Well, it's been a long time since I posted last. It's not that I've lost interest in the blog or anything, it's just that most of the time I can't be bothered to post, even when I want to. Anyway, due to actually wanting to post something that isn't going to take my three months left to read, I'm going to have to miss out on quite a few details.
Anyway, on with the blog. So, the new term started with the beginning of April and that means replacing most of my students with new ones, and of course the dreaded self introductions. With every new class (and most old ones) we all had to do a lesson of self introductions... when you consider we teach 13 different classes of students, thats alot of self introducing. But despite being one of the most boring and annoying things ever, it did highlight one thing for me. How much I'd changed since I came here last September.
Last September, I stood in front of the same amount of new students and introduced myself while my heart wanted to beat its way through my rib cage, while my legs were shaking at the sight of 40 students all watching my every move, and while paranoia sunk in with every whisper or giggle they exchange with each other. This time, things were different. I'm so used to being at the front of the class, nerves weren't an issue, the only issue was trying to talk about myself for a decent few minutes, which although it sounds like something I'd be able to manage, after "I'm Mike, I'm 18 and from England" you start to run out of ideas.
Anyway, introductions aside, I love my new students. The new senior high school English orientated class arrived at Junten with a higher level of English than the current second year or third year English orientated classes put together. Or thats the impression I've got from the ones who've chatted to me outside of lessons. Another group who are quickly becoming some of my favourite students are the 6 returnees in the first year juniors. They're only about 11 or 12 years old and yet, ignoring two of the new first year senior students and one of the teachers, they're the best Japanese English speakers in the school. They all lived abroad for between 2 and 6 years and their English is spectacular, and unlike most other first year juniors, they're the friendliest bunch of kids I may have ever met. Sadly, the only downside to them is that Barney managed to let them in on the nickname some of last year's 1-7 class had for me last September... that's right, I'm getting called Buzz Lightyear again. Infact here's a picture of 3 of them and a bunch of other students shouting Buzz and making superman poses... weird kids.
About nicknames, the 'other one' (anyone with a good memory will remember which one i mean) seems to have died down, although theres still a few 3rd year juniors who like to call me 'Machine-sensei'.
Quick last mention: a few weeks ago aload of teachers and the first year juniors did a two hour walk to Todai (Tokyo University, top picture). It was a really nice day, so much so that one of the office staff made me put on a Junten cap (I'm glad there was no patrolling fashion police, that thing made me look like a 7 year old american kid playing baseball). We walked from Asukayama park in Oji, down a long road, through another two parks (one of which was really nice, have to go back some time for pictures) and through more roads and finally arriving at the Akamon (red gate) of Todai. Then after stopping for lunch in the cafeteria there, we went to another park inside the Todai grounds. This one was based around a large pond (if you can call that bit of water next to the ski slope in Sunderland a lake, then this is probably one too), and it was somehow historic, but I've forgot and didn't really care so much. The more interesting thing about it is that this is the pond/lake/thing where one of those 6 returnee kids I mentioned fell into the water while trying to recreate the titanic pose (you know the one) on a rock a little way out. So funny, a few of the teachers were rushing to help and there was me laughing my head off. Good times.
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