One more random funny story about how English is ridiculous. In one of my 3nensei classes, we were having a word test, where I read out words and they have to write them in English and then write the Japanese equivalent.
The JTE gave me the sheet with the words and I read it. So one of the words I was supposed to read out was 'sometimes.' Let me point out now that in Japanese, 'sometimes' is 'tokidoki' and 'sometime_' is 'itsuka' Two different words with different meanings, right? In English, too, the meaning is different, even if the words are almost the same. As a matter of fact, even the JTE was confused because on the sheet she gave me, she had written 'sometime (tokidoki.)' Based on the 'tokidoki' I assumed she meant 'sometimes' so that is what I said. Anyway, 'sometime' and 'sometimes' caused a great deal of confusion on that word test as students wrote all possible combinations of 'sometime' 'sometimes' 'tokidoki' and 'itsuka.' And when I wrote the correct answer 'sometimeS' and the JTE said 'tokidoki,' and said that 'sometime' was wrong unless they had 'itsuka' written as the meaning, they were like "EEEEEEEHH? NANDE? (why) 1 apple, 2 apples, 1 sometime, 2 sometimes, right? Aren't they the same?"
Monday, March 15, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Paper dolls and 2nd year boys
[Some complaints that I don't blog enough have made it all the way to me in Japan, so here is one to tide you over until I actually have something to write about. warning, this is not that interesting, but might be funny for some. I dunno...it was certainly an enjoyable class for me]
What happens when you give 2nd year students paper dolls? You learn a lot of things about the class! For example, you learn that some boys like clothes and dressing dolls up just as much as girls. You also learn that every class has a thief or two.
Let's go back about 48 hours hours for a moment. I was asked on Monday to come up with an activity to help the 2nd years practice the shopping conversation on Wednesday. The "shopping conversation" is just what you'd expect. Going into a store and asking for a specific item in a certain color or size; asking to try it on; asking the price, etc. So I thought about it, and I ended up making sets of paper dolls! Each group got a doll and they had to follow the shopping list I provided and "buy" clothes for their doll from either me or the JTE. The catch was that sometimes the clothes we showed them were too big or too small, so they would have to ask to tr it on and then say "do you have a bigger/smaller one." Also, sometimes we would say an absolutely ridiculous price for an item, like a hat costing $5,000, so they would have to ask for a cheaper one.
I went to class feeling a little nervous with two possible scenarios running through my head: 1) everyone would be sitting there thinking "does she think we are elementary school children? This is B-ORING!" or 2) the girls would have a blast dressing up the dolls and the boys would be thinking something along the lines of "wtf is this?"
I did not anticipate that things would turn out how they did. In actuality, everyone seemed to have fun, but the boys especially! The groups divided up who would come and do the "shopping" and just sort of went for it. Of course, the JTE and I had a good time giving them a hard time with sizes and prices, so I think it was really fun all around!!
Some memorable moments from class:
(As you read, keep in mind that they speak with accents, so it's not as perfect as written... they are really good though)
A group of boys comes up to me and they need to buy a skirt.
I say, "May I help you?"
Student, "No, I'm just looking."
(he sorts through the paper clothes on my desk and picks up a skirt. Then he walks away with said skirt!)
Me " DOROBOU!" (meaning, THIEF!)
Another student says to the one with the skirt "Nigete, hayaku!" (meaning, run away, fast!)
~~~
Different group of boys comes up to me and they need a hat.
Me "May I help you?"
Student "I'm looking for a black hat."
Me "How about this one?"
Student "It's nice. How much is it?"
Me "It's $6,500."
Student "That's too expensive! Do you have a cheaper one?"
Me "No. Sorry! But I'm in a good mood today, so it's $5.00"
Student " OH discount! I'll take it!"
~~~~
Later, with the same students who got the black hat, this time they need a jacket
Student "How much is it?"
Me "It's $10,000."
Student "Do you have a cheaper one?"
Me "No, sorry!"
Student "Discount? Good mood?"
Me "No, sorry."
Different student in group "It's ok. I have much money. I'll take it."
Alright, so ends this potentially boring or potentially interesting blog entry. Posts to possibly look forward to (if I'm not too lazy): graduation, teacher trip, and Japanese driver's test.
What happens when you give 2nd year students paper dolls? You learn a lot of things about the class! For example, you learn that some boys like clothes and dressing dolls up just as much as girls. You also learn that every class has a thief or two.
Let's go back about 48 hours hours for a moment. I was asked on Monday to come up with an activity to help the 2nd years practice the shopping conversation on Wednesday. The "shopping conversation" is just what you'd expect. Going into a store and asking for a specific item in a certain color or size; asking to try it on; asking the price, etc. So I thought about it, and I ended up making sets of paper dolls! Each group got a doll and they had to follow the shopping list I provided and "buy" clothes for their doll from either me or the JTE. The catch was that sometimes the clothes we showed them were too big or too small, so they would have to ask to tr it on and then say "do you have a bigger/smaller one." Also, sometimes we would say an absolutely ridiculous price for an item, like a hat costing $5,000, so they would have to ask for a cheaper one.
I went to class feeling a little nervous with two possible scenarios running through my head: 1) everyone would be sitting there thinking "does she think we are elementary school children? This is B-ORING!" or 2) the girls would have a blast dressing up the dolls and the boys would be thinking something along the lines of "wtf is this?"
I did not anticipate that things would turn out how they did. In actuality, everyone seemed to have fun, but the boys especially! The groups divided up who would come and do the "shopping" and just sort of went for it. Of course, the JTE and I had a good time giving them a hard time with sizes and prices, so I think it was really fun all around!!
Some memorable moments from class:
(As you read, keep in mind that they speak with accents, so it's not as perfect as written... they are really good though)
A group of boys comes up to me and they need to buy a skirt.
I say, "May I help you?"
Student, "No, I'm just looking."
(he sorts through the paper clothes on my desk and picks up a skirt. Then he walks away with said skirt!)
Me " DOROBOU!" (meaning, THIEF!)
Another student says to the one with the skirt "Nigete, hayaku!" (meaning, run away, fast!)
~~~
Different group of boys comes up to me and they need a hat.
Me "May I help you?"
Student "I'm looking for a black hat."
Me "How about this one?"
Student "It's nice. How much is it?"
Me "It's $6,500."
Student "That's too expensive! Do you have a cheaper one?"
Me "No. Sorry! But I'm in a good mood today, so it's $5.00"
Student " OH discount! I'll take it!"
~~~~
Later, with the same students who got the black hat, this time they need a jacket
Student "How much is it?"
Me "It's $10,000."
Student "Do you have a cheaper one?"
Me "No, sorry!"
Student "Discount? Good mood?"
Me "No, sorry."
Different student in group "It's ok. I have much money. I'll take it."
Alright, so ends this potentially boring or potentially interesting blog entry. Posts to possibly look forward to (if I'm not too lazy): graduation, teacher trip, and Japanese driver's test.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
(Mis)adventures in eating
Today is setsubun which is the celebration of the beginning of spring. A little early in my mind, but somehow in Japan a celebration of spring has already begun even thought it snowed all day and there is no spring in sight! Anyway, Part of the setsubun tradition involves roasted soybeans called fuku mame. First, there is the mamemaki where households throw beans at an oni ("demon"-usually the father wearing a demon mask). As they throw they beans, they shout "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" which means "demons out, luck in!" Supposedly the beans symbolize purifying the home by sending all bad luck away. Then in keeping with bringing the luck in, you eat fuku mame. You should eat one bean for each year of your life! Unfortunately I did not get to take part in any bean throwing, but I did get to take part in the eating. For school lunch, we got these little bags of beans. I did not look clearly at the bag, and just started eating mine while talking to one of the of the other teachers, and not paying much attention. It was fine, but then I tasted something that was not quite bean-like. So I reached in the bag and pulled out another pinch, actually looked at it, and found myself having a stare-down with a small, dried fish! At that point, I could not eat any more. Something about having my food look back at me is just too much to handle. So I tactfully put the bag in my pocket so I could bring it home, take pictures, and share my misadventure in eating with all of you.
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