 letters from japan by michelle What's in a name? Unfortunately, I only know a handful of my students names. I have over 1500 students that i teach, but that's not the problem. They have nametags sewn onto their little uniforms, but i can't read the kanji, so instead, i can only know their names if they come and talk to me, or write me letters, which some of them do on occasion. Usually though, i end up learning their goofy English nicknames. I know them mostly as the words they've picked out that they like. One girl is Apple. Another is Horse. Another is Udon, which is a type of thick noodle. I don't know their names, but I have names for a lot of them in my mind. Generally, my students are extremely well behaved. They do strange things in class, but i like to encourage that kind of creative exploration of self. For example, i created a game called Word Ping-Pong where two teams of students have to say words back and forth from a selected topic without using Japanese and without repeating. This particular topic was animals, and a boy stood up, said "shrimp" and wagged his butt like a Beagle, while doing a Karate Kid "wax on, wax off" impersonation. I didn't understand, so I asked him to say it again. He repeated "shrimp" and did they same dance. I laughed pretty hard, because he looked at me like, what? Am I doing the shrimp dance wrong or something? I call named him Shrimp Boy in my head. Before we begin playing Word Ping-Pong, i let the kids choose a name for their team. Much like their nicknames, they choose something unusual and slightly weird. Team Moonlight. Sometimes, if a team takes too long to decide, I will choose it for them. As punishment for being slow, I will choose something a little silly, like Team Snail or Team Zero. Yesterday, I had a team of little uncooperative wankers, yelling out in class, laughing and talking to each other during the lesson. Not paying attention at all. What, am I here for my health? (Don't I sound like a real teacher?). I usually try intimidation moves like standing over them, or inturrupting conversations by making them answer questions in English, but they were out-of-control. I tried talking louder over them, but nothing. Towards the end of class, we played Word Ping-Pong and after they failed to agree on a team name, it was my pleasure to name them Team Gym Shorts. Which made me smile :) |
Mysteries of Japan Part Two: Climate Control (The Absence of) Mysteries of Japan Part One: Obaachans Godzilla Was a Misunderstood Foreigner School Lunch, or, Why I Carry Candy and Gum in My Handbag What's in a name? The Shochu Monster Airmail! Intro Find out more about the JET Programme
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