This morning was the final day of the Ehime workshop and the difference in the teachers from the “we want to, but can’t do anything” mentality on Monday compared with today was amazing. Some of the lessons today (such as “What are you doing?” ) were better than I do! They really knew how to keep the kids interest alive and to use the computer to get the pronunciation perfect.

They also twigged on the idea of doing the conceptually difficult things such as Under, on, in or the Guessing Game in Japanese first, then once the kids had got the concept they said “OK, let’s learn how to do that in English”. This worked really well, not only in making sure the kids knew exactly what was going on, but in motivating them and getting them excited about doing something really cool in English. I thought that was great to see.

Unlike many trainers (or English schools!) where the aim is to keep milking people and providing lessons for ever and ever, my aim is to make myself as redundant as possible as quickly as possible. The first day I plough in there as genki as anything, but once the fire is lit I pull back and back and by the end of the 3 days the teachers can help, support, critique and teach each other without me even being there. Excellent.

Then I took the Hong Kong teacher (who also happens to be a fantastic hip hop producer!) out for some ramen and the Japan tourist spots of the Bochan Train, Dogo Onsen hot spring (the oldest in the country!), and of course the most popular of all Japan’s tourist attractions, the cake shops!