I know it sounds cheesy, but that’s really what I did today! The Lions Club in Fukuoka have got together a great bunch of teachers to go and teach at one of the local orphanages every week. They asked me to help out, and as I was in town, I popped along today to do the first lesson.

The kids were actually really great, and rather than split them up we just put them all together ( from toddlers to high school!), and did Rock, Paper, Scissors, How are you? and Chris Hunt’s “One Step Forward” game, where the kids say “How are you?” and move one step forward, unless the teacher answers “I’m hungry!” in which case they have to run back to their safe wall! It’s an adaptation of What time is it, Mr Wolf?

Anyway they loved it. I finished a bit early ( better to finish on a high than to tire them out!), and they were asking to play the game again and again. Then when I got called away to a meeting they were still playing the game themselves, in English! Now that is the sign of a good game!

The funny point of the day; the Lions Club members turning up to the orphanage in a fleet of Mercedes and Porches!