Saturday, February 27, 2010

Reunion with the family!

Finally the rest of my family returned from Japan and sadly the 10-months old Rina has forgotten me and my face and GTS is just a scary stranger making her cry while Ema was giving me a great hug! I was supposed to break the ice between me and Rina this weekend but the urgent two-whole-day meeting in Denver destroyed the plan! I have to start from the scratch on Monday and hopefully I can re-become her daddy! Next Friday, GTS/JCC dinner is coming up. On Saturday, The Japanese Speech Contest will be held at Consulate General in Chicago and I attend it as a rep from Teacher's association of Illinois. What I am most looking forward to is the presentation of the new SONY Palo (Robot SEAL) as well as my former student's speech presentation. Already March is there and COD Field Trip to Kyoto will be in 4 weeks!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Second test made up the previous one!

1102 class had a second test (L.8 test) and made up the previous test low average as GTS planned a bit harder. The average score rose up to about 80% (120/150) by which most students score rose accordingly. Hopefully everyone continues to improve their knowledge and skill and wins over GTS challenge. Some are writing e-mails to me in Japanese or at least enjoy writing Japanese in their own facebook communication! 2202 class will beat GTS on the second test tomorrow on Thursday!

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Second test is just around the corner!

1102 will face the second test on Monday and hopefully everyone gets better than the last one. Still over 25 students are in the morning class which seems to be a nice big family with cheerful smiles. 2202 moves a bit slower and the second test is coming on Thursday before GTS flying to Denver, CO for the important weekend meeting of 'American Association of Teachers of Japanese.' Summer Study Abroad in Japan official registrants are, so far, from COD, Harper, Lake County (CLC), Waubonsee (WCC), Devry, DePaul, and NIU.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Busy Week!!

This week is one of the busiest week in the Spring Semester on which GTS assists the Japanese governmental project of JET by which English speaking college graduates are sent to various public schools in Japan. GTS is one of the interviewers for candidates who are screened into the interview process. It is very lucrative offer for college graduates so I do recommend those who graduate from colleges and universities to apply. GTS has also worked as a voice over project this week for a company employee/customer training video. 'Spring break field trip to Japan' is a small group of 7 participants (as of today) while the summer study abroad will be a large group this year! 1102 students have been suffering from Kanji quiz as usual but I do hope that they will thank this challenge in future.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Seems to be a big group in the summer study abroad!

I have just received the news that a couple of students (intermediate level) join COD Summer Japan Program from University of South Florida! So far besides COD students, non-COD students from Harper, Lake County, Devry, and Oakton join us! This year's group seems to have as many as 18-20 students. Very exciting group is coming up in summer!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

16th Birthday at College of DuPage!

Thank you very much for lovely words for my 16th birthday at College of DuPage. Students in the morning class brought me a birthday cake, some sweet potato cake and a huge smiley face balloon as well as cookies for everyone in class. Sweet sixteen at College of DuPage means that GTS is already one of old timers at COD! Well, I will continue to share smiles with students in class. Oh, maybe some tears after test as well!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

First test bullied lovely students!

Both 1102 and 2202 had a first lesson test and let quite a few students suffer! 2202 test seems to be quite usual and the average score of 74% satisfied me, but 1102 test seemed fairly challenging though some had done very well. The average score of 68% let GTS think much deeper to prepare for next lesson test. Yet, time will not stop and we will move forward carefully. GTS will have the busy weekend during which 2 workshops for Japanese language education are organized by GTS and will ne held at Japan Information Center (Consulate General of Japan at Chicago) in downtown Chicago! Summer Study Abroad has now 11 students and 2 are forth coming.