It's been awhile!!!

It's been awhile since my last journal entry and there are two reasons for this.

The first - I've been busy.

The second - iPad.

I will start with the latter because this has actually been the main reason for not writing many comments or writing journal entries. For some reason, when using my iPad, I can only read other peoples entries and send private messages on Chalkboard...This is probably something to do with Apples choice of HTML5 coding (Dont worry thats as technical as i am getting because to be honest...i really dont know)

At school our local BoE for High Schools for the Prefecture i'm in has, for some reason, decided that we can not use the schools internet for fear that we (the NS's) will infect there networks with virus's. They think we will go on unnecessary websites such as Facebook - or worst...an adult content site. So this resulted in most people deciding to use USB data pens, CDs etc - but guess what - they got banned to for fear we would infect the schools computers with virus's

I know what your thinking - i thought the same too - Why dont they just use a virus checker...To tell you the truth none of it makes sense because all the teacher are issued with their own laptop to use for school and lesson planning - Yet, us NS's, who are classed as a teacher (not an assistant) have all these restrictions. Oh, and yes, i have seen some teachers check private emails and do some amazon shopping - no facebook though but thats because its not popular here.

It gets worst - When i first started working for interac we were allowed to go home early or take preparation days if we were no longer needed BUT the BoE decided they wanted us to stay in school and be like the other teachers and do our preparation work there...Great! - we have to somehow  prepare 50min lessons without access to internet or our own data, such as scanned images...To top it off my schools banned personal laptops - just in case we connected to the school network.

Lets just say in Japan they are very safety orientated...which for most part is a good thing but on the other hand it makes you wonder how anyone gets stuff done...

So, this is where my iPad comes into it all. Technically and iPad is NOT a laptop or PC...furthermore it works via wifi (ir 3G if you can afford those models), you can get iWorks apps (similar to words, exel etc) and a keyboard. I also signed up for mobile internet with a wireless device so i could use my own internet at school.

So by having the ipad i can get work done without breaking the rules...It also means (technically) that i dont have any restrictions and so i can check all the websites i want and the work i do i can save as a words document and add the pictures at home with my scanner if need be. But as i mentioned, the downside is i cannot post comments of blogs via my ipad :S

Now, if you remember, i also mentioned that i have been busy. Well for most part it has been school work - trying to think up new games to play that will last a full 50mins...

Game 1: Articulate...Normally it has 3 rounds but i just have 1 round...i make the kids write their own cards (3 each) choosing from certain categories...such as Animals, foods, objects etc...they have one minute to write 3 - i also prepare extra ones, especially if i want them to practice certain vocabulary.

Then each person has 30secs-1min (depends on length of class), you move from one team to the other...the winner is the one with the most cards.

I allow only english and gesture - for higher levels only english...if time the second round is either only english or only one word (depends on level)

Another good game is Whispers (like chinese whisper)...you have rows...you stand at the back and show the person at the back of each row a word. they whisper it to the next person until it reaches the front...then the front person writes the word on the board...I do 3 rounds - first is points for correct words, points deducted for wrong spelling, bonus points for all correct and first team to finish gets extra points.

Second round - words are mixed and at the end they must create a sentence (same point system)

final round - words are mixed - they must make a questions and then use their own words to make an anwers (points system is the same except for the answer they get 10pts for each word)

The last games is suitable for all levels, practices reading, speaking, listening and writing and gets everyone involved...

Anyway...i will write about my other adventures in another blog - such as the time i went camping or the time i was left with about 10pounds and i needed food and petrol or my friends birthday or the time i bumped into a japanese person i only met once but forgot who she was and ended up having coffee at her house.

Yes, a lot has happened...so stay tuned for more

• teaching
• alt
• games
• activities
• Japan
• Asia
• TEFL