One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest

The ridiculous irony of the previous blog posting about a really hopeless learning environment for teens, is that the delightful Sayaka (with some old guy pictured left) was a graduate of the very same school earlier this year. However, the inane reality was that she was obliged to go back to the school for the grad certificate even though she had already graduated high school in Canada.

Sayaka is the (charming) worm that turned. All on her own, she realised there was more to education than the sterile offerings up the road, and applied for a scholarship to escape to BC. I helped her home room teacher write the letter, as I have known her since she was three and applauded her 'get me outta here' chutzpah. And go she did, extending her year into a second. End product, an FCE from Cambridge ESOL and an invitation to study at Waseda from next week. A very well-rounded young lady indeed, and not at all your average uni intake.

(However, this is the second successful FCE candidate we have produced from young learners - Saya took her fisrt YLE Starters exam in 2000 - that has gone on to Waseda. I currently have three more 'on the go'). Anyone in the Matsumoto/Shinshu area want to get a powerful leg up, look no further.

So, anyway, whinge whinge about a derelict school system, and the contradiction which proves the rule.
It also proves that HS kids are not to be underestimated - they can see through "I've been teaching here for 24 years you know" in 10 minutes. And it is about the kids, isn't it?

Personally, I'm really hoping the Tohoku earthquake and the dreadful tsunami will eventually have an effect here in the hills of Nagano too. As they rebuild 'over there', will they be able to do so with a broader vision than just the bricks and mortar (OK, wood & tatami) & inspire the rest of this country to stop dragging its heels - for me, particularly in education?

I'll have to try to remember that each of the 26 victims in the writing class at the HS next Wednesday could be a Sayaka II...which means I have 26 reasons to get bolshy.

Super Saya celebrates

Bad news for all the boys in Matsumoto - one of the most eligible girls in town is off to the bright lights of Tokyo....and how?!

Sayaka will be studying as Waseda University when term starts next spring! How cool is that? I am personally over the moon for her, as a lifelong fan and sometimes her teacher, totally thrilled. Obviously Saya is rather happy with her news too, and deserves a great big hug for all the hard work that she has done to get in.

This is the same girl that:

• hid behind her mum's leg for the first six months of our classes
• cried all the way to New Zealand, on our homestay trip
• escaped high school here & spent two years in Canada
• just took FCE
• is going to be very succesful

xxx well done girl!

Postcard from...Alaska

Hi Jim, Tana, Yuki & everyone!


We are now in Alaska and having so much fun! We went cruising and saw dolphins, sea otters and glaciers. We went hiking on the glacier too!

Today, we went to the mountains and saw a lot of animals such as moose, bears and wolves. We are going aurora watching tonight. I really hope we can see it! I'm gonna tell you guys about it later ;)


Take care! See you guys when we get back.


Love xoxo

Sayaka & Ayane

Sayaka returns - Canada's loss!

New podcast episode - Sayaka tells us about her Canadian high school & homestay

Sayaka joined my class when she was about three - she has just come back from High School in Canada. She changed a bit! Today, I got a little revenge back, asking her to help out with our current crop of nearly threes in pre-school. Into the bargain I grabbed fifteen minutes to ask about her experience living & studying in British Columbia over the last two years, while Tana held the fort (making bugs!)

I have always had a big soft spot for Saya-chan; I think you can hear the personality and warmth of the girl very easily in this podcast? She obviously enjoyed herself very much in Canada - I am sure ever so much more than she would have done through the drudgery of the local high school she attended her in town (I qualify to have an opinion - taught there!). She might not have been in school so much, but she sure learned an awful lot more about life & relationships, the world she is a citizen of.

 

Please listen to what she has to say* - she answers Patrick's question from Dublin, by the way - and please leave any comments below.

And pre-school? They loved her!

(*Podcast player now lives on the "Easy Listening" page - see tab at the top)

Big girl now

Sayaka (R) graduated from High School in Canada last week and in the process makes me feel ancient :)
as well as proud!

Saya started studying with me when she was knee-high to a grasshopper - think I've mentioned her before here - and has escaped the clutches of the education system here in Japan. She has blossomed into a fabulous young lady as you can see...and there is a lot more to her than good looks.

Congratulations on your graduation, Sayaka

Sayaka returns for the Summer

It was so lovely to see Sayaka again. She has grown in confidence so much and her English speaking ability has greatly improved since she left for Canada on an exchange programme a year ago.

Our returnee group had some questions for her. What a brilliant resource she was! We were so lucky to have her come in to the school to talk with us and share her experiences with us.

We had lots of fun making t he video. This is a clip from the feedback session we had. Lots of laughter as you can see!

I hope that our students will be inspired by her independence and her courage. She is a shining example of what can be done, if you only put your heart into it.

Sayaka has gone back for the new term and will be back here again next year having completed her studies abroad. we wish her all the best and know she will continue to learn and grow in the lovely way which is her.

Tana

Time to say "Goodbye"

Last night was Haruka's last class at Luna. Very sad for us, because she was with us from the very beginning of the school and we have been privileged to see her grow up from cheeky toddler to beautiful young woman. Of course we wish her all the very best of luck for her future studies, especially right now as she is concentrating on those horrid entrance exams...

So now all three of the darlings have flown the coop - Yumeka, Sayaka and Haruka. Feel like their dad in many ways, with lots of fab memories of the fun we have had and the smiles they gave us. Looking forward to seeing them come back all grown up (as Sayaka has done this week from her Canadian homestay) etc.

Exit stage left. Tears, hankies, applause.

Canadian homestay - Sayaka defrosts

Hi, Jim!!

This is sayaka. how are you doing? I'm sorry I haven't sent you an email since i came to Canada

Finally, it started getting warmer recently in Salmo. it was soooooooooo cold in Salmo this winter!! And we had way too much snow I was so excited about snow at first, but I dont want it anymore :( You seem to have had soooo cold winter too!!!I'm so happy cuz i love spring!
have cherry trees bloomed already? I really wanna see them!!

my life in Canada is pretty good - all the members of my host family are sooooooo kind and friendly. I think everyone in this village is very friendly. I've got new friends. I'm enjoying talking with them everyday. I experienced a lot of new things here. I'm having so much fun!!

you'll have a party!?!? ohhhhhh i wanna gooooo!!!
if you take pictures, please send them to me!!! xD

my host sister's is turning to 6 next week. my host brother is 4 years old. i have another host brother whose name is corbin. he is only a year old. they are all sooooooooo cute!!!!!! if i take pictures with all the members of my host family, i'll send them to you!!

hows your life?
I wanna know about members of LUNA too - are they doing ok?

xoxoxo sayaka

Sayonara Sayaka

I can`t honestly say I enjoy seeing students leave, but this is a special occasion and I am absolutely certain we`ll be seeing this young lady again in the not too distant future.

I have known Sayaka since she was knee-high to a grass-hopper...which is a long time! She had her last class today at Luna with her lifelong buddies Yumeka & Haruka and we had a party to celebrate. And celebrate we should - because Saya has earned a chance to spend a year in Canada on a homestay.

We also had the chance to present Sayaka with her K.E.T. certificate - a fitting trophy before she leaves on Friday. Can this young lady I have known & taught since she was two and a half actually be leaving on Friday?! Makes me stop & ask myslef how much longer I should be doing this...think I should at least stick around until Sayaka comes back!