16 Chapter 16 - Sports Day Part 2: Afternoon

In the afternoon, Kate arrives at a second school for more Sports Day events. She watches new games, joins in the fun, and ends the day feeling tired, but happy.

Download PDF: Chapter 16 SCRIPT & GLOSSARY

Slow Eigo is an English learning project specially designed for comfortable, immersive learning, and built on the understanding that people learn best when they feel relaxed, connected, and motivated to try.

Your creator and host, Anne Roop-Takata, holds a Master’s degree in Education and has over 30 years of experience in teaching and curriculum development, including 20 years supporting Japanese students of all ages and learning goals.(See bio for more details)

Slow Eigoは、心地よく英語の世界に入り込みながら学べるように特別に設計された英語学習プロジェクトです。人は、リラックスし、つながりを感じ、やってみようという気持ちがあるときに最もよく学べるという考えに基づいています。

制作者兼ホストのアン・ループ・タカタは、教育学の修士号を持ち、30年以上にわたり英語教育とカリキュラム開発に携わってきました。そのうち20年間は、さまざまな年齢や学習目的を持つ日本人学習者をサポートしてきました。（詳しくはプロフィールをご覧ください） 

Thank you for hanging out with us at Slow Eigo. Keep listening, keep learning. 

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Transcript

0:01

Slow Ego Audio reader. Book one stories from an A LT in Japan, part two, settling in chapter 16, sports Day part two. Afternoon. I had a fantastic morning at Kitta Kato Elementary Schools. Uno kai. Luckily, some of the families shared their picnic lunches with me. It was delicious, and I was full, it was about a 12 minute drive to Minami Sato Elementary. When I arrived, they were still on lunch break. As soon as they saw me, some of the students yelled, Kate Sensei, come. Come. Just like at Kitta Sato, the kids grabbed my arms and pulled me over to their lunch spot. Their parents welcomed me and fixed me a plate. The food was more or less the same. And I was starting to remember the names of these Bento classics on Kara ihi tki and my favorite mini sausages that look like Little Octopuses. Uh, what were they called? Um. Like wiener in English. So cute. Oh no. I thought I can't eat another bite. I tried to politely wave it off, but they insisted just then. The principal made an announcement over the loudspeaker for all students and teachers to gather for the afternoon activities. pH. I was off the hook. I was able to excuse myself, but before I did, one of the parents quickly packed me a bento to take home. She said with a smile. I was very happy to receive it. I'm so lucky. Ami Sato Elementary is smaller than Kitta Sato Elementary, but it was just as full of excitement. My tongue twister challenge went well. I was impressed by how clearly most of the students could say the tongue twisters. We had practiced them in class, but still it's never easy to say. Surely she shall see the shiny sea or Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. I loved watching the class dance routines,, and I was super impressed by the human pyramids the fifth and sixth graders created with their own bodies also. There was a really interesting game where three students carried one student and the student on top had to grab the caps off the heads of the other team. They called it Kien, which they told me was something like horse battle. I think my favorite activity though was a whole school challenge, red versus white, where all members of each team made a big circle that took up most of the school ground. Each team had a giant ball that they passed over their heads. The ball was very bouncy and difficult to control. I think they called it ohri. All the families were on their feet cheering. It was so exciting. When it was all done, the teams lined up with their classes. And we all watched as the final scores were slowly revealed. Suddenly there was a burst of cheers from half of the school. The white team had one. When everything was cleaned up and the students left with their families. I headed home. I was exhausted, but my heart was full. It was a wonderful day. And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, I remembered the big Bento box I was given. It was a day. I will always remember fondly.