Friday, April 29, 2011 Fair
Walked briskly in the morning on this
Showa Day. Did the routine at first, but my PC broke down. I was not able to
start it. So, I wrecked its hard disk and disposed of the PC. I had to install
the HP builder into my part of the PC my wife uses. I forgot how to do it. I had
to download iTunes as well. The contents of my iPod have changed a bit.
Thursday, April 28, 2011 Cloudy, occasionally rainy.
Not much
restraint today at work. There was a little error with the homeroom money
settlement for last year. I was to blame because I was mainly in charge. Made
another page of the next OCTreports and also two handouts for my classes coming
up soon after the consecutive holidays. Got to finish two library books by April
30.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011 Cloudy and rainy.
This morning walked only
5000 steps or so for about 35 minutes, but quite fast and briskly. Maybe it is
more effective this way. The very first class of OCT this year. There were quite
a few students present. Emphasized pair work this year. Not a bad reaction. Got
a couple of calls from homeroom students' mothers. Also a couple of homeroom
kids came to meet me. Very hectic. Began making second-term OCTreports. Kind of
enjoying doing that. However, the consequence is a stiff neck.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 Cloudy
Been to the Korean language school
although I felt tired. On the way home I was with one of the classmates talking
about this and that on the train. He used to be a high school teacher, now
retired. Tanaka Minoru, a Japanese actor, committed suicide yesterday. This name
did not ring a bell at first, but when I saw his picture, I was surprised.
Monday, April 25, 2011 Cloudy
Yesterday I was not in good condition.
Today I was still out of shape in the morning. As I interacted with students in
class, I felt better. Teaching English seemed to have energized me. I am now
teaching thsi Reading class in a different way than before. It is very tiring to
prepare, but, as it turned out, it seems as if it is worth it.
Saturday, April 23, 2011 Rainy
Yesterday was very hectic. I had
planned for the classes, but things did not go as planned. I wanted to use a lot
more English in class. An ESS member came. On parking lot duty. An English
Tsheet to make. Today I realxed at home reading with the two cats in the living
room. Have to return one library book and check out one.
Thursday, April 21, 2011 Cloudy
There were four meetings today-a
Student Council teacher meeting, a regular staff meeting, a joint staff meeting,
and a subject meeting. The vice-principal ordered that each section set goals to
achieve. We are now under lots of pressure. Education is nothing but a business
or a service which must produce results. Yesterday's homeroom was a mess. No one
wants to be a class rep. Well, just wait and see.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011 Cloudy and rainy and so windy.
Eastern Japan
keeps being jolted. If I were there, I would be feeling seasick. These days I
write in this online diary every other day sometimes. Yesterday new students
came to buy their textbooks and learning guides. I helped some homeroom
students. I gave two of them a bit of the grand tour of the school. One student
went back home without buying the texts, so I called. Her grandma came instead.
Today went to the Korean language school for the new term, there were 11
students in all, including myself. At the time of self-introduction, I gave my
name only. On the way home got sushi for supper. Our kitty cat is sick with
diarrhea. My wife took her to the vet. Hope it will get better soon. She is such
a rascal.
Sunday, April 17, 2011 Cloudy
Went to work and prepared for the
classes to come. Had an English study session with my friend, too. Back to
normal again. Coming back home watched the usual dramas on TV. Also I found some
firends sending me a facebook request. Thinking of using the way Ms. Nagatomo
now teaches Korean on NHK's Korean program.
Saturday, April 16, 2011 Cloudy
Yesterday spent much time shooting
the breeze with the other English teachers. Today overslept and decided not to
go to the English club, which is often overcrowded these days. Spent the whole
day in bed. A bit depressed, wondering about my raison d'etre except that I did
the Super Crossword.
Thursday, April 14, 2011 Fair
Yesterday there was a student
orientation. I explained to my homeroom students by using the handbook. Then
gave them the grand tour. Took us about two hours. I was being super busy
because more than two students came to see me at a time. Today there were two
meetings-a student council teachers' meeting and a regular sraff meeting. Two
homeroom students were expected to finish their textbook-for-free procedure, but
only one did.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 Fair
A substitute holiday. Went to the
supermarked to buy bread and then to my home doctor. These days my hemorhoids
really get me. It has been quite long since it began to bother me. According to
the doctor, it does not seem to be too serious, though. To me it is. A
high-ranking Buddhist priest of the Kamakura period by the name of Myoe also had
piles, suuferiing a lot from it in his later years. In the evening I weeded the
backyard, ending up with four plastic garbage bags of weeds. I worked in the
backyard for two hours in a row. Got a bit sweaty.
Monday, April 11, 2011 Fair
The daytime section's entrance ceremony
was held, followed by the sign-up pricedure and a medical checkup. Everything
went rather smoothly although I made a few booboos. It has been a full day.
Sunday, April 10, 2011 Fair
The entrance ceremony was held for the
nighttime section's new students. I was on duty in the parking lot in the
morning. Then watched another teacher help his students do the sign-up
procedure. After he was done, I prepared for tomorrow because it would be my
turn next. Took quite long.
Saturday, April 9, 2011 Cloudy
My wfie suggested yesterday that we
take a walk together, so this morning I did not go out for a walk on my own.
today being a holiday for me. Watched "Sonshi's Tactics" on TV in the morning
and in the afternoon went to Kohnan to buy some daily necessities. On the way
home got takoyaki for lunch. Toward the evening went to the municipal library to
return a couple of books and check out a few, too. Bought some side dishes for
supper at the usual side dish store.
Friday, April 8, 2011 Cloudy and rainy.
At work helped to set up the
gym for the entrance ceremonies. It tokk a little over half an hour. There was a
call from a new homeroom student's mother. Continued with preparations for the
entrance and singn-up. Almost done. TGIF, I will take it easy at home
tonight.
Thursday, April 7, 2011 Fair and then cloudy.
Only two teachers
leaving this school came to greet us. One of them criticized the rigid attitude
of the bosses toward the teachers. Little solidarity among us. We live in such a
day and age. A long staff meeting followed after that. Then worked together for
shipment of printed matter to students. Still in the process of preparing for
the new students' sign-up procedure.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 Fair
An information meeting about the
sign-up procedure for new students. Helped print some Student Council handouts.
The last page of the Reading report was blank. Again the one in charge of
printing made a mistake. There was a meeting for the teachers for new students
from junior high schools.
Tuesady, April 5, 2011 Fair
A substitute hoilday for this past
Sunday. Relaxed all day for the first time in many days. No sign language club
or Korean class. After taking a walk in the morning and buying bread and
something for lunch, watched the morning Korean drama on KBS and took it easy
with our cat running around the rooms.
Monday, April 4, 2011 Fair
Have just watched the British drama
"Merlin." Today's episode was very fun. Thinking of changing the method of
teaching Reading, but how? Still thinking. Called five stduents who have not
come to do the sign-up procedure. Managed to contact four of them. Yesterday I
spent time likewise at work.
Saturday, April 2, 2011 Cloudy
Worked on the Super Crossword first
thing in the morning. Drove my mother-in-law to the doctor and then went to the
English conversation session, where threre were over ten people present-no seat
available for me. On the way home bought okonomiyaki for lunch. At night watched
some dramas on TV as usual.
Friday, April 1, 2011 Fair
A staff meeting, an English teachers'
meeting, and a Student Coucil teachers' meeting as usual. Did some miscellaneous
work later, such as preparing some Student Council treasurer-related sheets and
the teacher's grade book. The nuke complex remains the same. What will become of
this country?