Yes, Shinobu-chan, there is a Santa Claus
Today I had my last class of the semester with my AJHS 1st year students, so I decided we would do something fun and cultural rather than studying, and we made Christmas cards. I printed up some coloring book style cards and made the kids write "Merry Christmas" themselves in English, which is how I got away with it, I think. Since I didn't have a lot to do, I just wandered around and looked at my students' artwork, which some of them were very serious about. They're good kids, and it was nice to see them having fun with it.
At one point, my most genki students, who had all clustered in the back of the room (as they are wont to do), called me over and prattled at me in Japanese. They seem to have a theory that I actually do speak Japanese, and I'm just pretending not to in order to make them learn English. If only I were that clever! Finally, they resorted to the limited success they would get from an electronic translator, resulting in two questions. The first was, "Becky-sensei! Santa everywhere?" This could have meant either, "Do people everywhere believe in Santa?" or "Does Santa go everywhere in the world?" So, answering that one was pretty easy. Next was a question they were very excited and adamant about. "Becky-sensei! Trust Santa?!" "... What?" "Trust Santa???" While I was perplexed, the appropriate answer seemed to be yes, so that's what I said. They erupted into excitement, including oohing and aaahing and shaking my hand.
It was at this point that I realized that I had just told my 7th graders that I believe in Santa Claus. Ah, well! It made them happy. Heh.
At one point, my most genki students, who had all clustered in the back of the room (as they are wont to do), called me over and prattled at me in Japanese. They seem to have a theory that I actually do speak Japanese, and I'm just pretending not to in order to make them learn English. If only I were that clever! Finally, they resorted to the limited success they would get from an electronic translator, resulting in two questions. The first was, "Becky-sensei! Santa everywhere?" This could have meant either, "Do people everywhere believe in Santa?" or "Does Santa go everywhere in the world?" So, answering that one was pretty easy. Next was a question they were very excited and adamant about. "Becky-sensei! Trust Santa?!" "... What?" "Trust Santa???" While I was perplexed, the appropriate answer seemed to be yes, so that's what I said. They erupted into excitement, including oohing and aaahing and shaking my hand.
It was at this point that I realized that I had just told my 7th graders that I believe in Santa Claus. Ah, well! It made them happy. Heh.