Kicking myself
...written on 2001-06-20, @ 10:59 p.m.
Tales of Kim's Life in Japan
Wed June 20, 2001
Well, I am here to record the good, the bad, and the ugly, and boy, did it get ugly tonight.
I had only one class. It started at 8:30 and went until 9:20. There were 17 eighth graders. I even knew a couple of the students in there.
The problem began when I opened my backpack, pulled out all my game materials that I had so carefully packed in there before I left Hombu, and realized that the listening test that was to take the first 20 minutes of class, and the list of questions for the game that was to take the last 30 minutes of class, were still in my computer bag at home.
UGH. That was a kick in the gut.
So, while my mind was feverishly spinning about what I should do, I began to pass out little paper paddles with the words "yes" and "no" on them. I asked the kids how they were and then launched into a self intro that allowed them to raise either one of the paddles. Do you know my name? Do you know where I am from? I like volleyball, do you? . . . etc. I had seen Ivan just down the hall earlier and knew he was in between classes and considered telling him of my plight so that maybe he could scribble down some listening test questions while I did the jeopardy game, but there was never a real good chance to slip away and do that, so I was on my own.
I heard the kids making comments in Japanese about the game, but I think it was more about my attempts at keeping score (hey, math was never my strong suit!) than thinking that things weren't going as I had planned (theatre training pays off!).
I tried to keep it cool, but I knew I had to get some kind of listening test practice in for them, so I was relieved when a girl opened her book bag to get a pencil and I saw her text book. I asked if I could borrow it and proceeded to ask them some questions from their text. I only asked them three questions, but I learned a lot from asking them.
I learned that the answers to listening tests shouldn't include new vocabulary (the questions can, but grammar structure should be the focus of the answer) and I learned that some of the students were combining the positive "yes" with a negative like "won't" or "wouldn't" ie. Yes, I wouldn't (for an answer to "Would you like something to drink?"). I helped them with the new vocabulary and explained the troublesome grammar points.
They were too shy to ask me questions at the end of the class, so I thanked them and told them I'd see them again.
I cried on Ivan's shoulder, but he pretty much said that he thought it was great for me to wing it like I did. I'm glad I spent so much time preparing, as I could remember many questions, but I am furious that I didn't double check my materials before heading out the door. You can bet that won't happen again. After all, isn't this the girl who left her keys at the office and got all the way home one night and had to go back and now has an extra key hidden around her apt building somewhere? Tee Hee.
Well, it's over. I did my best under the circumstances and I shall strive never to have a recurrance. Now, where's that chocolate?