Hi again. In the last few days I've picked up a third part-time job. (Gee, I wish this qualified me for health care!) I will be teaching a 3hr/week beginning Japanese class at the International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit on Thursday nights. I think anyone who is interested can register, so I'm not sure who my students will be--or how many I will have. But the woman I spoke with there said I pretty much have full reign over the class material and all that. I can pick the textbook, if I want to use one, and all that. I'm looking forward to our first class mid-September!
Last week I went to an orientation for DCDS and was able to meet two other new teachers for the 2008-09 school year, and I finally met the school's principal. (He was on vacation during my interview process.) Then I spent the afternoon in training sessions for new software the teachers are required to start using. It will help create what DCDS calls "assignment sheets" (which is like a calendar of the activities in the classroom) for our web pages--we also need to add files like our classroom policy and resources for the students. It seems really complicated... but it's supposed to help parents and students be more aware of what we are doing in the classroom. I hope it ends up being worth all the time we're going to have to put in for it!
Yesterday Becca and I took Malene and Jesper to the airport so they could go home to Denmark... It is kind of weird to think of them being gone--they were here for so long! We had a lot of fun and did a lot of catching up--and it was great to meet Jesper before the big day next summer! I really hope all the plans work out and we can all go to Copenhagen for the wedding. <3 It would be such a blast!
Well, I have a JCMU reunion party to get ready for! Bye!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Saturday, August 2, 2008
This must have been how Pinocchio felt...
So, it's official: I'm a teacher! A contracted, full-fledged (yet part-time) teacher!
I'll be teaching the third and fourth year Japanese classes at Detroit Country Day School in Beverly Hills, Michigan. (Did you even know there was such a town?) I'll have three classes (two third-year levels and one fourth) and it should be a blast! I've become good friends with the woman teaching the beginner levels and I think we'll have fun working together. ^_^ She's a great lady and I'm really looking forward to learning from her and collaborating with her~ woooooot!
Funny, though... how I still feel nervous and am thinking, "Can I really do this?" Sometimes I can't believe myself! I really should listen to the people around me more. :P heh... I'm just going to (kinda) be on my own for the first time... but, if the last few days have been any indication, I know I am going to be working with awesome, supportive people. I think the school really has an attitude of "we're here for the students" and if I need any support in my job, I don't think I'll have trouble getting it.
So, school starts in about a month and I have a lot of work to do! The previous teacher, who is just working with the first and second years now, was the only Japanese teacher the school had (ever, as far as I know!) so she didn't write a lot of things down, curriculum-wise. But, we're working with a great textbook (Adventures in Japanese) so I don't think planning will be all THAT bad. (And, as a first-year teacher... nothing is going to go as planned anyway... so it's all good. heh)
Wish me luck!
I'll be teaching the third and fourth year Japanese classes at Detroit Country Day School in Beverly Hills, Michigan. (Did you even know there was such a town?) I'll have three classes (two third-year levels and one fourth) and it should be a blast! I've become good friends with the woman teaching the beginner levels and I think we'll have fun working together. ^_^ She's a great lady and I'm really looking forward to learning from her and collaborating with her~ woooooot!
Funny, though... how I still feel nervous and am thinking, "Can I really do this?" Sometimes I can't believe myself! I really should listen to the people around me more. :P heh... I'm just going to (kinda) be on my own for the first time... but, if the last few days have been any indication, I know I am going to be working with awesome, supportive people. I think the school really has an attitude of "we're here for the students" and if I need any support in my job, I don't think I'll have trouble getting it.
So, school starts in about a month and I have a lot of work to do! The previous teacher, who is just working with the first and second years now, was the only Japanese teacher the school had (ever, as far as I know!) so she didn't write a lot of things down, curriculum-wise. But, we're working with a great textbook (Adventures in Japanese) so I don't think planning will be all THAT bad. (And, as a first-year teacher... nothing is going to go as planned anyway... so it's all good. heh)
Wish me luck!
Friday, July 25, 2008
Part-timer
So moving your life into a new apartment across the state involves a lot of work, and things are still not running smoothly, but I felt like posting--finally. ^^;
The job searching is going well, I'd say. Jeremy and I went through some employment guides/free papers and made some calls, applied here and there. He found some 9-1-1 dispatcher jobs we're still waiting to hear from, but in the meantime he was hired almost instantly at two apartment complexes in the area which are managed by the same company. It's not the best job in the world, but it's better than flipping burgers, I assume. Besides, if MY job hunt goes well, he'll be able to quit. (: Here's hoping.
So I found a few online/in-home tutoring places to apply to, but I haven't heard back from them. I heard about a Japanese/English language school in the area, too, and saw on their website they were looking for teachers. Hot dog! I submitted my resume, got an e-mail in a few days, then set up an interview, and pretty much walked out of there with a part-time job--starting the next day!
It's called the Koby Language Center (KLC), named after it's founder, Mr. Kobayashi. He opened one first in Ann Arbor, about 40 minutes from where we live in Novi. The Novi center was opened only late last year, but it's a really great area for a school like this, since there are a lot of Japanese and other foreigners living here--so an English school is in high demand. I was asked to begin by giving private lessons to a young boy--they've been going alright, but only because his English is pretty much fluent already! He's been here for 9 years, and is actually very advanced for his age. I haven't quite figured out why he's still enrolled in courses...
That was Wednesday and Thursday. The following week (this past one), I was asked to teach a "Grammar and Writing" class and a "Kid's English" class. The first one is a bit of a challenge for me: there are five students of various levels, and I haven't had any training as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher. I'm having a hard time figuring out what I should teach them, what they need to know before enrolling in school this year... Actually, three of them have already BEEN to an American school... so they can function pretty well in English, just need some help with vocabulary improvement and basic English grammar instruction. The other two have recently come to the U.S. and rely heavily on Japanese... but they have both had SOME English instruction... thank God! It's hard enough to teach English grammar in ENGLISH, let alone Japanese... u_u
But the Kid's English class has been fun. My only student is an adorable 5-yr old girl. She's so sweet, but still very quiet. She's a good student, though: she wants to try and she wants to do well. She has some basics (she can write her name in English and knows other letters than just her name's, and knew most of the colors before our lessons began), but I was advised that getting her to follow commands and get used to hearing English without understanding 100% is going to be a big goal. It's realistic, right? It's going to be tough for her (and the other two students in my GW class), but the director, Mr. Kobayashi, says it's a natural step for children in situations like this and they are just going to have to live through it--and be stronger in the end.
I feel that he's right... there's not much I can do to make them fluent before school starts! ^^; But I hope I can give them some new words, and at the very least, some confidence in speaking English so that school won't be such a scary thing.
So, looking over my old notes/blogs, I see that I didn't really write about the day at the Michigan-Shiga Exchange Program orientation! >_< Well, the most exciting part of that day was meeting Jackie Riley, a teacher at a school in the area. She told me she was a French/Spanish/Japanese teacher and, when I mentioned I was looking for a job, she said she had a proposition for me! She was looking to move up to a dean position at the private school she teaches at and wanted someone to take over her more advanced classes because she felt she didn't have the 'spontaneous conversation skills' the kids could really benefit from. I couldn't believe it! It was like serendipity that we met there that day...
Well, it's taken a while, but things finally have gotten rolling on that end! (The orientation was in early March!) It was only recently decided that she WOULD get the dean position, and so she would have three classes to pass on to someone--hopefully me! In the time since the orientation, I had had my interview at Pontiac, and was actually offered the position (which, following a strange and frustrating series of events, I suppose I turned down since they never contacted me back)... I contacted Jackie's school, Detroit Country Day School, to let them know the news and to share that I had passed the MTTC for Japanese. Well, not a whole lot happened until last Thursday. Jackie called while I was on my way to one of the private lessons at Koby and asked if I was contracted anywhere and, if not, still interested in DCDS. ( squee! XD ) I told her I was just working part-time for Koby and was very interested in the DCDS position, even part-time. So we set up an interview and I went in this last Monday. ^_^
I think it went really well. I met Jackie there, the Languages department head and the headmaster of the DCDS schools. I got a nice tour of the awesome Upper School (9-12th grade, about 600 kids). There were outstanding art projects displayed in the hallways, and the headmaster was kind enough to show the auditorium to me (wow!! Such a cool facility!!). I think they both (the headmaster and department head) really respect Jackie, and her opinion of me, so I'm really hopeful that this will work out. ^_^ Legally, the job needs to be posted, and they have to review any submitted applications--but I'm hoping that I will still stand out in the end and be a for-real teacher by the start of August. XD
So... that's basically what I've been up to. ^^; It's quite a bit, it seems... doesn't it? It's strange though, that in the few weeks we've been here, I feel like I've found so many more opportunities--even jobs!--than I ever found in three years in Kalamazoo. :P I guess it was just meant to be. I tend to believe that things happen for a reason--and right now I fee like my three years subbing in Kzoo were just to keep me busy until I was needed at DCDS. ^.^ hee hee
The job searching is going well, I'd say. Jeremy and I went through some employment guides/free papers and made some calls, applied here and there. He found some 9-1-1 dispatcher jobs we're still waiting to hear from, but in the meantime he was hired almost instantly at two apartment complexes in the area which are managed by the same company. It's not the best job in the world, but it's better than flipping burgers, I assume. Besides, if MY job hunt goes well, he'll be able to quit. (: Here's hoping.
So I found a few online/in-home tutoring places to apply to, but I haven't heard back from them. I heard about a Japanese/English language school in the area, too, and saw on their website they were looking for teachers. Hot dog! I submitted my resume, got an e-mail in a few days, then set up an interview, and pretty much walked out of there with a part-time job--starting the next day!
It's called the Koby Language Center (KLC), named after it's founder, Mr. Kobayashi. He opened one first in Ann Arbor, about 40 minutes from where we live in Novi. The Novi center was opened only late last year, but it's a really great area for a school like this, since there are a lot of Japanese and other foreigners living here--so an English school is in high demand. I was asked to begin by giving private lessons to a young boy--they've been going alright, but only because his English is pretty much fluent already! He's been here for 9 years, and is actually very advanced for his age. I haven't quite figured out why he's still enrolled in courses...
That was Wednesday and Thursday. The following week (this past one), I was asked to teach a "Grammar and Writing" class and a "Kid's English" class. The first one is a bit of a challenge for me: there are five students of various levels, and I haven't had any training as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher. I'm having a hard time figuring out what I should teach them, what they need to know before enrolling in school this year... Actually, three of them have already BEEN to an American school... so they can function pretty well in English, just need some help with vocabulary improvement and basic English grammar instruction. The other two have recently come to the U.S. and rely heavily on Japanese... but they have both had SOME English instruction... thank God! It's hard enough to teach English grammar in ENGLISH, let alone Japanese... u_u
But the Kid's English class has been fun. My only student is an adorable 5-yr old girl. She's so sweet, but still very quiet. She's a good student, though: she wants to try and she wants to do well. She has some basics (she can write her name in English and knows other letters than just her name's, and knew most of the colors before our lessons began), but I was advised that getting her to follow commands and get used to hearing English without understanding 100% is going to be a big goal. It's realistic, right? It's going to be tough for her (and the other two students in my GW class), but the director, Mr. Kobayashi, says it's a natural step for children in situations like this and they are just going to have to live through it--and be stronger in the end.
I feel that he's right... there's not much I can do to make them fluent before school starts! ^^; But I hope I can give them some new words, and at the very least, some confidence in speaking English so that school won't be such a scary thing.
So, looking over my old notes/blogs, I see that I didn't really write about the day at the Michigan-Shiga Exchange Program orientation! >_< Well, the most exciting part of that day was meeting Jackie Riley, a teacher at a school in the area. She told me she was a French/Spanish/Japanese teacher and, when I mentioned I was looking for a job, she said she had a proposition for me! She was looking to move up to a dean position at the private school she teaches at and wanted someone to take over her more advanced classes because she felt she didn't have the 'spontaneous conversation skills' the kids could really benefit from. I couldn't believe it! It was like serendipity that we met there that day...
Well, it's taken a while, but things finally have gotten rolling on that end! (The orientation was in early March!) It was only recently decided that she WOULD get the dean position, and so she would have three classes to pass on to someone--hopefully me! In the time since the orientation, I had had my interview at Pontiac, and was actually offered the position (which, following a strange and frustrating series of events, I suppose I turned down since they never contacted me back)... I contacted Jackie's school, Detroit Country Day School, to let them know the news and to share that I had passed the MTTC for Japanese. Well, not a whole lot happened until last Thursday. Jackie called while I was on my way to one of the private lessons at Koby and asked if I was contracted anywhere and, if not, still interested in DCDS. ( squee! XD ) I told her I was just working part-time for Koby and was very interested in the DCDS position, even part-time. So we set up an interview and I went in this last Monday. ^_^
I think it went really well. I met Jackie there, the Languages department head and the headmaster of the DCDS schools. I got a nice tour of the awesome Upper School (9-12th grade, about 600 kids). There were outstanding art projects displayed in the hallways, and the headmaster was kind enough to show the auditorium to me (wow!! Such a cool facility!!). I think they both (the headmaster and department head) really respect Jackie, and her opinion of me, so I'm really hopeful that this will work out. ^_^ Legally, the job needs to be posted, and they have to review any submitted applications--but I'm hoping that I will still stand out in the end and be a for-real teacher by the start of August. XD
So... that's basically what I've been up to. ^^; It's quite a bit, it seems... doesn't it? It's strange though, that in the few weeks we've been here, I feel like I've found so many more opportunities--even jobs!--than I ever found in three years in Kalamazoo. :P I guess it was just meant to be. I tend to believe that things happen for a reason--and right now I fee like my three years subbing in Kzoo were just to keep me busy until I was needed at DCDS. ^.^ hee hee
Sunday, May 11, 2008
One Step Closer
So I was fretting for nothing, I guess, and ended up passing my Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) after all. So, I am now officially able to teach the Japanese Language and Culture! Yay! Now... I just need a job... *sigh*
I've been hunting for about a month now, probably a bit longer, and haven't had a whole lot of encouraging news. I did have one interview with the Pontiac School District, that was a week ago Friday. It went well, I thought... but I can't say I have much to compare it to since that was my first real interview, ever, since I graduated in 2003!
"No way!" you say! "How is that possible?" Well, though that grand stroke of luck, I was presented with the opportunity to teach English in Japan the year after my graduation. There were interviews involved, but I don't recall there ever being a personal interview, mostly group ones. And, not to brag, but I think I was pretty much exactly what they were hoping for (a teacher, of English, who had some Japanese ability and only planned to take herself over there). I don't even remember it being a very grueling interview process. Heck, Jeremy even came to one with me!
Since then, I have been job searching, and applying for once I've found, but I haven't gotten a single interview. Not even a letter saying 'thanks but no thanks.' This teacher job hunting sucks. And it really sucks in Michigan. There's not a lot out there, but there's a lot of competition for it. Hopefully trying a new market (i.e. the Ann Arbor area) will improve my chances. I've already found more jobs to just apply to over there, than I have in three years here in the Kalamazoo area. And, like I said, I've had one interview. And I did get a letter saying 'we might call you soon, if you're what we're looking for' from another school.
But, in all honesty, it's still pretty early for teaching jobs. I've heard of people getting hired as late as 2 weeks prior to school starting! Better than nothing, right?
I've been hunting for about a month now, probably a bit longer, and haven't had a whole lot of encouraging news. I did have one interview with the Pontiac School District, that was a week ago Friday. It went well, I thought... but I can't say I have much to compare it to since that was my first real interview, ever, since I graduated in 2003!
"No way!" you say! "How is that possible?" Well, though that grand stroke of luck, I was presented with the opportunity to teach English in Japan the year after my graduation. There were interviews involved, but I don't recall there ever being a personal interview, mostly group ones. And, not to brag, but I think I was pretty much exactly what they were hoping for (a teacher, of English, who had some Japanese ability and only planned to take herself over there). I don't even remember it being a very grueling interview process. Heck, Jeremy even came to one with me!
Since then, I have been job searching, and applying for once I've found, but I haven't gotten a single interview. Not even a letter saying 'thanks but no thanks.' This teacher job hunting sucks. And it really sucks in Michigan. There's not a lot out there, but there's a lot of competition for it. Hopefully trying a new market (i.e. the Ann Arbor area) will improve my chances. I've already found more jobs to just apply to over there, than I have in three years here in the Kalamazoo area. And, like I said, I've had one interview. And I did get a letter saying 'we might call you soon, if you're what we're looking for' from another school.
But, in all honesty, it's still pretty early for teaching jobs. I've heard of people getting hired as late as 2 weeks prior to school starting! Better than nothing, right?
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Nihongo no kyoushi naritai hodo suki yo!
Well, that wasn't much fun--my Japanese Education teacher test. It was about what I expected, though. I guess I'm just under-educated in certain areas that, unfortunately, are important on the test but might not be pertinent knowledge to a classroom teacher. Perhaps. At least, that's how I feel. But maybe I'm just bitter. ^^;
So, more specifically what I'm talking about is, for example, the question that asked me to point out and describe with specifics three differences between the English and Japanese sound systems. ...sigh... So, well, I've never officially studied anything quite like that, so I just had to kinda figure it out/make stuff up. And I'm sure this is all stuff I know, like, subconsciously, right? But not having the words to say this stuff is really frustrating. At least, thank God, I could write answers in English. That, hopefully, helps me sound like I know what I'm talking about.
And then, some of the multiple choice questions really got me. Like one asking, what would be the best benefit for a new Japanese teacher joining a national organization of Japanese teachers?
A) Being able to get inexpensive-good quality teaching materials'
B) Learning about professional development opportunities in the area
C) Being connected to a group of professionals who could act as a mentors
D) Being able to stay up-to-date with current research in secondary language acquisition theories, etc.... BLAH!
Aren't they ALL great reasons?? What the heck? And, personally, wouldn't, like, individual people get different stuff out of it? RARGH. I'm not the only one who thinks a question like that is rotten, right? There were a few others a bit like it.
Well, whatever. :P It was tiring and frustrating but it's over. And if I have to take it again, at least I have a better idea of what I'm up against. u_u
PS: Oh, the title today is part of a tanka poem I wrote for Japanese class. (A tanka is like a haiku... actually, it starts with a haiku, then has two extra 7-syllable lines.) It means:
I like it so much I want to be a Japanese teacher
(..."it" meaning, Japanese itself.... but you knew that... right?)
So the real thing went:
日本語の Nihongo no
教師なりたいほど好きよ Kyoushi naritai hodo suki yo
どうぞよろしく Douzo yoroshiku
おねがいします Onegai shimasu
(When sensei corrected it for me, she put the second and third lines together, as one. I guess I figured she did it for a reason, so that's why it's only 4 lines, instead of 5 like you may have been expecting.)
So, more specifically what I'm talking about is, for example, the question that asked me to point out and describe with specifics three differences between the English and Japanese sound systems. ...sigh... So, well, I've never officially studied anything quite like that, so I just had to kinda figure it out/make stuff up. And I'm sure this is all stuff I know, like, subconsciously, right? But not having the words to say this stuff is really frustrating. At least, thank God, I could write answers in English. That, hopefully, helps me sound like I know what I'm talking about.
And then, some of the multiple choice questions really got me. Like one asking, what would be the best benefit for a new Japanese teacher joining a national organization of Japanese teachers?
A) Being able to get inexpensive-good quality teaching materials'
B) Learning about professional development opportunities in the area
C) Being connected to a group of professionals who could act as a mentors
D) Being able to stay up-to-date with current research in secondary language acquisition theories, etc.... BLAH!
Aren't they ALL great reasons?? What the heck? And, personally, wouldn't, like, individual people get different stuff out of it? RARGH. I'm not the only one who thinks a question like that is rotten, right? There were a few others a bit like it.
Well, whatever. :P It was tiring and frustrating but it's over. And if I have to take it again, at least I have a better idea of what I'm up against. u_u
PS: Oh, the title today is part of a tanka poem I wrote for Japanese class. (A tanka is like a haiku... actually, it starts with a haiku, then has two extra 7-syllable lines.) It means:
I like it so much I want to be a Japanese teacher
(..."it" meaning, Japanese itself.... but you knew that... right?)
So the real thing went:
日本語の Nihongo no
教師なりたいほど好きよ Kyoushi naritai hodo suki yo
どうぞよろしく Douzo yoroshiku
おねがいします Onegai shimasu
(When sensei corrected it for me, she put the second and third lines together, as one. I guess I figured she did it for a reason, so that's why it's only 4 lines, instead of 5 like you may have been expecting.)
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Spring reflections
Happy April to you. I sure hope this means Michigan is done with snow. The seasons have gotten so weird these last few years it seems, doesn't it? I think Al Gore is right: our planet is in big trouble. ):
Well, on a lighter note, I got to spend Saturday afternoon babbling on about my time at the Japan Center for Michigan Universities, or JCMU as we lovingly call it. I spent the summer of 2002 there, studying Japanese intensively (I earned 10 credits in 9 weeks!) and exploring Japan for the first time. This past Saturday, future students embarking on the JCMU adventure came to MSU for a pre-orientation of sorts. I've recently been in contact with Kate Simon, the program coordinator at MSU, and helped her out at the session, along with three other JCMU alum.
It was a lot of fun, and reminded me a bit of the other orientation I attended not long ago. It's so fun to see the students so excited and nervous about this new chapter in their lives. I got kind of jealous again! ^_^ I remembered my excitement, my nervousness, my fear, my joy. I remembered my new teachers and my new friends, and all of the places I went and things I did. I have been to Japan twice since I left for JCMU... but the feeling isn't the same, in a way. Now it's like I'm "going back"--instead of "going there." Maybe this doesn't make sense...? But then, to those of you who have studied abroad... it probably does. ^^;
I reflected, too, a bit on where my experience at JCMU may have taken me. I feel like it's had a great influence on my life, and my attitude towards Japanese and Japan. I wondered a bit, what my life would be like if I hadn't gone... And I wonder now where JCMU will lead its new students.
Well, on a lighter note, I got to spend Saturday afternoon babbling on about my time at the Japan Center for Michigan Universities, or JCMU as we lovingly call it. I spent the summer of 2002 there, studying Japanese intensively (I earned 10 credits in 9 weeks!) and exploring Japan for the first time. This past Saturday, future students embarking on the JCMU adventure came to MSU for a pre-orientation of sorts. I've recently been in contact with Kate Simon, the program coordinator at MSU, and helped her out at the session, along with three other JCMU alum.
It was a lot of fun, and reminded me a bit of the other orientation I attended not long ago. It's so fun to see the students so excited and nervous about this new chapter in their lives. I got kind of jealous again! ^_^ I remembered my excitement, my nervousness, my fear, my joy. I remembered my new teachers and my new friends, and all of the places I went and things I did. I have been to Japan twice since I left for JCMU... but the feeling isn't the same, in a way. Now it's like I'm "going back"--instead of "going there." Maybe this doesn't make sense...? But then, to those of you who have studied abroad... it probably does. ^^;
I reflected, too, a bit on where my experience at JCMU may have taken me. I feel like it's had a great influence on my life, and my attitude towards Japanese and Japan. I wondered a bit, what my life would be like if I hadn't gone... And I wonder now where JCMU will lead its new students.
Monday, March 31, 2008
306 Steps to Detroit
Hello there. The last three days were rather busy ones.
First off, Friday. Jeremy and I were going to KVCC for a conference on diversity, and it had just snowed. I was rushing when I shouldn't have been and slipped on the ice on the steps of our building. My lower back landed on the edge of a step, and my 'yoru-zakura' tumbler from Starbucks Japan fell from my hand. I spent the rest of the day wincing at my sore back, and lamenting my lovely, now useless, travel mug. u_u It's okay if you cry for it, too... Before we left campus, we stopped by to pick up pedometers from the Wellness Director, Ken. We're gonna try and "walk across America." Then we drove off to the conference, which was pretty interesting--I suppose I took a few things away from it. Immediately after, Jeremy and I jumped in the car and headed off for Detroit. Apparently my pedometer thinks it took us 306 steps to get there, and was only .14 miles away. If only! Well, the reason we went to Ford Field in Detroit was to watch the Sweet Sixteen game between the University of Kansas and Villanova. Dan and his dad already had tickets themselves, so Becca decided to join us. It was a pretty dull game for us, Kansas maintained a pretty significant lead over Villanova the entire time, but we had fun. The best part was KU winning--heh heh. Which meant they would play again Sunday night and our tickets got us in then, too! However, Jeremy had business to attend to back here on Saturday, so we had to come back and then head back out to Detroit AGAIN on Sunday. I was really wishing my pedometer spoke the truth at this point...
The game on Sunday was a lot more tense, and a much better game overall. ^^; Of course, it doesn't hurt that we won again--so now KU is off to the Final Four! They played Davidson this time--a small school, but they had a lot of bite! They certainly gave KU a run for their money, always within a few points of them, sometimes getting ahead. It was really nerve-wracking, but a lot of fun.
It was also great to hang out with Becca and Dan again. It had been about a month since we saw them last. Nothing really exciting to report--we just caught up on the little stuff and spent time together.
I'll get our pictures from Ford Field up soon, if I can. ^_^ Rock Chalk, Jayhawk, KU!
~In Loving Memory~
First off, Friday. Jeremy and I were going to KVCC for a conference on diversity, and it had just snowed. I was rushing when I shouldn't have been and slipped on the ice on the steps of our building. My lower back landed on the edge of a step, and my 'yoru-zakura' tumbler from Starbucks Japan fell from my hand. I spent the rest of the day wincing at my sore back, and lamenting my lovely, now useless, travel mug. u_u It's okay if you cry for it, too... Before we left campus, we stopped by to pick up pedometers from the Wellness Director, Ken. We're gonna try and "walk across America." Then we drove off to the conference, which was pretty interesting--I suppose I took a few things away from it. Immediately after, Jeremy and I jumped in the car and headed off for Detroit. Apparently my pedometer thinks it took us 306 steps to get there, and was only .14 miles away. If only! Well, the reason we went to Ford Field in Detroit was to watch the Sweet Sixteen game between the University of Kansas and Villanova. Dan and his dad already had tickets themselves, so Becca decided to join us. It was a pretty dull game for us, Kansas maintained a pretty significant lead over Villanova the entire time, but we had fun. The best part was KU winning--heh heh. Which meant they would play again Sunday night and our tickets got us in then, too! However, Jeremy had business to attend to back here on Saturday, so we had to come back and then head back out to Detroit AGAIN on Sunday. I was really wishing my pedometer spoke the truth at this point...
The game on Sunday was a lot more tense, and a much better game overall. ^^; Of course, it doesn't hurt that we won again--so now KU is off to the Final Four! They played Davidson this time--a small school, but they had a lot of bite! They certainly gave KU a run for their money, always within a few points of them, sometimes getting ahead. It was really nerve-wracking, but a lot of fun.
It was also great to hang out with Becca and Dan again. It had been about a month since we saw them last. Nothing really exciting to report--we just caught up on the little stuff and spent time together.
I'll get our pictures from Ford Field up soon, if I can. ^_^ Rock Chalk, Jayhawk, KU!
~In Loving Memory~Sunday, March 16, 2008
Of Young Adult novels and Japan Quiz bowlers
Hi again. I had a busy weekend. Well, technically it was a busy Friday and Saturday... but anyway...
Friday I went to a seminar about teens and reading, called Teens on Track. An author whose book I fell for in college was attending, Sharon G. Flake. I read "The Skin I'm In" in a class and used it with the Honors 10th grade students I was working with when I did my internship. I received a very positive response from all the kids--even the boys, despite the main character being a girl. It deals a lot with self-image and bullying, which are things teens can relate to--and the fact that the story is just a good story doesn't hurt. ^_^
I learned about a TON of new YA books that will be on the shelves soon, or are already waiting there, so if you want to hear about any, feel free to ask. I'm really excited to get my hands on some of these new books. (It will help the wait for Paolini's book 3 pass faster!!)
So then I high-tailed it to Ann Arbor, where I participated in the 15th Annual Michigan-Japan Quiz Bowl. It was a pretty hectic, stressful day and a half... but I had a great time. ^_^ It was so wonderful to see over 400 students there with a love of Japan and Japanese! I got to reconnect with a lot of the teachers I've been getting to know over the last year or so, too, and that was great. I look forward to helping out next year, and invite you to help out or just come watch, if you're in the area next year! ^_^
So I got to have a lazy day today~ wheee~ Though, I should get working on homework! ^^; I've got a big test in Japanese class on Thursday, so I'm gonna go get to it. Jya ne!
Friday I went to a seminar about teens and reading, called Teens on Track. An author whose book I fell for in college was attending, Sharon G. Flake. I read "The Skin I'm In" in a class and used it with the Honors 10th grade students I was working with when I did my internship. I received a very positive response from all the kids--even the boys, despite the main character being a girl. It deals a lot with self-image and bullying, which are things teens can relate to--and the fact that the story is just a good story doesn't hurt. ^_^
I learned about a TON of new YA books that will be on the shelves soon, or are already waiting there, so if you want to hear about any, feel free to ask. I'm really excited to get my hands on some of these new books. (It will help the wait for Paolini's book 3 pass faster!!)
So then I high-tailed it to Ann Arbor, where I participated in the 15th Annual Michigan-Japan Quiz Bowl. It was a pretty hectic, stressful day and a half... but I had a great time. ^_^ It was so wonderful to see over 400 students there with a love of Japan and Japanese! I got to reconnect with a lot of the teachers I've been getting to know over the last year or so, too, and that was great. I look forward to helping out next year, and invite you to help out or just come watch, if you're in the area next year! ^_^
So I got to have a lazy day today~ wheee~ Though, I should get working on homework! ^^; I've got a big test in Japanese class on Thursday, so I'm gonna go get to it. Jya ne!
Friday, March 7, 2008
A Day in the Life of a Nihongo-no-sensei
Yesterday I spend the day at a high school, observing a teacher of Japanese. It was a really cool experience, since I never had the opportunity to take Japanese in high school myself, but I hope to be able to teach it someday soon.
The school itself was gorgeous. It's band new and I really like the way it was built. Classrooms are grouped together in 'pods' so teachers of similar subjects are nearby. There was even a storage room for all the teachers to share together. Close to the pod was a large office, divided into separate desk spaces for each teacher. It seemed very nice--the teachers were able to keep all the 'teachery things' they needed in the school, but in an office environment, instead of the classroom.
The classes themselves that I observed were really great. I felt that the students were really into studying Japanese, and their teacher is fantastic. I got to see a whole spectrum of classes--first years to fifth, standard lessons and independent studies, and I even got to stick around for a Japan Club meeting. ^_^ I also had a lot of opportunities to speak to the teacher about what goes on 'behind the scenes' and how the curriculum was created and how she chose materials for the classroom. Since Japanese is not one of the most popular languages taught in schools (yet!), I feel like I left with a lot of great ideas to help make the Japanese language acquisition process a better for my future students. ^_^
The school itself was gorgeous. It's band new and I really like the way it was built. Classrooms are grouped together in 'pods' so teachers of similar subjects are nearby. There was even a storage room for all the teachers to share together. Close to the pod was a large office, divided into separate desk spaces for each teacher. It seemed very nice--the teachers were able to keep all the 'teachery things' they needed in the school, but in an office environment, instead of the classroom.
The classes themselves that I observed were really great. I felt that the students were really into studying Japanese, and their teacher is fantastic. I got to see a whole spectrum of classes--first years to fifth, standard lessons and independent studies, and I even got to stick around for a Japan Club meeting. ^_^ I also had a lot of opportunities to speak to the teacher about what goes on 'behind the scenes' and how the curriculum was created and how she chose materials for the classroom. Since Japanese is not one of the most popular languages taught in schools (yet!), I feel like I left with a lot of great ideas to help make the Japanese language acquisition process a better for my future students. ^_^
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Updates
Hello, dear reader.
First I want to update you on old news. Over the last school year I've been taking classes at MSU to get certified to teach Japanese. It's been so fun. I really love my adviser, Dr. Mutsuko Endo-Hudson. I really enjoyed her Advanced Spoken Japanese class last semester, and am now enrolled in a Japanese teaching methods course she is instructing. I feel like I've learned a lot already, but I'm not sure if it's enough yet... But, I suppose I always feel that way. Tomorrow (3/6) I'll be visiting the classroom of a high school Japanese teacher, and I'm really looking forward to it. It's a great opportunity to see someone in action, doing what I hope to do someday, and ask her some questions.
Second, since I've been able to take some great Japanese classes at MSU, I got the courage to try the Japanese Language Proficiency Test again this year. The test has four levels: one being the most advanced, four being the least. In 2005, I attempted the level 3 test with Marisha. We had to drive out to Chicago for it, as it's the closest test site available. (There are only around 8 or 10 in the U.S.) Happily, we both passed! In 2006, neither of us felt very prepared for the next step, so that year slipped by. This year, however, two of my Advanced Spoken Japanese classmates said they were going to try level 2, so I took the opportunity. I didn't make the decision 'til late October, started studying around then, and was just barely passing the practice tests I was taking before the exam. I just got the notice late last month, and perhaps you saw it in my Facebook status but... I managed to squeak into the passing bracket. ^^; (Passing is 60%+, I got 64.5% ^^; ) But now I have a big question... should I retake it, try to better my God-awful score? Or, since the actual score percent doesn't mean a whole lot to those who look at them (universities, employers, etc) as much as the fact that you passed, should I just move on to level 1? hahh....
Okay, more news... hm. Jeremy is currently grad-school-searching. He's applied to a few and we're hoping to hear back soon so I can start getting more specific in my job searching. I feel like it's pretty necessary, this time, for me to find a full time job, since my income will be supporting us. Being a substitute teacher these last few years has been nice, since I've been able to pursue a Japanese endorsement for my certificate, tutor some kids in Japanese, and run errands and the like when I've needed to... but I don't think it's going to help sustain us too much next school year. :P I haven't had much luck so far, finding a job... but, really, school-wise it's pretty early. I'm hoping I'll get more hits when the summer starts.
That's pretty much the big, old news, I guess. Currently, I'm enjoying Spring Break. Although, since I'm only taking 2 classes at MSU, it isn't really much of a break. ^^; But it is nice not having to drive there twice a week this week! This weekend I'll be heading over, though, to help with the Michigan-Shiga Exchange Program. I applied for a chaperon position for their 2-week exchange program but didn't make it--however, I was invited to join the committee. This weekend is a big briefing for the students and chaperons going, and for the parents. It sounds like fun, and I hope to do some networking. ^_^ It was really cool to meet a lot of Japanese teachers when I went for the interview, so I look forward to seeing them again. And it's going to be fun, being a part of such an exciting adventure for these students!
Next weekend is the Michigan Japan Quiz Bowl. I stopped by last year and was really amazed by it. At my high school, we couldn't study Japanese, so I'm getting involved in, like, a whole new world, it seems! Elementary through high school kids compete at the MJQB, answering questions in Japanese, or about Japan. This year I'm volunteering as a time-/scorekeeper. I'm really looking forward to it. ^_^
Okay, this has been long enough. Hopefully I'll be keeping up with myself better so I won't be doing this again. ^_^
See ya!
First I want to update you on old news. Over the last school year I've been taking classes at MSU to get certified to teach Japanese. It's been so fun. I really love my adviser, Dr. Mutsuko Endo-Hudson. I really enjoyed her Advanced Spoken Japanese class last semester, and am now enrolled in a Japanese teaching methods course she is instructing. I feel like I've learned a lot already, but I'm not sure if it's enough yet... But, I suppose I always feel that way. Tomorrow (3/6) I'll be visiting the classroom of a high school Japanese teacher, and I'm really looking forward to it. It's a great opportunity to see someone in action, doing what I hope to do someday, and ask her some questions.
Second, since I've been able to take some great Japanese classes at MSU, I got the courage to try the Japanese Language Proficiency Test again this year. The test has four levels: one being the most advanced, four being the least. In 2005, I attempted the level 3 test with Marisha. We had to drive out to Chicago for it, as it's the closest test site available. (There are only around 8 or 10 in the U.S.) Happily, we both passed! In 2006, neither of us felt very prepared for the next step, so that year slipped by. This year, however, two of my Advanced Spoken Japanese classmates said they were going to try level 2, so I took the opportunity. I didn't make the decision 'til late October, started studying around then, and was just barely passing the practice tests I was taking before the exam. I just got the notice late last month, and perhaps you saw it in my Facebook status but... I managed to squeak into the passing bracket. ^^; (Passing is 60%+, I got 64.5% ^^; ) But now I have a big question... should I retake it, try to better my God-awful score? Or, since the actual score percent doesn't mean a whole lot to those who look at them (universities, employers, etc) as much as the fact that you passed, should I just move on to level 1? hahh....
Okay, more news... hm. Jeremy is currently grad-school-searching. He's applied to a few and we're hoping to hear back soon so I can start getting more specific in my job searching. I feel like it's pretty necessary, this time, for me to find a full time job, since my income will be supporting us. Being a substitute teacher these last few years has been nice, since I've been able to pursue a Japanese endorsement for my certificate, tutor some kids in Japanese, and run errands and the like when I've needed to... but I don't think it's going to help sustain us too much next school year. :P I haven't had much luck so far, finding a job... but, really, school-wise it's pretty early. I'm hoping I'll get more hits when the summer starts.
That's pretty much the big, old news, I guess. Currently, I'm enjoying Spring Break. Although, since I'm only taking 2 classes at MSU, it isn't really much of a break. ^^; But it is nice not having to drive there twice a week this week! This weekend I'll be heading over, though, to help with the Michigan-Shiga Exchange Program. I applied for a chaperon position for their 2-week exchange program but didn't make it--however, I was invited to join the committee. This weekend is a big briefing for the students and chaperons going, and for the parents. It sounds like fun, and I hope to do some networking. ^_^ It was really cool to meet a lot of Japanese teachers when I went for the interview, so I look forward to seeing them again. And it's going to be fun, being a part of such an exciting adventure for these students!
Next weekend is the Michigan Japan Quiz Bowl. I stopped by last year and was really amazed by it. At my high school, we couldn't study Japanese, so I'm getting involved in, like, a whole new world, it seems! Elementary through high school kids compete at the MJQB, answering questions in Japanese, or about Japan. This year I'm volunteering as a time-/scorekeeper. I'm really looking forward to it. ^_^
Okay, this has been long enough. Hopefully I'll be keeping up with myself better so I won't be doing this again. ^_^
See ya!
Monday, March 3, 2008
Back at it
Oh boy, it's been like... a year and a half since I've blogged... ^^; Well, since I left Japan, it didn't really seem like my life was interesting enough to 1) even bother writing about or 2) believe people were going to be reading this. >_> So, what makes me think either 1 or 2 is true today?? Well, nothing, to be honest... I've just gotten hooked on Facebook since I created my account, oh, a week ago, and I guess I feel like sharing. Besides, writing is good exercise for the brain, isn't it...?
Alright, I'm gonna stop here and test this puppy out. Bye!
Alright, I'm gonna stop here and test this puppy out. Bye!
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