I could be...

Today was busy. I had five classes: two junior high school classes and three elementary classes. The elementary classes I run on my own and go for 45 minutes. For the junior high school classes, (50 minutes) I team up with the Japanese Teacher of English and we work through the lessons, run activities, working with and off of each other to help the kids along. Today, however, my JTE had to leave after lunch, so I had to run fifth period by myself (the JTE took yesterday off as well, because her daughter had a fever, so this was my second straight day teaching the 2nd grade JHS students alone). It was a good day (though tomorrow's post will be in honor of the 3rd grade elementary girl who got a bloody nose during my class).

But let me tell you about a feeling I had yesterday.

I walked into school at 8:10 and found a note on my desk. It was from my JTE asking me to handle the 2nd grade JHS class. Tall orders for me, having not prepped anything and having the class in just about half-an-hour. *takes a break to turn on the AC, because sweat is dripping on my keyboard* So I picked up the textbook, took a look at the upcoming lesson, and it all just clicked. I headed to my JTE's desk and found the new vocabulary cards for the lesson. I also picked up the "passports" the kids had made the previous week (the lesson covers taking a trip to London). I happened to have my own passport on me since I had to make photocopies (applying for a replacement Illinois license), and I always carry my inkan, or personal seal, and I took that as well to add a little something to the process I had in mind.

So I walked into class, briefly explained why the JTE wasn't there (in English for their practice, Japanese for mine), and started class. Warm-up questions, new words, reading practice, then finally acting out the dialog with me as the Passport Official (stamping with my seal of ワーィス, wa-isu), we ended with 5 minutes to spare. Not bad considering it was all a last minute operation.

So why the big deal? How about running my first class alone, using real lesson materials (not a silly game to waste time), having the kids mostly understand what was going on, and even getting them to laugh and kind of enjoy themselves, and not feel stressed by any part of it, from planning to finish. Wrapping up that class yesterday was the first moment since I've been here where I thought to myself, "I could be a teacher." You know, a real one, with my own subject specialty and a classroom of kids to call my own.

I've been thinking about why it all went so well. I'm not sure, but it might have to do with something a friend got me thinking about a few days ago. She had commented about how I seemed much more chilled out than the first days I was here, and I replied to the effect of, "yeah, I think I've started to find my rhythm." Putting that into a musical context, I'm sure we've all had the experience of listening to someone/watching someone dance without rhythm; it's painful. Now, check out somebody who can keep the beat, make the most of the music, and even improvise when needed, well, now you've got a great performance!

This is starting to sound like boasting; that is not my intention. I just want you to try to understand this little milestone I had 10 months into the JET Programme. Remember, it's not just about me teaching the kids English. It's also about the kids, the teachers, the parents and all the various aspects of Okinawa and its culture teaching me something about themselves, and even a little something about myself.

Coming up tomorrow: Harry Potter unsafe for kids?