back in the saddle

Okay, so today was the first day of real classes after 22 days of paid vacation (hhahhaha, so sweeet). Back teaching (read: playing) at junior high school

First class

Sensei: "How’s it going?"
Student: "Yes."
Sensei: "No."
Sensei (to next student): "How are you?"
Next Student: "No."
Atta boy...

Second Class

Sensei: "How are you?"
Students (collectively): "I'm fine, sank you, and-o you?"
Sensei: "Oh, I’m fine too."
...so far so good...
Sensei (to individual student): "How’s it going?"
Student: Good-o...and-o baddo
Sensei: Why good AND bad?
Student: "Baddo, I'm hungooly" (translation: hungry)
Sensei: (pretty choppy English, but) "Okay, and why good?"
Student: "(Japanese mutterings)...I...(more mutterings)...(laughing)...I don’t know!"

Later in the class...

Sensei: "Who is a smart student?"
*No one raises their hand*
Sensei explains the meaning of “smart” in Japanese
Sensei: "Who is a smart student in this class?"
*Again, no hands are raised*
Sensei: (laughing) "Okay then, who is a stupid student?"
Student (thrusting hand in the air): "Me, me! Hai hai hai!" (translation: yes yes yes)
Another student: "Borantee-a!" (translation: volunteer)
*chorus of “Me! Volunteer!” echoes through the classroom*
...this particular student was referred to as Mr. Stupid for the remainder of the class (to the great admiration of his friends)

Further on...

Sensei: "Please make a sentence using the word 'monster'."
Student: "I.........bought......a...monsta!" (translation: monster)
Mr. Fujita (other Sensei): "Ehh! Oh, really? Where did you get it?"
Student: "Aahhh...space!"
...good answer...

Another memorable moment of communication:
It’s tradition to go to the local shrine on New Year’s Day and make a wish.

Sensei: "Mr. Fujita, what did you wish for when you went to the shrine?"
before he can answer...
Random Student: "Girlfriend!"
Rest of the class: "Yes, yes!"
(hahahha, poor Mr. Fujita)

And so on...

Ah, the joys of teaching at junior high school...the students have just enough English comprehension to recognize the glaring fact that they have very little comprehension at all. Of course, this makes class fairly hilarious fairly often...which is fun

Oh, and one more class late in the day

Sensei: "Please make a sentence using the word 'important'."
Student: "English is important."
...best answer possible in an English class...Let's see where this goes...
Sensei: "Why? Why is English important?"
Student: "My house."
Fair enough...

And the last point that made the day completely worthwhile all on its own:

Sensei: "What do you want to be in the future?"
Student: "I will become...kinfgo...etto neh...(Japanese mumbling)...I will...(sounds of exasperation)...I will......become...king...king! I will become king of the world"
...good answer!
Another student: (jumping out of his chair and shouting and pointing) "He is king only in dream!"

Ah, my job...