Chris’s Blog

The summer is finally over. The days are getting cooler. School has begun. I didn’t really get up to much over the summer holidays as my credit card bill is equal to my pay check this month. I have got to start pinching pennies and save for the wedding.

School started yesterday. Looks like I have another great school. There are around 550 students, which works out to around 15 classes. The school won the Chiba prefecture kendo competition, and won bronze for the Kanto region. They are also very good at track and field, and there is also one girl that won something for surfing. Unfortunately for me they don’t have a badminton or tennis club, so I will have to make do with soccer and volleyball.

The teachers all seem nice (So far) and there are a few around my age (or they just look young) - so hopefully we will have a few things in common.

Self Introductions start today. Luckily I have a double stay so I don’t mind too much. I made sure to commandeer the computer room because it’s much easier to present in, and it has air conditioning

For one of my first lessons, I asked the students to get into groups and try to think about why they are studying English. These are some of the most common answers from 18 classes.

For the entrance examinations.
It’s a common language.
To go to America.
To interpret / translate.
Want to be a stewardess.
Want to be a pilot.
I like English.
Useful in the future.
Writing letters.
Go on a trip.
Talk with foreigners.
Sing English songs.
Because I want to enjoy movies in English.
Because its compulsory.
Because it is fun.
Because I want to be an English teacher.
I want to go shopping in Canada.
Because I want to go to the U.K to study history.
Because we want to change to a foreign school.
Want to become a world famous actor.
Because I want to become the Prime Minister.
When we get lost in New York it will be ok. (Because they can ask for directions)
Because I want to be hero. (Maybe from Heroes?)
Work for the United Nations.

And here are some of the weird reasons.

Eating food in America.
I buy something in English.
Because I was told to.
Because I want to eat mushrooms. - ????
Song song song song song song.
I want to study U.F.O’s
I want to talk to Obama in the U.S.
I want to talk to Clinton about politics.
Because I love John Lennon.
Because I want to watch October Sky.
English Speak
English is my friend.
I want to write a letter to Santa.
I want to meet Stevie Wonder.
I want to help poor people.
I want to go shopping reduce prices.
I want to meet alot of pretty girls.
We want many foreigner girlfriends.
I want to die in America.
Beuna-Voidable - I have no idea what this is….
I had an unpleasant experience in Japan - Again… WTF?
To invite Europeans and Americans to my house party.
I want to get an American husband.
To be the president.
Abroad go time.
Forso Cipty - ?

There are hundreds more to choose from, most of them written in Japanese. I asked them to write as much as possible in English, then used pictures to illustrate their ideas. Ill scan one later and drop it in here.

Just arrived today, luckily it is a Monday. Only a half day for me. There are around 270 students, nine classes in total. Seems like a nice school. The kids are similar to those at Kaizuka, but on a smaller scale.The journey to school is much better too. While it took almost an hour to get to my last school, it is only taking me about fourty minutes now. Furthermore I only need to be at school at 8.15 instead of the usual 8am. This means I can wake up at a more reasonable 6.45.I need to get some photos up! A text only blog looks boring. Ill post a photo of my servers or something later on.

Too late! I should have written about this ages ago. Its not really the new school for me any more now that I have been here since school started again after the summer break. Its quite a new school, but the trip in the morning is horrible. Its almost a full hour to get to school, and there is only one train I can take in the morning, and then another 20 minute walk.

The students are / have been great and I am looking forward to the time I have left. The teachers here are really nice and seem to get along with the students well too. The English level is also fairly high. Makes my job easier

Ok, this is a diary entry written by one of my students. I’m wondering if this student actually worked this out all by themselves or used a translator. I’m thinking the latter. Here it is:

I Love Tabletennis

It is finally the entirety. I cancel it in a typhoon yesterday… All and time to spend on 1st. I love clube. A breakthrough safe as for the paire of me and Matuda! After all I took my ease and I ate it and thought it to love true club activities in all and time to spend! It was good that practice with all one week again because I was win!

Now I kind of understand what they are trying to say, but how in the world would you end up with a sentence structure like that? Still, its not the funniest diary I’ve marked so far. One of my favourites - “I’m a cannon, its a tennis racquet” - for a diary entry.

Heres a shot of the second year students preparing for a camping trip. It was a good opportunity for me to burn stuff - one of my favorite outdoor activities alongside blowing up stuff and shooting stuff. Most of the girls seemed to cook their rice well enough, but the guys mostly burnt theirs. Note to self - No matter what someone says, burnt rice will never taste good.

Not much in the way of news, but Summer Vacation is coming up. Next week ill rent that prirus again, and drive to Izu for a overnight stay in a hotel, the week following that bbq/drinking party with some mates, and the week after that the vacation starts. Next month is going to be busy.I would also like to rant about a certain teacher that did something - shall we say, uneducated - but ill leave it for another day, or until I’ve left this school.