During my commute to work I spend time memorizing flashcards. I can go through about 85 flashcards if I’m not distracted by the scenery or the other occupants of the train. Once the train arrives in Takasago I walk to school full of smiles and joy, and it’s nice to get some of those smiles returned to me.
At work I settle into my desk, say good morning to everyone, and spend the first forty minutes before the morning meeting preparing worksheets if I need them, checking that my classroom is ready to go, and and then concentrating as hard as I can to try to understand what everyone says during the morning meetings.
Two classes today, and they both went well. It’s the complimenting lesson, and today one of the girls complimented me by saying “Bryan, that’s a nice body you have.” Hey thanks, I guess you are figuring out the compliment thing just fine. Next lesson.
I also spent a period with Miyake sensei, working with her on her English transcription drills. Kuniko does these as well – they listen to English audio, then write down what they hear. It’s a good way to develop your listening skills, and Miyake sensei did a great job with hers. I can tell she’s doing much better. She’s gearing up for the upcoming TOEIC test – a standardized English exam. Let’s hope she does well on this one.
At the end of school I was working at my desk and watched the math teacher, Ueishi sensei talking sternly with one of the students from his homeroom class. Then he asked another teacher to take over talking with him. This is pretty normal – let the kid have it for about five to ten minutes, and then have another teacher jump in and chat with him. They do a good cop, bad cop routine too. The strange thing about this time was that the teacher he passed the kid on to was me.
I sat him down and chatted him up in English. He was gulping and nervous, but he did fine. Ueishi sensei sat behind him observing, and we talked for about five minutes. The kid did OK, considering he was under pressure. My best guess as to why they had him talk to me was that he is interested in English, maybe he told Ueishi sensei he wanted to be an English teacher someday, maybe he was complaining that he couldn’t afford English conversation classes. Anyway, I was happy to chat with him, and I think it was a treat for the kid rather than a punishment that they usually dole out. Ueishi sensei thought it was great.
Soon after five o’clock I was down the road headed for home. I did some review flashcards on the train, bought some prizes for tomorrow’s class at Ito Yokado, and then came home and made rice and kimchee for dinner.
Tomorrow I’m going to meet up at the yakitori after work, so that should be a lot of fun. I can’t believe that it’s already the middle of the week. Time is flying by.
