Kelly in Japan

Concluding

// March 12th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized

Yesterday I tagged along with my supervisor to hand back my tests in her class. It was held in the students’ classroom rather than the Language Lab (where all of my classes are held), so it was neat to get to see the students in their natural habitat. The classrooms are really small and really old-fashioned. We’re talking wooden desks with little pegs on the side on which the students hang their backpacks, crammed together 40 to a room, as well as dust … well, everywhere … No computers, heck, not even an overhead projecter. There wouldn’t be room.

My supervisor called the students one at a time to come receive their tests and answer keys, and after each one received their test he/she thanked me for teaching them! Their comments ranged from a bare “Thank you” to longer speeches like “I really enjoyed your class. It was a lot of fun. But I didn’t like the test.” I had to laugh at the truth in this last comment (see this post). I even got one “I love you!”

After the kids got their tests and had been instructed on the details like average/maximum grade, I was asked to give a short speech. I will have some of the students next year in my second-year class, but some will change to Science Course. I thanked them for being genki in my class and encouraged them to continue studying English and to enjoy learning for its own sake.

Then one of the boys, who is on the all-male cheerleading squad, led a (very loud) Japanese cheer for me. All the students clapped along, chanting “Gambare, Ke-ri” along with him. It was completely unexpected and so adorable! I was glad I got the opportunity to say bye to at least one class in this very Japanese fashion.

Keith and Sherry arrive tomorrow. We cleaned yesterday and will probably do some more tonight.

Grading Frenzy!

// March 4th, 2009 // 4 Comments » // Uncategorized

Yes, I still have a bunch of pictures from Hokkaido to go through. No (Mom), I haven’t done them yet. But I’ve had good reason!

So although February started out well, it soon devolved into a never-ending sickness. Not the bad flu-type illness I blogged about earlier — just a cold that wouldn’t leave. It hasn’t helped that the weather has been rainy and miserable for most of the month. However, with the help of a fortuitous trip to onsen, several days off, and the last of my American vitamins, I’ve managed to finally fight my way back to 85%.

The school year is winding down, and I celebrated by giving my poor ichinensei the hardest OC exam in the history of time. It wasn’t entirely my fault, but I still feel a little bad doling out 30s and 40s on a 70-point exam. However, I am assured that these types of low scores only serve to make the students study harder for the next exam. The ninensei exam went over a little better, though (again, not entirely by my design) it did incude a composition portion which I am now having to grade. My fabulous 3d system for grading multiple choice saved me on the 300+ ichinensei; and I’m using that extra time for ninensei grading. The only downside is that I’ve had the counting song stuck in my head for a week as I tally up the wrong answers.

This week is junior high entrance exams. We have nearly 400 junior high students at school for three days, taking examinations to enter my academically advanced high school. I am to help with the grading of these exams (again, composition). It sounds like a scary task, so they are bribing us with super fabulous bento lunches, snacks and sweets. It’s kind of like an all-night study session at Denny’s, but with rice crackers instead of pancakes.

How about that Ben? Guess he won’t be pulling a Snape.

Keith and Sherry will be visiting us in a couple of weeks. Kory has been planning lots of adventures for them, and we’re looking forward to showing them around our new home!

I changed the blog to a new layout. Not finished, yet, of course, but I decided it was time for a break and a blog. What do you think so far?

Final Exam Time

// February 21st, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized

With only a few days left before finals, this last week was crazy. All the ALTs I’ve talked to, including myself and Kory, and our Japanese coworkers were all super stressed by Wednesday, much less Friday. So though I still need to write a(nother) final this weekend, Saturday didn’t come a day too soon.

Last weekend was Valentine’s Day! Kory and I went to the movies, which, by the way, are really expensive here, and saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. It was the only movie showing in English (with Japanese subtitles), so we didn’t really have a choice. But it was actually pretty good, so everything worked out. After that we went to Shizuoka and hit up the Mexican restaurant there. I guess the third time is the charm, because they were actually open. We gorged ourselves on way too much Mexican food — not too romantic, but definitely a happy time.

Last night after I got off from work around 7:00, we rewarded ourselves for making it through the week by eating some Indian food, splurging on a crepe, and hanging out with friends. Today I slept in till 11 or so and then took off for a day of shopping. I got some new clothes, some spa-type goodies like honey soap and “refresh water,” and Starbucks. I also went to the bookstore and asked the worker for an easy “magical girl” genre comic book. This is what he produced. What is this buxom brunette doing that makes her magical? Well, I’ll have to let you know. I’ve made it through one page so far, with the assistance of the hiragana written beside the kanji and Google Translate. Thus far we have established that there is a magic test which I assume she will take. I got books 1 and 2, so that should keep me busy for a few years …

Ok, it’s time to relax. And maybe write that final.