Tests All Around

On Dec 3rd, I again attempted the JLPT. Overall I felt much better this year-- I felt I was understanding the content, but I also know I made a myriad of small mistakes. Just have to wait until March to find out exactly how many of those mistakes I made. But my overall goal of not losing the keitai was realised!!




And once again it's testing at the school. We have testing about every six weeks, with the students getting half days. I'm not really sure what purpose these tests serve; I'm told by my teachers that they want an average score of 60%. I'd thought that the idea is to see how well the kids do, and go back and review/redo/relearn any trouble areas. But my teachers don't even like to review the test in class. So far, my impression is that the tests are really just postmarks-- that now we can move onto new things.

This testing cycle I really upped the tests for Oral Communication. Instead of the incredibly weak and wimpy interview session [weak because the teacher wouldn't allow a seperate meeting time-- we had to interview 37 kids in the middle of their 50 minute test], their speaking portion is a speech. Now, this shouldn't seem shocking or revolutionary, but I assure you it is. My JTE was pretty reluctant to go forward. But I prevailed! And several students have actually sought me out to help with the speeches! Again, that shouldn't seem shocking, but it is!