Extra Activity other than Teaching

[mangakk]

I was just wondering if any of you do some extra curricular activity (some other activity other than teaching). I have cleaned the pool, planted flowers, join the kids cleaning after lunch. Yesterday, I did some baking at the school for the teachers.

[Otaku]

I've gone fishing with a couple of students.
Grown a garden.
Cleaned the windows in the gym. (I particularly hated this one)
Organized oversea gift/letter exchanges.
Volunteer eikaiwas at my ES for HRTs.
Phonics seminar for ES HRTs.
Created a series of school-specific English newspapers
12+ ALT teaching seminars.
2 HRT seminars. (in Japanese, my head hurt aftewards)
Travelled to Sendai for a JTE seminar.
Created a phonics curriculum.
33k run with my JHS students.
I was volunteered to do a 12k run this coming August with my JHS students.
Etc.

I try not to volunteer for extra things but that usually results in my being volunteered, despite me from pounding aways on the computer keyboard non-stop in between classes.

oh yeah, build Englipedia.

[Paul]

Helped paint the roof on the gym during summer vacation no less, in OKINAWA
Painted classrooms
Painted hallways
Painted bathrooms
Painted outside walls that were previously painted by up and coming wanna be graffitists
Replaced countless lightbulbs, I am too tall to say no.
Replaced light fixtures in classrooms
Repaired ceiling fans
Rewired and replaced ceiling fans
Replaced water faucets
Fixed leaky faucets
Planted gardens
Cut grass
Cut weeds
Cut trees
Cut flowers
Cut myself

Uhmmmm if I remember anything else I wont be posting them later

[mangakk]

Geez... you guys are been busy bees. I'm glad I'm not treated as a guest at my schools. When I was an alt in Tokyo, I was always treated as a guest so I didn't feel quite at home.

[Paul]

Stuff builds up over time, for me at least. It wasnt like I had any intentions on doing any of the things I mentioned above but I had time on my hands in many cases and wanted something to do besides twiddling my thumbs.

AND some of the things I did because it would have taken the school days, weeks or in some cases months to actually have someone come in and fix the problem at the time.

I am ever grateful for my brothers and father taking the time to teach me some of the "handy-man" skills needed to keep a house in shape. Plus the internet now as well for ideas too.

[Otaku]

Like Paul said, the things done outside the realm of teaching English in the classroom does pile up over time. To be honest, it's hard to track because I don't really write down the stuff that is slotted as "Other" in my job duties.

And, I guess other people don't either either because given the number of years Paul has been in Japan, he should have a Santa Claus list of 'other'.

[Paul]

And, I guess other people don't either either because given the number of years Paul has been in Japan, he should have a Santa Claus list of 'other'.

Yup and I rather enjoy the benefits too!

[Otaku]

...can I have a transformer for Christmas?

[Paul]

...can I have a transformer for Christmas?

Like this?

[Otaku]

Bumblebee! Thank you, Santa P!

[Paul]

Just for mangakk's sake these posts also fall under the "other" headings as well.

Community relations and public service!

[bum1]

I'm with Paul.

Fixed like 5 doors and the athletic storage lockers.
Removed ten years worth of trash off of the roofs of the school that was visible to the students.
Fixed a water fountian and a toilet.
Started a garden.
Removed the 45 umbrellas that were in the school trees.
Play sports with the students occasionally.
Made a website for students to practice phonics.
Put batteries in countless stopped clocks.
Daily trash pickup.
Occasionally I make DVDs or CDs for a single grade.
Pretty much the same. It gets me really attached to the school because I remember what it used to look like and it's a much nicer place to work now.

[Paul]

Pretty much the same. It gets me really attached to the school because I remember what it used to look like and it's a much nicer place to work now

Isnt that is what it is all about!

I like the results too and I like seeing the kids smile when they see something nice too. Maybe next time they will think twice before doing something to wreck the school and prior to me or , or , or !

When I was a kid I was raised to treat other people's things better than my own, and if I ever broke something or scratched a desk etc I had to either pay to have it fixed or do the repair myself. Kids here have, for the most part in my experience, no respect for other peoples, or community use property.

Ticks me off something royally sometimes.

[regardo]

Removed the 45 umbrellas that were in the school trees.

i love that!

Made a website for students to practice phonics.

do you wanna share?

[bum1]

It's in development and isn't on the official school site yet.
DEV page is at http://www.dkvine.com/jeremy/Frontpage.html

[mangakk]

Just for mangakk's sake these posts also fall under the "other" headings as well.

Community relations and public service!

My Bad. thought it belongs here.

[regardo]

It's in development and isn't on the official school site yet.
DEV page is at http://www.dkvine.com/jeremy/Frontpage.html

aligato!

[Paul]

Just for mangakk's sake these posts also fall under the "other" headings as well.

Community relations and public service!

My Bad. thought it belongs here.

No no no.....please dont misunderstand my "off-topic" kind of reply about Christmas and such was one of the extra activities "other than teaching" that I was refering to as Community Relations and Public Service.

Hell if ALT's didnt use the internet there probably wouldnt be a reason for the schools to be connected anyway!

[mangakk]

Just baked Banana bread today and waiting for it to cool down. It's chow chow time @ 3pm, afternoon break.

[Paul]

Just baked Banana bread today and waiting for it to cool down. It's chow chow time @ 3pm, afternoon break.

I will bet your teachers will be happy. They always love having something special and handmade too!

If you had said apple, or raisin, or any other bread besides banana's I would have been asking you to send a slice.

To me banana's are presents from the and should be only eaten by monkeys.

[mangakk]

Paul, I know you are jealous of my baking.

We just had the banana bread, I should say it was delicious. I had mixed walnuts with the banana bread mix and so it tasted real good. Last time it was pumkin pie, this time banana bread. I guess I will be hearing a lot of praises till the begining of summer vacation. Grin.

[Paul]

:finger: Paul, I know you are jealous of my baking.

If it has banana's in it

We just had the banana bread, I should say it was delicious. I had mixed walnuts with the banana bread mix and so it tasted real good. Last time it was pumkin pie, this time banana bread. I guess I will be hearing a lot of praises till the begining of summer vacation. Grin.

Thumbs up! I will bet that it tasted great too. And even if it didnt I am sure the Japanese staff would just grin and bear it as another concoction that the ALT made them suffer through. You know how it is here, they smile politely when they really just wanted to .

Ok bad joke there and I am kidding. Seriously here I think it's great that you do stuff like that. It reminds me of me when I get in the mood to start making my cherry wood smoked chicken and pork ribs.

[mangakk]

had fun baking..... it tasted good, but not as good as my pie. Thanks for reminding me how the Japanese are.

[Paul]

Please dont take that comment about the Japanese seriously, in regards to your cooking, it was meant to be sarcastic. Oh Japanese arent the only one's that act that way either.

My Mom likes to recall a story about when she was first engaged to my Dad and she made a full dinner for her future father and mother-in-law. In her rush to make everything perfect she made the mistake of mixing in a cup of salt instead of sugar in her homemade apple pie filling. I am sure you can imagine what that would be like. Anyway future father-in-law ate his piece of pie and actually asked for seconds. My dad being the Neanderthal that he often times was in his life, spit the pie up on his plate. I used to wonder why my brothers and I walked around sometimes with hairy knuckles dragging on the floor, until that is I heard this from my Mom. I guess we just inherited our Dad's genes.

I am sure your pies would be better than banana bread any day in my book. Just so long as it isnt banana pie that is!

[hokkaido1]

I have gone fishing, climbing, done the sports day thing, planted rice, harvested rice, potatoes.
Made soba, tofu
attended Library festival, played (English) activities in the snow (mid-winter)
as well as other various events from time to time

all the above were fully paid (part of my job) as I was with the students

[mangakk]

I have gone fishing, climbing, done the sports day thing, planted rice, harvested rice, potatoes.
Made soba, tofu
attended Library festival, played (English) activities in the snow (mid-winter)
as well as other various events from time to time

all the above were fully paid (part of my job) as I was with the students

Sounds like fun. I will be taking part in the annual school sports too, so am looking forward to participate in all the activities.

[kabocha]

I did the sports day thing where I stood around getting hot and planted rice and sweet potatoes. I also look after the flower tubs and sweep the steps. They'd die otherwise.(the plants , not the steps)

[Paul]

You know whether people believe it or not, having an ALT do these kind of extra curricular activities is truly appreciated by most of the schools. From my experience "they" may not have the "best" way of showing their appreciation however it does not go unnoticed.

[mangakk]

You know whether people believe it or not, having an ALT do these kind of extra curricular activities is truly appreciated by most of the schools. From my experience "they" may not have the "best" way of showing their appreciation however it does not go unnoticed.

I say AMEN to that!!!

[Paul]

You know whether people believe it or not, having an ALT do these kind of extra curricular activities is truly appreciated by most of the schools. From my experience "they" may not have the "best" way of showing their appreciation however it does not go unnoticed.

I say AMEN to that!!!

Something happened today that reinforced my belief in what I said that you replied to here. At one of my schools I have been following along with the girls volleyball team now for something like 6 years, I go to as many games and tournaments that I can, time allowing of course, and right now they are in the finals of the prefectural tournament. If they win one more match they will be prefectural champs and go to the Kyushyu Tournment.

Well one of the parents supporter made a T-shirt for me as a "supporter" I got it at school a few weeks ago from one of the students and asked how much it was. They told me 2,200 yen. I paid for the Tshirt and wore it this AM to the tournament. One of the parents came up to me and gave me my money back saying....."Hey it was a present, you weren't supposed to have paid for it, you always come to the games and cheer our girls on, Thank You!"

Nice timing on the comment and topic I think. I stopped home for a bite to eat and now am out the door for the "next" match.