English camp in Japan

Are you an English teacher? You having a hard time finding work consider working at a camp.  By camp I don't mean camping like we do in Canada, this is just like a get away class in the mountains. Not that I am complaining. I was recruited by a head hunter for a camp at lake sei-ko. All Meals are included, you get your own room and you have access to the hotels amenities. (ie. an in door onsen)

I took the train from shinjuku station  to machida, from there I transferred on to the JR yokohama. At the station the teachers met up and waded towards the bus. The travel time all together was about 3.75 hours.

we showed up a bit behind schedule so we each did a very quick introduction and checked in. A speedy 20 min break before lunch time.

Lunch consisted of salad and tuna, curry rice and ginger.  Another 10 min break and off we go to for our ice breakers. The students were shy but this has always been the case, we all know that by the end of the camp we would all be very chatty towards each other.

After classes and a couple breaks we were able to get some games in before dinner. I had 7 very shy but very wonderful female students. Since they were all about 16 they already have developed quite a bit of characters and it was really fun learning about what they liked and didn't like.

From there it was dinner time a buffet of all varieties. Yakisoba, rice, miso, cabbage rolls, three different kinds of salad, potato wedges, beef paddy, deep fried shrimp, fresh pineapple, fruit salad, bread rolls, cinnamon bread with jam/butter, mini cakes and to top it all off all you can drink coffee, water and tea. I definitely ate my fair share!

Time for an hour if English games and for us teachers signing of certificates. Now it is 9pm time to relax for a full day of English classes. 

Our team name was Dango! I was asking the students about a new types of dango I should try, they were all talking about this edaname dango. When I asked can you show me a picture they all whipped out their phones at the same time and BAM there were three pictures in front of me all at once. lol :P

Breakfast was another buffet style! Chicken nuggets, sausages, eggs, natto, chicken nuggets, miso, salad, tuna, mackerel and rice. I helped myself to many servings of chocolate swirl bread with jam. I cannot stop eating the stuff I wish I wasn't such a pig.

We went right into our lessons with a couple of games in between. From there lunch was had an obento out on the lake, since the students don't get to go outside and walk around this was a treat for them. Leaving the hotel an doing a treasure hunt, this was a lot of fun! 

My full class and Steven the other teacher.

 Back into the classrooms to finish the presentation. From there we were able to finish our projects before dinner and have a couple goes performing it to one of the other classes. 

Obento: three onigris, korokke, ginger and a piece of tempura ebi.

Dinner again was another huge buffet, consisting many items: spaghetti, karaage, fries, wedges, suimai, bamboo shoots, salad, pineapples, bread rolls, miso, rice and more. 

After dinner we had one more practice go before ending the day with a presentation for one of the other classes. Tomorrow we present it for 5 classes and they get their certificates before heading home.  

I started off the day with a light breakfast to keep myself going a little longer. From there I went with simple things that we could tweak before the final presentation. All the performances were wonderful!! You could see the progress and contribution that the students made towards their project. 

The closing ceremony was for all the students individually getting their certificates and the teachers to say final words. Lunch was mediocre but it felt like the class you taught for the last 3 days have really began to feel like extended family. The good byes pre bus was all about taking photos with everyone I am pretty sure that my line has an additional 10 contacts easily. 

Time to board the bus and head back to the station. From there my little notes about the camp all are just about how much time they wanted us to spent with the children, sit with them on their breaks and meal times. I like to read alone but was forced to socialize with the children instead, it isn't a bad thing but by the one I made it back to my room I was tired enough to sleep. Fresh lake/mountain air made it all the better.

Last picture we took together, I told them they had to make silly faces.  They were up to the task.

Here is a blurry photo of all the students and teachers together. See if you can find me!!!

I would definitely do this again!