Japan - Day 127

GGGAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!

So today was a good day at work. Well, actually it wasn't so bad, that is, right up until my last lesson. Then I had the student that nobody wants to teach. The student who when you see his name on your schedule you just cringe and wish your life was cut short. Over dramatic much? Hardly.

Now most of you who know me, know that I'm a pretty mellow person. In fact, some have commented on my near-comatoseness. I usually let things roll off my shoulders and it takes a fair bit to rile me up - but once something gets under my skin... look out!

So here's the story... Tarou, aka "Bastard child," (or any combination of "choice words" you can think of) is about 16 or so. In class it's it guaranteed that he'll do one of the following: A) pick at his zits and fling them across the room; B) scratch his ass; or C) fall asleep. Today he elected for D) all the above! I can't believe this guy. He doesn't try AT ALL! He's been at the same level (the second lowest level) since 2005 or maybe even 2004! Now maybe he doesn't want to learn English - I get that. I'm pretty sure the only reason he's there is because his parents force him to be. But really, don't take it out on your teachers. Put in a little effort, just for the sake of, well, sanity. That's not asking for too much is it? Apparently.

Here's the rundown of today's lesson... We're talking about past vacations and we've gotten to the activity portion of the lesson (after introducing the new language, etc.)

Me: (Point to "New York" in textbook) Okay, imagine (tap temple with finger) you went to New York on vacation (Point again to "New York" in textbook) Okay?

Tarou: (Stops picking zits for a second and nods, resumes zit picking)

Me: Me (point to self), questions (point to list of three questions - "where did you go", "how was it", "what did you do there"), you, (point to student) answers. Okay?

Tarou: (Stares blankly)

Me: Use these pictures (Point 4 pictures with labels in textbook - a hotdog, Times Square, a baseball game, and the Statute of Liberty) to help with answers. Okay?

Tarou: (Nods)

Me: Any questions?

Tarou: (Indicates no)

Me: Okay, so, where did you go?

Tarou: Where did you go?

Me: No, no. Me (point to self) questions (point to list of questions), you (point to student) answers (point to pictures). Okay? (do international 'okay' sign with hand)

Tarou: Mumbles something in Japanese

Me: (Repeat the above)

Tarou: (Nods)

Me: Where did you go (point to "New York")

Tarou: New York

Me: Good! Now, try in whole sentence. (Point to vocab at the beginning of the page where it says "I went to France, I stayed in Paris")

Tarou: I stayed in Paris

Me: Okay, good, but New York. Now repeat, 'I... went... to...'

Tarou: New York

Me: Yes, good. Now full sentence. I went to New York

Tarou: It was great

Me: Yes, good, but answer first question first

Tarou: Mumbles in Japanese (has stopped picking his zits and moved on to scratching his ass).

Me: Okay, okay, new question, what did you do there?

Tarou: It was great

Me: Yes good, but now next question, what did you do there? (point to picture of a baseball game)

Tarou: (Stares blankly and blinks a few times)

Me: (Whisper) 'I went to a baseball game,' (Normal voice) now repeat

Tarou: Baseball game

Me: Okay, fine. And...? (Point to picture of Times Square)

Tarou: (Head drops)

Me: I went to a baseball game, and... went... to...? (look over at the head teacher in the next class over who notices my now sleeping student)

Jamie (head teacher): Wake up!!! (laughs)

Tarou: (Bobs his head)

Me: (Nudge his hand with the textbook)

Jamie: Wake up!!!

Jamie's students: Laughing

Me: (Nudge Tarou with textbook again)

Tarou: (Bolts upright) New York.

Me: (Smile sympathetically and explain trying to answer in full sentences again)

The rest of the lesson was more or less the same, ending with me wanting to jab my pen through my eye if only to stop myself from ringing Tarou's neck! Thank god these classes are only 40 minutes each!

I'm not sure why Tarou has the need to fall asleep in my class (this is the second time it's happened) because no one else seems to be *that* bored when I'm teaching them. At least this time he was on his own, the last time there was another student in the class, who was getting just as fed up with him as I was. Eventually I just gave up on him and continued the lesson with the other student. At least she was able to learn something in the end. I have to admit though, I was secretly happy that someone else could share my pain for that lesson.

So yeah, that was my day. Makes me look forward to my trip to Okinawa that much more! Only 6 more days!!!