I had my final visit of the term (and of the academic year) to Koyo Elementary School today. I have to go again to make the recordings for the CD of English songs we're making, but this was the last 'Nathan Time' lesson. In all three lessons we did songs; with the third- and fourth-years we did 'Ten in the bed', with the fifth-years we did 'Hokey Cokey', and with the sixths we did 'The wheels on the bus'.
The thirds and fourths, before lunch, did a good job of learning 'Ten in the bed', although the third years got a little left behind. The year between the thirds and the fourths really makes a huge difference- and to be honest, I get the feeling that the third-year teacher doesn't really help matters by not pushing her charges at all, while the fourth-year teacher is very enthusiastic and makes his students ask questions and think about what I've said and done, even outside the lesson. Still, we managed the song basically, and with the CD that Wendy and I produced, the children should manage enough practice to be able to sing the song without any problems when we come to the recording.
I had lunch with the sixths, this being the last visit I'd make before they graduated. Some of the normal 'characters'- Sorawaki-kun, and co.- in the class were readier than ever to talk to me- I think they realise, even if subconsciously, that this is the last time I'll see them- and I even ended up being persuaded to try on Sorawaki-kun's baseball cap. Matsuta-kun wanted me to try his cap on as well, but having seen the spots on his forehead, and the grime inside the hat, I decided against this...
After lunch, I took the fifth-year class. The fifths are normally really genki and enthusiastic about everything we do, so, while I had originally intended to do 'Hokey Cokey' with the sixths, I changed my mind and did it with the fifths instead. Today, though, the fifths were completely lifeless; they showed no interest in participating at all, and it was a real struggle to get them to learn even the simplest phrases of the song. In the end, though, we did manage enough to give the actions a try as well, and finally the children perked up a little and gave at least the semblance of an impression that they were enjoying themselves. I talked to the teacher afterwards, and he admitted that he'd told his class off before my lesson, and that they were sulking. Fair enough- but it just shows how different the same class can be on two different days. At least it wasn't anything I'd done that made them so unenthusiastic.
The final lesson was with the sixths, who, having not been particularly lively the last time I had a lesson with them, were back to their old selves today- it might well have been better in hindsight to have done 'Hokey Cokey' with them instead of with the fifths. Instead, though, I did 'The wheels on the bus', which, being relatively short and simple, meant that I didn't need to rush through the lesson, leaving plenty of time for mid-explanation jokes and banter. This is really the best sort of lesson, I think- it allows the children to feel a sense of friendship and closeness which is lacking if I need to use every minute of the lesson time to do what I've planned. The children, too, seemed to enjoy themselves; not only did they join in the jokes and banter, they made up actions for the song ('open and shut' being misheard as 'open and shoot', thus leading to a shooting action, was one particular highlight, as was Hanaoka-kun deciding exactly which way windscreen wipers should move). A simple song also allowed them to have a good time singing, and to feel that they'd mastered it properly; sometimes, when I do something more complicated, I get the feeling that some of the children are floundering in the explanations without really understanding or mastering half of what's going on. Lessons like this make me remember why I've always had a soft spot for this class.
Afterwards, the four teachers and I met, as normal, for our hanseikai (a post-lesson opinion exchange). This is the only school that does this- I could say that the other schools can't be bothered- but it's very useful to hear the teachers' opinions and suggestions (they do, after all, look after these children every day) and to give my own comments. Today, though, we spent nearly half-an-hour talking about the next academic year, and came up with many good ideas and thoughts, which, if we can translate them into a concrete plan for the year, should lead to a really worthwhile and exciting set of International Understanding lessons. Finally- after all, I've only been here for five years now... In any case, Koyo is rapidly becoming my favourite school, in terms of both the support from the teachers and the enthusiasm of the children. I was also very gratified to hear one of the teachers say that if possible, he'd like to increase the number of my lessons next year. I must be doing something right, then...
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