The day started off slow and I thought it was going to be a precursor for the day. When I got to the station, I ran to get on the train only to realize that the train wasn’t leaving. It was actually not moving for another 10 minutes. Apparently, there was smoke coming from another train on the line and a lot of the trains at that time were delayed. I was lucky that I left my house earlier and I didn’t get stuck there. I wasn’t late for school either, which was a good thing.

Third period today was with 7th grade kiku, which is the first time that I’ve seen or met any of them. I realized that I don’t like teaching 7th grade last year, but I think that hasn’t changed much in the course of a year. All we did today was self-introductions and answering questions about ourselves. The teachers introduced themselves first and it was basic things like name and where we are from. Then the students had a chance to ask us questions. We usually get the same ones like, are you married? Do you have a boyfriend / girlfriend? How old are you? Do you have any brothers or sisters? What foods do you like? This class was not an exception. But they did ask me a hard question that I wasn’t prepared for. They asked me who is your favorite Japanese celebrity? This would be a slam dunk in the states with my friends, but I was debating what I should tell them. In the end I gave them Utada Hikaru, since she still is my number 1. We didn’t get around to much of anything else in English study wise, but CP did have a chance to take pictures of her teaching and of the students. She wants to remember their names, but I doubt that she will be able to the way that she did that. I think she might have broken a few school rules in front of the students, but I didn’t say anything and neither did the other teacher in the room, although we both saw it.

Fourth period today was with 8th grade ran and all of the students are mixed up from last year. You have some really great English speakers in the class, while also not having such a high level. They got a lot of Japanese translation from the Japanese English teacher. They really didn’t need so much, though, but since the Japanese English teacher is new at oral communication, she did that. She really didn’t have to though.

Fifth period was with another 8th grade class, yuri and we pretty much did the same thing as the last class. During lunch I talked to the Japanese English teacher, since she sits next to me and I told her that she didn’t need to translate so much. I think it is better for the students to get more language instruction in Native English rather than have things translated into Japanese.

I ended the day with 11th grade kiku. They are a very high level class and I really enjoyed teaching them. I left out one thing that would have made the pacing and timing perfect. But it still went very well. It was easy for them, but it’s only the first day. I will require more from them as time goes on. I went according to the plan I mapped out for them. I think that it will be a good year with the 11th graders. Things went really well and I’m happy about it. I went over why to learn English, which transitioned nicely with the new topic. I also reviewed the topics that we covered last year in 10th grade. The class rules and all the silencers were pretty easy to get through and didn’t take that much time. The timing in this class was a little off, which really bothered me since I had some things to fill in that time, that I should have done in the beginning and didn’t so I let some things run on too long.

After class, the Japanese English teacher mentioned that the students were good in that class, but it got me wondering if it only stopped there with the students? I did make it interesting for them and I believe that everyone was participating and active. They learned some new things too and it appeared that they enjoyed it, which is probably something new for them in Oral Communication. I’m not sure if it was an indirect compliment or if there is something I need to work on to improve. It left me a bit confused afterwards.

After school, there was a bit of club today. We stayed after and played Spell-ominos. They talked a little bit about what they will do for club recruitment. I think that some of the people really have no idea what is going on with the club and everything that goes on. It’s hard for them to consider the ideas and thoughts of the students and I think that leads to the low membership. The green grade teachers went to go see a comedy show tonight too. I wasn’t invited though, which I thought was weird since I’m in the green grade. I might go with the blue grade since I usually do things with them, but maybe I might not go at all.
I had dinner and watched TV till late night. I realized that Friday nights are one of the best nights to watch TV.