Adult classes

On Thursday nights, I now have to teach adults. This is something I have been looking forward to for most of my time here, mainly because it is an excellent opportunity for me to get to know Japanese people who are really interested in learning English. I can't tell you how many times i have been told by fellow JETs, "I love my adult classes, because of them I know so many people in the community." Why they waited until my last few weeks in Japan to set up these classes, is beyond me. Regardless, I am making the most out of them...

Of course, my first lesson wasn't quite all that it was cracked up to be. I had been told that the class was for people who were either hosting homestay people or were going to America on a homestay. Therefore my class topics should be geared toward homestay information. Simple enough. I made a worksheet about things to say/do for a great first impression. I even did a lesson plan (not normally something I do, as I have found it is usually more fun to wing it)...I really wanted this class to go over well, and I really didn't want to look like an ass.

But, sadly coolness was not quite something I was meant to be while staying in Japan....I show up to my class, and find that it is 10 people who have nothing to do with homestays...they just wanted to have an English lesson and practice conversation. The levels of these people vary from University degrees in English to Junior High School english..and I am stuck with absolutely nothing to teach. It seems there was a bit of a miscommunication.

So I did the only thing I could do...I winged it....(we did self-introductions and talked about travel). I guess the moral of my story is this: Why prepare, when you are better off winging it.

Oh and other than the lady who wants to hold indepth conversations about Georges Sands' writing...my class is pretty cool.