Nagasaki South Commercial High School Students

Nansho students are divided up into those students studying commercial subjects such as book-keeping, and those students studying computer related subjects such as programming. Generally, the computer students are brighter and much more well behaved than the commercial students. In fact, you would not be wrong in asking if some of the students here are mutes. During my first two years here I taught both types of students but this year I only teach the computer students which is a lot easier. Most students do not go on to further education after high school but instead work in hotels, offices and petrol stations. I talk to students about things but I am not as close to the students here as I was with my students in Thailand. I used to be the girls basketball coach and enjoyed getting to know the girls but now the school does not have a team. To put it bluntly, compared to students back in Australia, students here are less confident, usually totally apathetic about everything and do not know the meaning of self discipline. Maybe it is different at a Japanese academic school. But the students here are easy going and always friendly, so that makes life easier, as long as I don't get too serious about trying to actually teach them English. I will have fond memories of Nansho when I leave.

I also go to a junior high school every Thursday. It is a 20 minute ferry ride from the city on an island called Ioujima. The students there are a lot more enthusiastic about learning (English) and I enjoy going there (to my island). There are only 22 students at the school but some of the students there are better than all but a few of my students at Nansho. Have a look at the photos of all my students taken during class, sports day and the school's culture festival.

After a class in the computer room.

 I usually teach in the computer room... I want the students to use the internet in English. These are grade 11 girls at a basketball class match Sports Day is not only about sporting events but also about half-time entertainment.

Sports Day entertainment - a lot of thought goes into the costumes - not much thought goes into the actual entertainment though ..

A lot of effort goes into making team banners This is the schools Culture Day (fair) and the students do all the cooking ... that's why I don't have lunch on that day ... Unfortunately this year it was raining for Culture Day but everyone had a good time anyway, including the sports teacher, Ms Kamigawa
1st grade girls waiting for the bus after school These are my junior high school girls. They are a lot of fun except for one student who is one beer short of a six-pack. Can you guess which one ? Rie and Satsuki did their best at the English speech competition. I'm glad I got to know them - they are both cuties ! ! These are my old JHS students from my old school. I loved teaching them because they loved English (and they loved me too) They have since graduated and I miss them !!