No, Really, I Am an American

I guess I’m back to my “slacker” status. I’ve been trying to write this post since Sunday, but kept getting distracted by my warm and happy futon.

Come take a trip with me to the past, my friends. Let us see what misadventures this unwitting American got herself into…

“Always Try”

For the most part, I’ve decided to stay at the house. Yeah, the Bob thing bugs me (no pun intended), but I stay upstairs on my tatami most of the time and would only need to venture downstairs for the bathroom and on the odd occasion that I need something from the kitchen. The worst part of this sitch would be the bathroom, but some compromises must be made.

With this decision comes private lessons, which is what I began this past Saturday. At first, I was incredibly unsettled by this because I may be a teacher with the fancy certificate and whatever, but I know jack about teaching conversational English. I realize that that’s what I do every work day, but the difference is I don’t have to make the lesson plan. My idea of proper “teaching” involves imparting some gem of wisdom unto another person… “I had a problem with your attitude, is why. Felt you was, what’s the word?”

That’s right. Pretentious.

I hate that I’m a jack ass, but at least I can admit it.

Anyway, I felt inadequate to be taking this gig, but I needed the money. After kicking myself in the head, I remembered that this isn’t America. I don’t have to adhere to any board, curriculum, goals, or livetext. This was for fun. Well, that and money. But fun first. … Or was it money?

I wanted to make sure I got to the classroom with plenty of time, so I left the house at 7:00 PM. According to Masumi’s directions, a Mister Donut would be a landmark; unfortunately this is no longer the case, and I admit, I was a little disappointed. I wanted to bring something for the first day of class — it was a good thing I grabbed a bag of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, which are a novelty so it was probably better this way. Anyway, I started down the street, but second-guessed myself because of the absent Mister Donut landmark.

I still arrived at the classroom with plenty of time to spare. In fact, I arrived mere seconds after Akemi.

I’m amused by this in that Akemi had some material she wanted me to go over with them from her own class first. So basically, the first half is from the class text book and the second half is for me to do with as I please.

The names of my students are Tomoya and Sakika, they are both junior high school students, and they are both fifteen years old. Their skill is pretty basic, but half the fun of this is to observe their linguistic growth over time.

Regarding the “conversation” portion of the class, we started out incredibly basic. I wanted to try and figure out what kind of English conversation they could conduct themselves. At first glance, it they don’t have much. However, I’m confident that they know more than they let on but are just shy. I’m hoping to break them of that a little, but this is Japan. Conservatism is inherent.

Essentially, we went over meeting people for the first time and greeting someone you’re acquainted with.

Neither of them took notes, something I’m hoping to also remedy, but they did as I asked. I told them I had one very important rule in class and that was to always try.

As far as ability goes, Tomoya seemed to have more courage and more English, but Sakika for all that she was soft-spoken and at times seemed bored had the comprehension. I think this is actually gonna be fun.

Unfortunately for me, because it’s me, this means writing lesson plans again. I know I don’t have to, but let’s face it. I’m me. This usually always involves making things harder than they need to be. And on a professional level, I don’t want my lesson plan writing to atrophy like everything else.

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Firefly Sunday: Kellen and staying up

It seems we’ve added a new member to our Firefly Sundays for the time being. This fellow I met back in December became acquainted with our little get along gang and has been invited to join us on Sundays. His name is Kellen, he hail from America, and he speaks quite a few dialects of Geek. He and I talk up comics, he can match Mike on fighting video games, and he and Phil speak in anime.

We ended up going for yakiniku. We didn’t patronize the location on Dotombori but rather one that near Bic Camera. Thereafter, we went back to Mike’s, where we were joined by Yutaka, and video games were played.

I bailed on everyone around 10; sleep and I got into another disagreement and I was hoping to make up for it.

I had accidentally left Toshi at home, thus I missed the message from Matt. He invited me out to “the tavern” or to Royal Host. At first, I was reluctant to take him up on it as I was full of yakiniku and had intentions of passing out, but after some more thought, I decided that I could go for a movie.

I should have known better when it comes to hanging out with Matt.

I finally saw True Lies and holy smokes what a great movie! I kept making jokes about how so many gimmicks were “so 1994″, but seriously for its time, it was quite a well made movie. Don’t get me wrong, there were some moments of “what the…?” but I managed to suspend my disbelief far more than with some other movies. (I still hate Armageddon.)

After the movie, Matt and I ended up talking the early morning away. Just like we had months and months ago. It was good talking things out with someone new. Matt and I just seem to have an understanding, similar to the one I have with Rob.

When I left the house, I glared at him, “You’re a bad influence.”

Matt is notorious for staying up all night. I woke up that morning at 5:40 AM, much to my displeasure, and I was heading home at 5:00 AM Monday morning. In other words, I had been awake for nearly 24 hours.

Stupid Matt.

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Recent Listening Pleasures: Mark Christopher Ordonez, Toni Tunes, and The Art of Granting.