Training has been moving right along; we've been covering all the various lesson types offered and then doing demos of them. Many trainers have been younger (30's), studly and dapper males that are actually featured in the company's ad campaign. Various trainers have had various training styles...well, most have been energetic, entertaining, positive, humorous, yet still professional and informative. One was still the latter two, but with a twist of "strict 5th grade teacher," in the way questions were asked and answered; he was also a bit older than the others...
"Wow, that answer makes no sense," was said in various forms throughout the day. I was on guard and ready to pounce with my logic probe (Tron reference) activated to the max. I was open and honest with the training evaluation, stood behind my words by signing, and actually had a chat with this sometimes-disrespectful trainer following our 3 day stint with him; he was very receptive.
Training has been intense, but fun. The other day my colleagues and I played the part of certain kind of students as our trainer demonstrated what to do and not to do - Alex and I traded turns acting as a student that "wouldn't shut up, cuz like, I've lived abroad, man!" We kept the energy high and erred on the side of being a jerk ( a jerk pretend student that is).
L to R: Dirk, Chris, Alex at lunch during training: Aussie, Canadia, Aussie.
Training has mainly been large doses information injections, with homework, quizzes, and demonstrations to boot - hence my slow blogging! It's very interesting, because this company has clearly spent a great deal of time considering how to teach ESL to different learners. The how is rooted and backed up with why, but we're not here to discuss "why" we do this or that, since much of it is prescribed for us down to the minute and we're merely implementing it.
There is some freedom though, with 80 minute classes using texts NOT published in-house (as most are), using CNN/BBC, business english topics, or technology/media topics. These classes, along with some other higher level classes, are much lightyears more flexible for the teacher in choosing what do to with the book (no minute-by-minute breakdown), designing activities or discussions using the book - or not - , and using your own outside materials. Thankfully, I've learned I'll be teaching some of these classes, along with Alex, and we're receiving some extra double-secret-probationary training on them tonight after our regularly scheduled kids training session (kids training is gonna be off the wallzzz, baby!)
Enough about work. Here's what little I've done with my freetime, besides laundry: Saturday night I met a foreign national named Chris, from Sweden originally. We met via Silverfish Longboarding on a forum, and he showed me around Shibuya and Harajuku from a downhill boarders point of view. It was crazy! We shared some some sharp turns, high speed carves, and traffic lights later, and adrenaline rushes - don't worry kids, I had safety lights and a "brain bucket" on! Tokyo has some amazing hills and he showed me a few of them, along with a skate shop; we had a great life chat as well. Glad I got his digits!
I've also been running, which is always a trip when in a new place. You go out...but can you get back! Turned right at the dog salon, left at the Denny's/7-11, right by the beauty school, got it. Every step is taking you further into the unknown... its a rush! Runners here don't say hi back though...even in Japanese. No problems yet, minus the lack of grass. That'll change come Feb.
Yesterday, our one day off, I took the train to Ueno Koen (park). Back alleys with shopping (from vintage western clothing, to fresh squid, bloody fish meat, American military gear, knock off brands, real brands), a 7 story electronic store, Buddhist/Shinto shrines, throngs of people that don't look like me - yea it was a hoot, but not-enough-pictures did I shoot =( I'll close with a general showing.
Above: A Tosho-gu shrine built for Tokugawa Ieyasu, 17th cent.
Above: Navigating Ueno shopping alleys... reminds me of London's Camden Market, but better because of dead octopus.
And the final pic... for now its off to work to train for the kids!! Rawrr!!!
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