The Burning of Mt. Omuro

Last weekend, I went with Mishima Kita's and Oyama's ALTs to Ito. We spent the night at K's House, which is a really nice hostel.

http://kshouse.jp/ito-e/facilities/index.html

If you're going to Ito, I would recommend staying at this place. There is an onsen inside and the atmosphere is really nice. Also, there is a river behind the hostel, and our room overlooked the river.

After relaxing at the onsen, the next day we went to Mt. Omuro. We took a bus from Ito station to the mountain. Mt. Omuro is a dormant volcano. It has a crater that is 300m in diameter and 70m deep that is located at the summit. The mountain is 580 meters above sea level. Every year on the 2nd Sunday of February, a famous event called Yamayaki (burning the mountain) is performed. However this year, it was one week late due to snow. The tall grass covering Mt. Omuro is set on fire, and all the grass covering the mountain is burned. This tradition has been passed down since the Kamakura Era, and is carried out so that new grass can grow quickly. It is symbolic of spring's nearness. Before the lighting, a group of men played taiko drums. I wonder what happens to the animals living on the mountain. I heard that foxes live on the mountain. I wonder if they are ok during the burning.

Japanese Language Proficiency Test N4 and Ashita no Joe

Since coming to Japan, I've been trying to learn Japanese. When I first came, I didn't know any Japanese at all. I was so lost. The first 6 months, I didn't know how to begin studying. I tried a little bit of everything, but I felt like I had no clue what was going on. Then in November 2009, I got my first JET Programme Language Course book. I felt like I had a guide then. It was broken down by days, and you had to submit a test at the end of each month. My friend from Kamabara was also doing the books. We motivated each other to keep going because we didn't want to be the first one to quit. We were finally learning Japanese, but then my friend decided she wasn't going to recontract and that she was going to return to America in August. I felt a little lost trying to study alone, but then, I told myself that I had to keep going. I wanted to be able to communicate with the people around me. I tried to make a lot of Japanese friends, and practice Japanese by sending them lots of emails. I think this helped a lot. However, in May 2010, my JET beginner's language course finished. Then, I started to lose a little of my motivation. This is when I heard about the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. There are currently 5 levels. The lowest level is N5 and the highest level is N1. I decided that I would try to take level N4, so I began to study a lot. I found a Japanese teacher, who gives me lessons one day a week for 2 hours. It's a great chance for me to practice speaking Japanese. In December 2010, I went to take the Japanese Language Proficiency Test N4 in Tokyo. It was so hard. I especially thought the listening and grammar was hard. The kanji and vocabulary was easy for me though. I was certain that I didn't pass. I had to wait 2 and 1/2 months for the test results. I don't know why it takes so long. In this time, I felt a little disenchanted. I felt like I studied, but I wasn't learning anything. At this time, my intermediate JET Programme Language Course books arrived. I began to do them half-heartedly. Then, my test score arrived this week. I somehow managed to pass, but just barely. My listening score was really bad. I've decided I must study harder now to improve my listening. I want to take the N3 test in July. I've began to watch more Japanese dramas. Also, I've decided I'm going to go to the cinema to watch Japanese movies.

This weekend, I went to watch Ashita no Joe. Last year, an English club student told me that this movie was coming out in February because we both like Yamapi. I have wanted to watch this movie ever since she told me. I really enjoyed watching the movie. Even though I couldn't understand everything, I could understand what was happening. I hope that someday I can rewatch this movie and understand everything that is being said.

All-Japan English Speech Contest

Last year, my vice principal approached me. He asked if I would help assist students in competing in an English speech contest. At first, I was at a loss of what to do. I had never helped students with a speech contest before. Also, I had little experience writing speeches myself. I wasn't even sure how speeches should be structured. I looked on the internet for help, and I found this website.

http://soldave.ismysite.co.uk/biginjapan/preparing-students-for-speech-debate-contests

I think it is so useful. I would have been completely lost without this website as a reference.

After this, I met with my student. It was also his first time doing a speech. We discussed several speech topics, but finally, he decided he wanted to give a speech on the Bataan Death March because he had lived in the Philippines for three years.

First, my student wrote a rough draft. Then, we met, and together, we edited the speech. Then, we reedited it and reedited it and reedited it. It slowly began to emerge into an entirely different speech than it had been in the beginning. It slowly transitioned into a worthwhile speech.

The first competition was in Numazu. This was the Eastern Shizuoka prefecture competition. I had no clue how he would do at this competition. Unfortunately, I couldn't attend because I was in Korea at the time. I was so surprised to learn that he had won. We then reedited the speech again based on the judges' comments and prepared for the next level. The second speech contest was the Shizuoka Prefecture Speech Contest. I was so surprised again to learn that he had won. We continued to edit and practice almost everyday. My student then went to the Tokai Region Speech Contest, where he won again. I couldn't believe he had gone this far. We both lacked so much experience.

The next and final speech contest was the All-Japan Speech Contest. I felt unsure about our success at this level. Students were coming from as far away as Hokkaido and Okinawa. I felt that these students must have amazing oracle skills. 18 students competed at the contest. I listened with nervous anticipation as each student gave their speech. When my student delievered his speech, I felt as if he captivated the entire audiences' attention. I was so impressed by his delivery. During the awards ceremony, winners 2 through 5 were named, but my student wasn't among them. I began to fear that there wasn't even hope of him placing, but then his name was called. He had won first place. I was so excited. All our hard work had paid off. My student was the winner of the All-Japan Speech contest.