Every year, a couple of student teachers who grew up in this area come to do their three weeks of student teaching at our school. My first year here, we only had one, but last year and this year we have about five. The last two years, we've had English Student teachers come; both men. The guy last year was just getting his degree to have a teaching certificate; he never intended to really teach. It was hard working with someone who wasn't really here to learn. Luckily the guy this year is really interested in becoming an teacher. It's very obvious that he's still nervous in front of the class, but each time I watch him teach, he relaxes a little. It got me thinking about why people become teachers. I know there are a lot of reasons and everyone has their own, but I can't help thinking that there must be some underlying part of a person's personality that gives them the ability to teach. That must also give them the drive and interest in teaching. I think I've heard the phrase, "Those who can't do something, teach it" about a million times, but the reverse is also true. Some of those who can "do," can't teach. Teaching in itself is a skill and not just a field full of people who can't "do." I'm constantly surprised by the things my co-workers can do. For example, one of the Japanese teachers (the language not the ethnicity) is a runner. He participates in local and prefectural track and field events regularly. The music teacher is also pretty amazing; she sings in a chorus that occasionally preforms in Tokyo and other big cities.

I, on the other hand, never intended to be a teacher. Well not an English teacher anyway. I guess I just have teaching in my genes. And luckily I don't need any specific formal training to be an English teacher here; not that I haven't had my fair share of informal training. I think I'm still trying to decide what I want to be when I grow up. Let me know if you have any good ideas!