Treasure Island - a Neverending Story

http://audioboo.fm/boos/643027-misaki-s-treasure-island

I have not seen Misaki for a while, because our schedules have conflicted - I've been away doing exam stuff, or she has. Yes, exam hell time for her. But, she is escaping, which I am thrilled with, and from April will be enjoying a whole new life in Australia. Not messing around, but studying English before college.

She didn't want to open her book today, which was fine. Instead, I dug up a game I haven't used for ages. "Neverending Story" encourages collaborative storytelling by simply requiring turn-takers to add on to the story so far, putting a picture card onto the board. There is no 'right or wrong' direction for the stroy to take - totally at the mercy of the turn taker! What I like about it with my students is the chance for me to ask questions to extract more story details (if necessary).  Each turn the player needs to start at the beginning and recycle the story so far. When it is my turn to repeat the whole story with as much of their details as possible, a few embellishments/clarifications/mistakes - but modelling the correct narrative tenses without correcting them are looking for prompts. No pencils, no reading, no safety net!

Image via Wikipedia

I find this helps a lot with students getting beyond the first thing they thought of and leaving that as 'their turn'. It makes students listen to each other carefully, and check/clarify details. They have to link their ideas to each others', and use a lot of discourse markers.

By the time we 'finished' - timed out - we had run through the story at least a dozen times, adding bits and polishing the edges. I remembered a Shelly Terrell app recommendation for last year's JALT Conference and popped my iPhone into her hand with AudioBoo ready. The five minute free limit was ideally short - had to get on with it. As you can tell, Misaki is doing a lot of thinking to keep her story fluent. My apologies for getting in the way here & there, but I was watching the timer. Most of the ideas were hers after my "Once upon a time..."

Misaki & I would both like to hear/read your comments :)

A postcard from - Australia

Hello Jim !!

I'm in Australia now. My host family is very kind. My school is Kirwan State High School. It's very big school and there are 2,000 students. Townsville is in rainy season now so we have heavy rain every day.

I'm enjoying Australia. And Anna K want to say something to you!!

"Hi! Jim!

I'm not 'Ashi Itai!'

From Misaki K & Anna K

Teacher's PETs (and KETs)

Double success - Misaki & Misaki

Our two Misakis are now proud owners of shiny Cambridge ESOL Certificates, for the exams they successfully took in November. Very big congratulations to you both!

'Younger' Misaki announced she has also passed Eiken 2, so her success is no fluke. Passing KET at first attempt is something she should be especially proud of.

It is a bittersweet swansong for 'older' Misaki, as she is leaving us next month - spreading her wings and flying away (not literally, she will probably go on the train). Life as a university student beckons. We are sure she will flourish, as she has been a super student with us...first taking Young Learners (Starters) in 2006.

We are now recruiting students to join this class - must be smart, hard-working and enjoy English. Places are limited!

Student profile - meet (another!) Misaki

My name is Misaki.`Misaki` means spring because my birthday is spring.

I live in Matumoto city and live with my parents.I don't have any brother and sister. I'm 16 years old,and I'm a student of Agatagaoka High School. My class is like girl's school because we have 38 girls and 3 boys. But I love my class very much.

I'm going to tell you about myself.I have medium hair and black eyes. When I meet someone first time,I speak polite language and look like shy but that can't be true because I love talking with friends.

I have two dreams.One is to become a kindergarten's teacher because I love children. So I want to learn about children in university. Next is to live in UK.I went to there when I was 13 years old and I became love there.

My favorite thing is to dance.I had learned ballet and Japanese dancing. Now,I go to jazz hip hop's lessons on Wednesday night and I also go to English classes on Saturday evening.I love English too.

I hope I can see you again sometime soon

Sincerely

Misaki

Student profile - meet Misaki

My name is Misaki. I am Japanese and I live in Matsumoto, a city in middle of the country. My family has four members-my parent and my younger sister, Mizuki. I am 18 years old and I'm a high school student. I'm in third grade in Matsumoto Agatagaoka high school's English course.

I'm going to tell you about myself. I have long black hair. I don't wear glasses but my eyesight is bad. So I wear contact lenses.

I think I am a calm and friendly person.

I like drama, music, and reading books. When I have free time, I watch dramas, listen to music, read books. I also like English. If I have a chance, I want to travel all over the world.

Please write soon and tell me about you and your life.

Best wishes

Misaki

New podcast episode - Misaki interviews Tana

Yes folks, the skeletons come tumbling out of Tana's closet in this exclusive 'teacher bares all' interview.


Just how much did you think you knew about our effervescent Springbok sensei?  Find the latest installment of Luna's podcast series on the easy listening page (tab above) or go directly to the podbean .


Why not subscribe, y'all, and save me boring you with updates like this :)

(By the way, I think Misaki does a terrific job, don't you?)

Hinamatsuri - Girls' festival

Hinamatsuri is a Japanese festival held on March 3rd. It comes from an old custom. People put the evil in the doll and float it on the river. Now people celebrate Hinamatsuri as a festival when we pray for a girl's future. People decorate a hina-ningyou and hold a party with the flowers of peaches, hisimotchi (lozenge-shaped rice cakes) , and amazake (a sweet alcoholic drink made from fermented rice).

This is a picture of my hina-ningyou, in my house. I share it with my little sister.

The Curse of the Mummy

I have read The Curse of the Mummy.

Tariq is a member of the excavation team. He excavates in the Valley of the Kings, under Howard Carter.
One day, they find a tomb. A few days later, Tariq's friend, who is a member of that team, died.
Someone said 'This is the curse of the Mummy. We have to stop excavating!'
But, Carter kept excavating to find treasure and they found beautiful things.

I recommend this this book because you can enjoy and know Egyptian mystery.

Misaki

Macduff's diary - regicide?

Misaki has finished reading her first Shakespeare, and really enjoyed it (despite all the bloodshed). Macbeth can be heavy going! As a follow up to the book, Misaki was asked to write Macduff's diary for the day of (King) Duncan's murder:

That morning I arrived at Macbeths's castle.

At the door I met Macbeth's servants. He said "Everyone is sleeping, I think. Shall I wake the general?" At that time, Macbeth came downstairs.

I said to Macbeth, "Macbeth! Good morning my friend." And I asked him where the King was.

Macbeth and I went to the King's room. I went into the King's room and saw that the King was dead! He was killed by someone. This is murder!

All of the people who were in Macbeth's house were surprised, and Lady Macbeth cried out and fainted.

Who did kill the King? I want to know the truth.

School system in Japan

In Japan, compulsory education starts when you are 6 years old. Before that, many children go to nursery school or kindergarten. Children go to elementary school which has six grades. At elementary school, children learn basic skills. For example, Japanese, math, science, social studies, music, PE, and so on.

After elementary school, children go to junior high school which has three grades. At junior high school, English classes start. Club activities also start. Until junior high school is compulsory education. Children finish it when they are 15 years old. But most junior high school students go to high school.

To enter high school, students must pass exams. There are five examination subjects (Japanese, math, science, social studies, and English). High school has three grades. There, we can choose subjects which students want to learn.

After high school, some students go to university. To enter university, students must pass exams, too. Students take the national center test for university admission. It has seven or eight examination subjects. University has four grades and students graduate when they are 22 years old. At high school and university, if a student doesn't have a good record, student must do same grade again.

Dog walking machine

This machine is for the people who have a dog. If you can't go walking with your dog, you can use this machine for it. Using this machine, dogs can walk without you. So, you can get free time. If it is rainy, dogs can walk!


Misaki, you just read Wallace and Gromit's story, The Wrong Trousers. Did you like the book?
Yes. I enjoyed a lot.
Have you ever seen a penguin in your town?
No, I haven't, but I have seen a penguin in the zoo.
Do you have any pets yourself?
I don't have any pets,but I want to have a dog.
Do you agree that Gromit is a cracking canine?
I agree it. Because Gromit helps Wallace.
Wallace loves cheese - especially Cheddar. What grub do you love?
I like Italian grub - especially margarita pizza.
Wallace and Gromit have more adventures - what do you think they will do after this one?
Wallace and Gromit will go on holiday.In there, Gromit will meet a beautiful girl dog and forget Wallace.
Thank you for letting me interview you today, Misaki. I am sure you are very busy!
You're welcome!