As if kids weren't crazy enough by themselves, schools put them all together in an enclosed space, tell them to sit still, and make them listen to boring, state-mandated lessons. The result is the chaos I experienced in an elementary school yesterday.
I spent the day in third and fifth grade classrooms for what was my first semi-professional translation job. Overall, I think it went well. After the initial shyness barrier, the Japanese students started talking a little more freely, and I stopped making stupid mistakes. We were able to get some much needed communication going between the Japanese students and their teachers, in addition to being able to answer the questions of curious classmates.
While the Japanese speaking was very exciting, I almost had a better time just watching the workings of the school. My favorite moments included:
- The student who slept under the computer desk for 20 minutes.
- Milk Break!
- The other visitor to the school - a chicken that lays green eggs.
- Baseball style greetings in Morning Greeting time.
- Molded mashed potatoes and meatloaf for lunch.
- The three kids having a farting contest during class after lunch.
- The overenthusiastic kid who volunteers all the time.
- Lining up for everything.
- Those stupid desks where you have to lift the lid to get anything out.
- The overall feeling that nothing has really changed since I left grade school.
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