*I am still enjoying my students.
*I am still maintaining my sense of humor.
*I am still keeping my mind engaged in intellectual pursuits.
and yet, I have hit a new low in my professional life.
*I didn't complain when they suggested we do mini 5-minute lobby lessons.
*I helped think up good idiomatic expressions to teach students between classes.
*I had fun teaching (along with my fellow teachers) pronunciation through tongue twisters.
*I even participated when one week of every month, we started having to teach a portion of a karaoke song and then sing it with our students in the lobby ("Your Song" by Elton John and Louis Armstrong's version of "What a Wonderful World").
*I drew it to the attention of our staff and fellow teachers when I noticed that some students waited in the hall until the singing was over so they didn't have to participate and feel uncomfortable, but to no avail.
but now it's simply awful:
*The song that was chosen (Notice the non-accusatory passive voice? That's on purpose.) for this week's karaoke sing-along?
*wait for it...
"What a Feeling" from Flashdance.
*I refused to sing this song with my students in the lobby and lose every shred of credibility.
*I refused to scoop my voice, Irene Cara style, while singing words that made no sense.
*Yet I was forced to teach the words to students twice this week.
*I had to say horrible, unnatural things like:
"Okay everyone, repeat after me:
'What a feeling-'
'Being's believing-'
(someone PLEASE tell me what that means)
'I can have it all-'
'Now I'm dancing for my life-'
(a useful phrase for any Japanese traveler)
'Take your passion-'
(yes, Michel and I sang 'Take your pants off,' which is what I (and I think everyone else) used to think Cara was singing)
'and make it happen-'
That was great everybody! Now, let's listen, and join in when you get to the chorus!"
*When I didn't have to lead, I generally hid out in an empty classroom.
*Who needs a drink?
7 comments:
Matty, my boy. I ALWAYS need a drink.
Cheers!
Also, I LOVE that Kings of Convenience album.
Nice choice.
BP: Yeah, isn't it a great album? Have you heard the remix stuff of Erland Øye? It's also really cool.
words fail me.
How about "My Humps" for next time, for a maximum of awkward- and uselessness?
You could go with something more socially useful like "Baby Got Back." Or "Tiny Bubbles." I understand, though that there's some kind of East Coast-Hawaii feud because of those two songs.
Best be safe. Irene Cara or Eminem.
Dear Matteo:
Happy Thanksgiving from those of us here stateside. I hope you have a lovely day and think of us often, eating until we are fatfatfattyfat, passing out on the couch.
ps: you look great in recent photos
pps: these are supposed to come after the actual salutation
yours in "now I'm dancing for my life,"
the x
Matt,
That is sad. Only corporate would think that would work. The Japanese are already very reticent. Now they decide to embarass everyone in front of the whole school. I guess that soon the Junior High students will be but a distant memory at AEON.
I'm glad I didn't have to go through that indignity.
Perhaps its a ploy by AEON to lose teachers before having to pay a bonus or airfare for completing the terms of employment?
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