Spring semester registration is coming UP

Spring semester registration is now coming up and I sincerely hope that many of 1101 and 2201 students continue to study next semester at 1102 and 2202. There will be only two 1102 classes (M-Th 11-12, and MW 6-8) and one 2202 class (TTH 6-8). Also students are encouraged to register or apply either Spring Break Japan Trip or/and Summer Study Abroad program. Summer Study Abroad has already several students admitted in so only dozen more slots are left! Yes, our regular JCC/GTS dinner is coming in two weeks on Friday, 11/6/2009.

1101 has begun shrinking!

Upon completing Lesson 3 test, it seems that 1101 has just begun shrinking. Those mysterious seats will now become official empty seats after the mid-term verification next week. The average score of this 3rd test was 104 out of 130 (80%) which is a lot higher than last two previous tests. Hopefully less withdrawal towards the end of semester. The global classroom project between COD and Hiroshima Jogakuin University in our honor seminar (Japanese 1100 & Sociology 2200) began today and every student met Japanese students through web cam screen!

Zoo after Workshop!

On Saturday, GTS as a president of Illinois Association of Teachers of Japanese (IATJ) organized its Annual Professional Development Workshop at Elk Grove High School attended by over 25 Japanese language teachers of K-16 levels. The topic was "how to teach Japanese without creating students with stereotype such as "Japanese likes cleanliness (which is not true when looking at each household kitchen!)." Exhausted? ちょっと。So on Sunday GTS went to Racine Zoo in Wisconsin!!! It was a bit chilly but had great time with animals being very close! Yes, I love Zoos and Aquariums. TV channel? Sure, Animal Planet Channel! Chapter test is coming up for 1101 and misterious seats are growing!

JCC dinner was well-attended!

The second dinner of this academic year has passed! Over 20 GTS family members showed up. Current students, former study abroad participants, Japan field trip participants, former JET and future JET gathered with lots of smiles. This was the only opportunity where some might meet former classmates as well. The restaurant added one more room for us so that everyone could be together! Some were ready to apply JET program, and others were planning to take Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), and the rest were at least ready for the next dinner on November 6th.

Second Test has done in classes!

GTS had to attend the board meeting for the Association of Teachers of Japanese(ATJ) over the weekend. Luckily enough, the meeting was held in Arlington Heights so I didn't have to travel too much! This is one of the two national organizations for Japanese education in the US. GTS was a president of the other organization (NCJLT) in the year 2004-2005. The second test has just done for Japanese 1101 and the average seems to be the same as the last one (72%). A few students may withdraw after this because no Roma-ji after Lesson 3, which will become the biggest challenge to students. Hopefully no one left behind!! Oh, JCC/GTS dinner night is coming up this Friday (10/2) and would like to see many of you there!

Japanese class for parents at the Dooley School began!

The Dooley Eelementary School (K-8) in Schaumburg, IL has dual language program (12 Japanese native speakers and 12 English native speakers in one class are learning everything in both Japanese and English). This is the only program at the public school in the United States available. GTS began teaching Japanese language and culture to parents so that they can learn Japanese together with their kids and help homework, etc. The class is basically on every Friday night (5:30~7:00pm). Well the first class went well and I am sure everyone could enjoy GTS! Due to this class, GTS/JCC dinner will begin at 7:00! Next dinner will be on Oct. 2!!
By the way, the Application for Summer Study Abroad program began coming in!

Former classmates in GTS class got married!

On this very memorable Saturday, Ashley and Russ had the wedding ceremony at the Morton Arboretum! Congratulations! I believe that they met and got know with each other in GTS Japanese class about 5 years ago! I am very happy to see them together and hope their partnership continues to be fruitful and peaceful! I planned to attend with my little EMA and she was so excited as well until she got a bit sick! Too bad, but her little smile should have reached Ashley and Russ as well! This is a little too personal but one of the best events for my former students! Congratulations again!