Getting up at 6 and having a shower in a Japanese house brought back all the memories of all the freezing cold houses I’ve homestayed in in the past! Luckily these days it’s quite warm!

Went off to the school and checked out the sound system and everything was cool. I was going to sit down and do some computer work, but the Kouchou sensei insisted I go and check out the art lesson. That was OK though cause I got to have a chat with the kids. ( Remember that’s how I make the GE curriculum, by listening to what the kids like to ask me!). Then it was break time, and it was great to hear the first graders being able to actually speak English, tying their best to explain the rules of dodgeball!

Then the show. I haven’t actually done a kids show since November, and I guess it might have showed a little! The kids started a little late, so I had to chop some stuff, but I think I should have kept the “What’s your name?” song, as the whole making pairs thing just looks good for teachers who haven’t seen GE before! The kids were good, nicely balanced by the fantastic kindergarten kids (who have English once a week) and the quiet 6th graders (who have English once a blue moon).

Then a couple of hours off and I was shattered!!! I think I’ve become addicted to caffeine in these last few weeks, I was just so tired! And my arms hurt, GE shows aren’t just a work out for your legs, it’s your arms where it gets you! But with the ALT we went out for a very nice walk around the park in the next town. It’s nice being in the country.

Then back to school for the seminar. I hadn’t done one of these in a while either. At first I was just saying things to the teachers, which they just ignored or said “nah” to, then I remembered that I have to use all the tricks of the trade, and then got them to go “Ah, I see!”. One of these was, after doing 40 minutes of stuff, “Right, so are you going to become a great English teacher?” “Nah, can’t be bothered”. Hmmm, so I gave my “War Speech” and then they all said “Oh, now I get it, right, tell me more!”. I think I need to write the GE book, so that I don’t forget all these little tricks and ways of putting things so that people understand, they really are gold dust. But that’s another set of teachers genkified, now it’s up to the kouchou sensei to give them a little more time every week!

Then out in the evening for a steak, paid for by the school (!) with the Soryo ALT and an ALT from the next town, who was a Taco Bell addict… quite a fun evening.