As I have mentioned before, there are two kids(a girl in grade 1 and a boy in grade 3) in Nakanayoro whose father is from Canada. I thought at first that they only understood the English I was speaking, and couldn't really speak it themselves, as they never seemed to say much in class. However, lately they have be shocking me with the amount of English they know, and I hope it is because they are feeling more comfortable around me.
Today I was playing in the gym with a few of the students, and the little girl came up to me and said "count," so I would count her skipping rope. That surprised me a little, but it wasn't that much out of the ordinary, especially since she only said one word. However, a little bit later she turned to me and said, "Wait here, I will bring another," referring to another skip rope. Then a few minutes later said, "I'm going over there," pointed to the other side of the gym, and then skipped across the room. I don't know if I have ever been this shocked by a student since I've been here. The first few days I was in the class, she would barely say anything!
Her brother also has started to reveal that he knows a lot more English then he let on before. Today I was teaching his class right after they had finished playing in the gym. I asked how they were, and most of them said they were hot. I asked why they were hot, and he says "Because we were playing." All of the other students had no clue what I had just asked. He is also extremely helpful when I am telling the students what to do. He usually understands everything I say, and then relays it to the class in Japanese. I can't express how convenient this is. It allows me to speak in English, and have the kids get used to hearing me talk. Also, when the teacher is not in the room, I have someone there to help me out.
I feel bad for these students though, what I'm teaching them must be so boring. However, I think that they enjoy the opportunity to speak English, or at least I hope they do. In any case, it sure is nice for me!
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