Day 23: Chuck & I

This will be a short week, but also a very busy one. Today Chuck Sensei and I took over all of Mr. Yukita's English classes, and we will do the same until he returns from his trip to the United States. After a tasty meal including a grilled ham and cheese sandwich, fruit, and coffee, Naomi and I walked to school. I spent the first period of the day checking out the latest teaching jobs listing. So far, I have not had any interview offers. I am looking to apply for some more vacancies sometime this week, if I can find the time to do it here in Japan. I also backed up my computer files, because I take a lot of pictures here and I who hate to lose them.

It was hard tracking down Chuck before class, since he arrived shortly before our first class. We started off teaching English to the fourth graders in rooms thirteen and fourteen. The lesson for today went as follows:
1.) Greeting: "Good morning class. How are you today?"

2.) Prayer

3.) Numbers

3a.) Practice with _teen and _ty (ex. fourteen and forty)

4.) Number quiz

4a.) Recognition and recall/comprehension parts

5.) Time - practice reading clock

6.) "What do you do at __ o'clock?"

6a.) Response: "I study _____ at ___ o'clock."

7.) Review of V, TH, PH pronunciation sounds

8.) Practice with body parts

8a.) Students had to draw a monster with the given number of body parts (ex. three heads)

9.) Practice reciting daily routine

From the morning lessons it was easy to realize several things about teaching this level of students. First of all, it is important to give them a clear time limit for even simple tasks. This keeps the students on task and on track. For example, I simply count down from three, five, or ten, depending on the time I think they need for a step of an activity. Secondly, these students will repeat just about anything you say. If I say, "good job," after an activity, then they will all repeat: "good job!" All I can do is laugh really, but sometimes we keep it going: "Chuck is great"..."Ryan is smart"...etc. The students get a good laugh out of it as well.

The afternoon classes in rooms fifteen and sixteen were also with fourth grade students. The lesson remained pretty much the same throughout the day, with some minor adjustments for time management. It was a fun day teaching English. I think the next couple weeks will be a lot of fun and I will get a good amount of teaching opportunities.

I prepared for tomorrow's lessons after school. I have been getting some exercise somewhat regularly. Today I jogged to a nearby lake. There are about three blocks of city building before a small mountain, and then I jog a path over the mountain. Today I pushed myself a little harder and jogged through a long tunnel to the other side of the lake. The lake and the surrounding park are actually quite beautiful. There were a lot of turtles, birds, and other wildlife to see in the park. The lake is pretty small compared to those I am used to in Wisconsin, but it is a nice place to go.

Back home Sachiko had prepared an excellent dinner once again. We had Unagi (eel) on rice, shellfish soup, and some vegatables. I never thought that I would like eating eel, but I have had it many times here, and I like it a lot. It is always cooked and has some spices or a teriyaki sauce. Tonight the eel had teriyaki sauce on top of it. Sachiko also helped me read a handout I recieved regarding my trip with the thrid and fourth graders to Yamamoie (mountain school). Apparently we will be cooking a lot over a campfire and exploring the trails, so I will need the proper supplies. Another day down and another night of beautiful, deep sleep.