But I have a DonorsChoose project at the moment and if you are feeling charitable and have some spare cash my students and I would love to have a video camera to use for projects in class. If you have kids or are around kids you might notice how they go from bored and uninterested to suddenly smiling and hamming it up as soon as a camera comes out ( Read more... )

Soooooo it turns out that my school district will let me count my time in Japan towards my years of experience. Why is this important? MONEY! Because we get paid based on how many years experience we have. If I can get this form filled out and verified I could get a $3,000 bump in pay for next year. Two other former Tahara ALTs who work in my ( Read more... )

Happy Independence Day! I celebrated with a BBQ in the park. Actually it was a sayonara party for me thrown by the Tahara International Association but we fixed hamburgers, hot dogs, and threw water balloons so I could almost pretend it was a real 4th of July party ( Read more... )

For the record, just because I can swim 1200 meters doesn't mean that I can run around for two classes playing tag without feeling like my legs are going to fall off. Which is exactly what I've done the last two days and exactly how I feel at the moment ( Read more... )

Today was my first day at Tobusho - my most favorite out of my five schools. I was so nervous that Michiko-sensei would be gone. She has been so kind to me since I came to Tahara three years ago and I would have been super sad if she had been transferred. But she was still there! I could hear her on the phone when I walked through the door (she ( Read more... )

December is nice because not only do I get a two week break for the holidays but my lesson planning requires very little thought. I teach about the differences between Christmas in America and Japan and the students are very surprised to learn that we don't eat Christmas cake or KFC and everyone from children to grandparents get presents. Then we ( Read more... )

So they won't be replacing Nathan. And what's worse is that when I asked if we will change schools in September they told me it was possible. I don't wannaaaaa switch schools. I love my schools! Even the school with the crazy "will you come and record a listening test at 5:30 or maybe on Saturday" English teacher. And I especially don't want ( Read more... )

As of last year in Japan there was very little in the way of organized English instruction before junior high school. In my town, the ALT showed up once a month and organized a lesson that mostly included games. I actually had a principal tell me to please teach words only. Sentences were too hard. My students learned very little if any English ( Read more... )

Last year due to some unfortunate scheduling I happened to be at one of my elementary schools for their graduation rehearsal and later at one of my junior highs for the actual ceremony. It was the kind of cultural experience I hoped I wouldn't have to ever repeat again because of the cold, uncomfortable chairs, and mind-numbing boredom. Somehow, ( Read more... )

Am feeling badly. When not performing essential tasks related to my job I am napping and lazing around. I spent most of my three day weekend in bed, getting out of it only to attend choir rehearsal on Sunday and our concert on Monday. Yesterday I spent all morning sneezing, leaving me little time to teach. My students kept asking "sensei, ( Read more... )