Thursday

Can’t believe it’ll be December tomorrow! It’s crazy thinking about how fast 2017 has flown by. Woke up at 7:15am today, had a mandarin and bread and cookies for breakfast, and then drove to school. Back to a nice busy day with 5 classes today. First up was 4-1 in period 1 and we first sorted out the roles and groups properly. Most of the kids were pretty good about switching to characters that weren’t their first pick. Then I went through the story once using the pictures I printed out as props, and then went through a second time with them saying their own lines after me. It worked out pretty well, and although they were a bit shy in the beginning, they really got into it in the end and were all using very loud and expressive voices. The wolves were hilarious with the voice change, changing to very silly high-pitched voices when they had to pretend to be the mother goat. It was a fun class. Next up was 1-1 and it was another fun but super loud class. 1-1 is so energetic and hilarious. They repeated the ONE TWO ONE TWO … PHEW part SO loudly and enthusiastically, and hardly needed any prompting by the end of the lesson. They also absolutely LOVED the Youtube video I found of the story and laughed hysterically throughout the whole thing. It was just funny to watch, because the video might have been a bit funny, but it wasn’t THAT funny, but they were all just laughing their heads off. I really wish I could have recorded their reaction, it was that funny to watch. They were just so happy and full of smiles. Cutiepies.

Period 3 with 1-2 and they also did the play really well. I feel like 1-2’s homeroom teacher expects the most from her class in terms of order and discipline. She’ll make them quieten down completely and sit up nicely and so on before we do any activities, so the practice today went very smoothly with her help. They could also say most of the lines without any prompting at the end, so I’m feeling pretty good about the final presentation of the plays. We’re trying to work out the different grades’ schedules to have the 1st graders present their plays to the 6th graders, and then the 6th graders will present their plays (which is their next lesson unit) to the 1st graders. I also found out some new pairs of 1st and 6th graders siblings today. It’s always so interesting to find out who and who are siblings – some of them look alike, some I would never have guessed! 1-3 was also great with their practice. Since they’re the most quiet and conscientious class, practice was also smooth. The one boy playing the grandpa role was SO adorable and said his lines so cutely. I almost couldn't hold back my laughter – he says his lines with a dead straight face and in such a serious voice, it’s just too cute, especially since his voice is still pretty high-pitched. Their homeroom teacher also had some masks from last year, so the kids were excited to use those. The way 1-3 says “OK!” is also way too cute. I’m definitely going to ask to record these plays for memories.

Had my last lunch today with 5-2 which they were a little sad about too – for lunch they split into groups of 5, so I won’t get to sit with the last group of tables since I have English broadcasts on Fridays. Today’s lunch was delicious but a bit not filling enough for me! We had a croissant, crumbed fish, minestrone soup (which all the kids were clamoring for) and my favourite pickled cucumber salad. The kids were so much fun again today, and we talked about travelling overseas (one kid wants to go to Korea, one has been to Hawaii and Guam), mobile phones (one kids already has an iphone 8!?!?) and there was one hilarious moment where they asked me if I have a boyfriend, which I answered no, and then one girl was like “yea having a boyfriend isn’t good, it’s a lot of work”. I just laughed but then I asked “Did you really have a boyfriend?” (they’re only grade 5!) and she’s like “yes, it’s very common!” and she told me how couples will go on little play dates together at the mall or something like that. Love how kids in Japan are so brazen and honest about stuff like this haha. Or at least the kids at my school are.

Last class of the day with 4-2 and they were a bit hyper and noisy today. Although we decided the roles and groups fairly easily at the beginning (janken works wonders in 4th grade) they weren’t as still and quiet as 4-1 when listening to the story, and they were also a lot more wriggly and impatient during the play practice time, not listening/sitting quietly whilst others were saying their lines, stuff like that. At least they all said their lines very enthusiastically and loudly – just wondering whether they’ll be able to remember all the lines without me saying it before them. Got off work at 16:20 and drove home. Had an ice cream for a snack before going out again at 17:15 to go hunt for a snowboard in second hand shops with an ALT friend who needs one for the upcoming winter season! We managed to find a second hand snowboard for only ¥6000 (and it was a Salomon board too!) and then went to Beisia Sports World for boots and bindings, and got both for only ¥8000 too – it was insane, we both couldn't believe the prices! Had dinner at a nice and cheap 定食 place before driving home.