michael lambe

I had a super bad class yesterday with a bunch of uber-noisy wind-up merchants who were deliberately trying to get my goat. Afterwards I actually felt quite depressed about it, and resolved to speak to their home room teacher today. Maybe, I thought, she might have some good advice. Well, sadly she doesn’t. She has a hard time with them too. In fact they are notorious. When I told her about my class she just looked really sad about it, poor thing. I have to count my blessings I guess because I only teach them once a week whereas she sees them EVERY DAY. However, it was kind of a relief to know I’m not the only one. Sometimes, working as a native teacher puts you at a disadvantage… and I worry that I’m not working up to Japanese standards. But with this class it seems, there’s not a lot you can do… but persevere.

Which I will.

Anyway, I go into work today and it’s such a contrast! Every class was nice but my last class of the day every Wednesday, I always look forward to. They are so lively and friendly and full of beans and they really seem to enjoy the lesson. We can actually have a laugh together… And then occasionally I could hear a student saying something like “ii benkyo ni narimashita” (”I learnt something good today”)… or “eigo ha tanoshii na” (”English is fun eh?”). And I thought, “Wow! - It’s almost like I’m a real teacher!” Hehe. Well, really I know those classes go well because the students are interested and positive and actively engaged…

Here’s a nice video from YOUTUBE JAPAN concerning dance. Your homework is to research the sources of all those quotes. I feel like adding one myself: “I dance like your drunken dad, and I enjoy it.”