Update on my Performance

To conclude where the last entry left off, the performance evaluation went fine. It was actually a performance evaluation for my evaluator, who is training to become a mentor at ny company. I did well, passed all of my required marks, and made a new SMART goal for the future.

In other news, today while travelling to Hitatchi I boarded the wrong train, an express to Tokyo. I am actually writing this while waiting for the train to arrive so I can get on the next train going the opposite way. We'll see if I make it in time.

---Update---
I WAS late, but everything turned out fine. My students took the time to finish their homework from last time.

つづく

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Kotowaza

One of the reasons I came to Japan was to become more fluent in Japanese. Recently, I have been studying Japanese through idioms, called "Kotowaza" in Japanese. Some are very similar to American idioms, perhaps because the situation is so common or the phrase was translated into Japanese over a hund
red years ago. Let me show some examples.

ローマは一日にしてならず。
Rooma wa ichi nichi ni shite narazu.
Rome wasn't built in a day.

地震　雷　火事　親父
Jishin Kaminari Kaji Oyaji
Earthquakes Lightning Fires Fathers
(The four great fears)

画竜点睛
Garyoutensei
One who dots the painted dragon's eye
(the finishing touch)

つづく

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Modern Technology

Last Sunday I picked up a 2001, Toshiba microwave/oven from a nice Thai woman living about 20km away from me. Sanami, my girlfriend, gave a reaction on par with congratulating a student for getting their high school deploma. It's good, but not very special since nearly everybody has one.

I on the otherhand disagree, believing it is simply amazing! I'm sure more people would side with Sanami, so let me clarify exactly why I am amazed.

1) I traveled the entire distance without a personal vehicle. I used only trains, my feet, and a cardboard box strapped to a compact hand-cart. Sure it took about 2 hours total, but that is nothing compared to the time required if I walked the whole distance (40km).

2) Having a microwave that IS ALSO a convection oven is wonderful! I can now bake cookies, pies, or lazagna if I so please. Since there was no need to have a fancy microwave back in America, I feel spoiled. However, these types of microwaves are common in Japan since most people don't have stoves.
Japanese cooking has traditionally been over heat (rice, soups, noodles, grilled fish, etc.), not in heat (breads, roasts, cookies, etc.)

3) It was only $30! In the photo you can see a Japanese toaster oven (above) and the microwave/oven (bellow). New, the toaster cost $30, and the microwave/oven would cost $120.

つづく

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Birthday in Yokohama

Today about 14 people went to celebrate a co-worker's birthday. His name is Ashe, he is from New Zealand, and he turned 20 years old today. He is here in Japan teaching on a working holiday visa, and today (his 20th birthday) is the day he is legally an adult in Japan.

Today also marks the first time I have been drinking since, at least 14 months, if not more. I felt like a kid again, feeling a type of freedom my brain rarely feels. I become a totally different person after a few drinks. Well, not really. I become more outgoing, which is how I feel when with real
ly really good friends.

I fear that if I were to drink in habit, I would loose the small bits of control I use to keep myself the relaxed, easy-going guy that I am. It is that character that wins me recomendations from students (like once again today).

On a completely different note, I will be starting teaching at Hitachi on Tuesday. I hope teaching 8 students is easy. If anything, it will be a great learning experience.

つづく

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Looks like I have a job.

I was a bit scared about the future of my job, until my supervisor started talking to me about future plans. These plans include me. Starting next week, I will begin my first outservice project with the Shin-Yokohama office of Hitachi.

This outservice has two things different from my current teaching work. The first is the class size. These future classes will be around 8 students, instead of 1 or 2. The second is the location. I will be teaching these Hitachi students at their Hitachi office. I think this is a good sign of my abilities, since not all teachers become outservice workers. After this, the next step in my future training will be to evaluate incoming students.

Before people become official students, their ability needs to be assessed. This is done during a trial lesson, then the results are analysed with the student to find the most appropriate level (1 to 8) for their needs. During this time, students are asked their goals and preferred intensity (to determine pacing of material). Ideally, we want to make SMART goals. SMART goals are not only effective, but places blame on the student if they do not see improvement. This is important since my school is also a private business.

Lessons are not cheap, ranging from $25 - $80 per 40 minute lesson. There is one teacher at my school who has been there since the Yokohama branch openned in 1986. He said to me, "It amazes me how much money people spend on this."

My reply, "Well, the next best alternative is a university class, and those are even more expensive." He was stunned with my anwser, to which he just said, "I never thought about it that way."

-----------------
sent from W-ZERO3

つづく

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