Whenever my junior high school students have exams, I’m shipped off to one of my elementary schools to teach Grade 1-4. No, wait, “teach” is too strong a word. I do teach them a small handful of English words, but for the most part, we just play games. Which is probably why I’m so popular, but popularity has its price to pay. For example: when I’m not in class, I’m in the teacher’s office, when it’s time for class someone escorts me to the classroom. The other day, when the grade one teacher told her students she was going to get me, they decided she wasn’t allowed to go alone. As soon as I crossed the threshold of the teacher’s office, I was tackled by 15 grade one students who all wanted the chance to greet me with a hug. Then, after lunch, two little girls came to the teacher’s office, meekly called out my name, and asked me to go play with them (in Japanese). Oh, and a big thank you to my mom for giving me a name that perfectly translates into Japanese. I’m still not used to people saying my name right on the first try.
So about now you’re probably wondering how I communicate with these children who don’t speack English, since I don’t speak Japanese. In the classroom, it’s really easy. If I want them to move their desks, I point to their desks and say, “this is a desk,” and then point or gesture to where I want them to move it to while saying, “move them (direction/place).” Teaching is just as easy, because the students are trained to repeat whatever I say when I’m holding up a flashcard, and they understand that this word I’m saying means whatever is on the flashcard.
Giving directions to a game or activity is just as easy. I simply act out what I want them to do and they do it. If the game is a little more complicated, like Simon Says, their homeroom teacher will jump in and help with some translations, but for the most part, it’s not necessary.
And that’s what it’s like to teach the younger students. One day I’ll remember to bring runners with me so I can keep up with them on the playground.
