The end of the school year

So, today was my last day to teach at Shoyo Junior High school. Starting next month, I will be teaching private classes at homes. But for the past year, as a part time job, I have been teaching Japanese 8th graders. It has been a very eye opening experience to work in Japan, and experience what school is like for Japanese people. School is quite different here, and it's hard to know how exactly without seeing it for yourself. I think I can also relate better with some of my Japanese friends in college, because I better understand what school was like for them. (And now all the anime where people are at school seems more normal and makes more sense)


For the last class we played Jeopardy, as you can maybe see the questions on the board, and took a group picture at the end. Notice the separation between the guys and the girls? Very normal.


Also, all the students (all 120 of them) made me a goodbye and thank you card. They were quite nice. Here are few that I took a photo so you can see.




I really enjoyed teaching. I don't know how good of a teacher I am, in regard to teaching information, but my Japanese co-teachers told me that I was always smiling and happy so the students enjoyed me in class. That made me happy to hear.

Some of the other co-teachers are changing to a different school, so our team of teachers this year is sort of disbanding, but I'm glad that they are moving to bigger and better things. There is a party for teachers next week, so I can see everyone again, but I'm sure it wont be the last time.

Good bye Shoyo,
for now...