Language Issues and Students

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

So, I'm picking up Japanese right. I mean, how could I not? I am living in Japan after all, need I remind you.

So as I learn more words, I pick up a few grammar points along the way. Today, I got a pretty good one and it opened my eyes even wider (than the Japanese..AHAHAHHAHA) as to why I'm having such issues learning this language.

We were reviewing how to answer the phone in class today. My teacher was translating "Call me back when you get home". She said in Japanese as "かえったら、電話して下さい". Literally that means, "If you return, please do the phone".

So let's dissect this a little bit more just for my own sanity. I already knew that you don't call people here. You do the phone when you want to get a hold of someone. Check. But I don't get the idea of "IF" you return as in, you might not ever be back and if you never do come back then it's ok if you don't call me but seriously dude if you don't die on the way home please ring me. If...if...I always say "when" even if Japanese and I'm sure that's one of the major reasons I have problems being understood. AND this is also a classic example of why it's difficult to talk to a Japanese person who knows English but has never studied how to speak it. I had a teacher once who told me that when I figure what materials I needed for the lesson "Please teach" him, he said. Because in Japanese, to tell someone also means teach. *sigh* That one threw me off for a second or two.

ANYWAY

For now, I'll leave you with an assignment I did with the third year students at Odochi. They have the English ability of my second years at Tosayamada. I wrote this assignment trying to get the students to have fun with English. I wanted to teach them "If...then..." so I gave them strange scenarios and split them into groups. The last group is the one I got placed in and you can tell that the girl was nervous about working with me and you can also tell which one I answered for her. I revised all of these as well so don't assume that these kids have perfect English or anything either.





Yuka and Harukapanan

#1. If we had 100,000,000 then we would want Doraemon.
#2. If we were birds then we would go all over the world.
#3 If we were super heroes then we would help people who gave us a reward.

#4. If we were alone on an island then we would be friends with wild animals.

#5. If we were famous then but we don't want to be famous.

#6. If we all died and went to heaven then we don't believe in heaven so we can't answer this.

#7. If we were allowed to use cell phones in school then we would always use cell phones.

#8. If we were on the Titanic then we would dance with DiCaprio.

#9. If we never needed sleep then we would play with friends all night.

#10. If we lived in America then we would go to Disney Land.

Sho and Kohei

#1. If we had 100,000,000 then we would hit somebody's cheeks. (<-- I had to get someone to explain this to me. It means that they would take a stack of cash and smack someone around with it (literaly) just because they can. It's by far the funniest thing I can imagine! My seniors smacking someone around with cash! HAHAHA!)

#2. If we were birds then we would carry some babies to someone.

#3 If we were super heroes then we would help pretty girls and cool boys.

#4. If we were alone on an island then we would find unconfirmed living things in a cave and challenge them to a fight.

#5. If we were famous then we would write our signs and shake hands.

#6. If we all died and went to heaven then we would exchange name cards with God.

#7. If we were allowed to use cell phones in school then we would type faster than now.

#8. If we were on the Titanic then we would help Jack and Rose.

#9. If we never needed sleep then we would lose our futon and beds.

#10. If we lived in America then we would appear in HOLLYWOOD movies.

Hotta Tomoyasu and Muneishi Jun