Dec.5th Diary!!!
◎ Mon. Dec. 5th.★ WeatherLast night, I went to bed, worrying a little bit aboutthe weather next morning.Woke up around 5:00. Then, I turned on TV to checkany weather report, wishing that it would be fineor free from rain or snow today.I had a dynamic schedule today.I had to go to two schools to have four English lessons:The first school was Yakiyama Elementary(八木山小)where I was supposed to have two classes just like I didback on Nov. 29th.The second school was an occupational schoolnamed, 福岡観光外語専門学校, Fukuoka Instituteof Tourism and Foreign Languages, where I had tohave two supplementary classes(補講).----------------------------------------★Yakiyama Elementary SchoolThe weather news said that it would be snowing and coldall day long in Chikuho District. I looked the outsidethrough the window, but it was still dark.Two hours later, the sky was still dark and it was windy andsnowing. so I decided to take a bus to go to the elementary.Last week when I went to the same school, one of my friend & pupils, Nobuko, drove me there. But today I was alone.For your reference, Yakiyama Elementary is on the topof Mr. Yakiyama, an about 800m tall mountain and alongthe Yakiyama Mountain Pass. In the downtown ofIizuka we had little snow on the ground.I took a bus for the bus terminal at a nearby bus stop,which stands in front of my apartmnt, and changed the buses at the terminal.At the bus terminal, I found several high school boys and girlswere sitting on the ground, smoking in their school uniform.I got mad at this situation and shouted against them,telling them to stop smoking and go to school quickly. I got on a 8:50 bus to Yakiyama Elementary.It was an about 20-min. ride from the bus terminal.Streets, woods and rice fields in the top area of Yakiyama werecovered snow. This was the first snow piled un on the ground for methis year.----------------------------------------★Shopping in English Today I did a shopping game with the 34 students.First, I had a 45-min class of 17 students.They are made up of the first three grades of students, that is(つまりは) 低学年.1) At the beginning of the class, I, together with the students, sang the song of Row, Row, Row Your Boat, dancing. We did this four times.2) Second, I gave them a test. I had them sing "ABC♪" in English. As I had expected, they sang, H, I, J, K, エル, エム, エヌ, オウ、ピー. Then, I taught how to say this above part. H, I, J, K, L M, N, O, P, <エレムノーピー>These 6 letters should be pronounced in liaison. (連続音) 3) Then, I divided them into two groups: Shopkeeper and CustomerI had prepared paper-made money and items which are used in curry & rice.I demonstrated what a shopkeeper and a customer should sayto each other when they sell and buy vegetables.Since the students are too young or little bit youngto understand shopping, I used simple expressions.ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーお店 お客Hi ! →→→→ Hi! I want carrots.Carrots?→→→Yes.How many? → 4 carrots.4 carrots? → Yes.OK, here you are. →→ Thanks, How much?20 yen. →→ 20 yen?Yes. ←←← ←←← Here you are.Thanks.We practiced this sample of conversation between the shopkeeperand the customer. 1st & 2nd grade students sometimes were outof control, handling pretty paper-made money and vegetables.One of the teacher helped me.After several times of practice, I appointed somepairs of students and had each pair do their role-playing.All the students were very active. Girls seemed to like the paper-made money which one of my part-timer made.-------------------------------------------------------★ At a hamburger shop:In the next class, I was responsible for studentsof 4th, 5th and 6th grades:1) I started this class with ABC song.2)Then, we practiced the pronunciation of hot, dog, and coffee. I showed them the differences between American sound and British one of these words. I did this comically and the students burst into laugh.3) Then, I introduced them how to buy foods or beverages at a fast food restaurant, say Macdonald. I showed how to say each item in English. For example, フライドポテト should be French fries, etc. At that time, I showed them two different ways of pronunciation: British accent and American accent. It was just to make the students feel funny and laugh!! 3) Then, I divided the students into two: Shopkeeper and Customer.ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーお店 お客Hi ! →→→→ Hi! I want two hamburgers, French fries and a cola.Here or to go? →→ Here.2 hamburgers, French fries and a cola? → Yes.What size (of cola)?→→ Small.Small? →→→→ Yes. How much?400yen →→→ 400 yen?Yes. Here you are. → Thanks. Here you are.Thanks. This is 500 yen.Here is change, 100 yen.→Thanks.-----------------------------------------------We practiced this conversation so many times that the studentswould be able to learn this by heart.After the classes, the principal kindly drove me to SasaguriBus Stop and I took a bus for Tenjin.-ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーI had another two classes at the occupational school(専門学校). I, together with my students, practiced pronunciation ofb, v, l,and r sounds first. Then, I also taught useful expressionsusing coins.---------------------------------------------------★ Important Appointment with A familyAfter the classes, I rushed back to Tenjin Bus Terminal to catcha 17:00 bus to go back to Iizuka.I had a very important appointment with my students andtheir parents this evening. Today they invited me to their dinner to celebrate their second daughter's success in the entranceexam to a local university in Fukuoka. Their first daughter isa deshi of mine and the second daughter is one of my students.I was supposed to be at the designated restaurant at 18:30.(約束の場所に6時半に到着する事になっていた)I was really looking forward to this great opportunity, feeling myselfexcited so much.I met their father for the time time. He really looks to be a verygentle and calm father. I thought he must be a very good father tohis three daughters. I was wondering what their father was like allthe time, because I found out that his daughters are very charming,smart and nice.I talked mainly to the parents with a wide variety of topicsranging from the future employment situation expectedin coming years to professional wrestling(プロレス).To my great surprise, their mother is familiar with professionalwrestling. She is a really smart mother with lots of knowledgeand intelligence.I drank a little too much while enjoying talking with them.I envy this family, because the parents have three wonderfuldaughters who have a bright future ahead of them each!!All the three daughters are beautiful and cute.They will surely become popular in the world and attract a number of people around them who will bring them a greathappiness sometime in the future.I am really proud of these students, and I hope thatthey feel the same way as I do.(向こうも同じ気持ちなら良かばってんね)--------------------------------Ken Suetsugu