Yusho Tagusari

Some people wonder what keeps me so busy every day. They say relax, throw in a movie and pour a stiff one. Easier said than done. There are two things that are zapping my energy and consuming

all of my non-working/waking hours in these last 2 months.

One, is the linguistics course I'm taking so I can start grad school next August. [Note: I don't advise taking an intensive English course while living in a non-English speaking environment. And moreover, who wants to spend 2 hours studying syntactic ambiguity and inflectional morphology while living in a new country?]

The second major committment has been perhaps the most influential and meaningful experience whilst living over here. Yes, I've traveled tons and met incredible people, BUT working with Yusho IS MY only teaching opportunity (which flashback 1 year ago when I was interviewing for this job and TOLD that I would be TEACHING!!??) Working with him makes me feel like I serve a purpose over here. It's been rewarding and challenging, and given me more insight into the ESL scene.

So Yusho comes to my house every evening to study English. He was the 8th grade winner of the speech contest and has been rewarded with a 2 week homestay in Indiana. Originally, I offered to help a couple hours a week, but somehow that has manifested into 3 hours a nite. Every nite. hmmmm, so i've started putting him to work: he helps me make dinner, and teaches me Japanese, tries to answer my cultural questions and of course we have to fun a little fun...so he'll bring over his PS2. (Nothing beats Dance Dance revolution--the Japanese version).

We study what needs to be studied for the Iwate exams, but mostly work on practical conversation for when he goes to America. He leaves, ironically, the same day I do for Hawaii. He is way excited to actually put the English he has learned to use. I'm really proud of his determination. I mean, how many 8th graders in any country would spend this amount of time studying anything for 3 hours a nite.

This isn't a completely selfless gesture on my part, working with him has improved my Japanese and will ultimately help write my thesis next year. These are the opportunities that you NEVER get in the States...meeting your students outside of school!? There is so much red tape in the American education system, its nearly impossible to foster a relationship with your students, without fear of discrimination or harassment charges.

I've also realized that in the ESL/EFL classroom, establishing trust is a must. Langauge is intimate and personal. It takes a lot of nerve to practice saying the most elementary of sentences with a complete stranger who you know is analyzing and hanging on every word you say. But once that relationship is established they will take a chance, and not fear making mistakes.

I can't think of anything more worthwhile to do for a living than to help someone communicate? It only took 7 months to realize that, but had I not taken a chance on Japan...who knows where and what I'd be doing? Big risks, big rewards. (And I credit that to Isaac.)