A JET and elementary students exchange culture dancing the "Tokyo Ondo"!
Here at the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education, we've undertaken a measure as part of the JET Program to have JETs participate in activities related to Japanese traditions and culture. On Friday, July 8, 2016, a JET joined the children at Senzokuike Elementary School in the standard Bon Festival dance song, "Tokyo Ondo."
Children teach traditional Japanese culture, the "Bon Festival dance"
Teacher Caitlin Orwell usually teaches English at Tokyo Metropolitan Yukigaya High School, but this day she visited Senzokuike Elementary School. Ms. Caitlin appeared dressed in a yukata. She exchanged greetings with children of classes 2-1 and 2-2.
Ms. Caitlin: "Hello! My name is Caitlin."
Children: "Hello, Caitlin-sensei."
Ms. Caitlin: "How are you?"
Children: "I'm fine! Thank you."
First, Ms. Caitlin introduced herself.
She spoke of her hometown in New York, USA and that she currently works as an English teacher in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Next, the children asked Ms. Caitlin any questions they had.
Children: "I like baseball. Do you like baseball?"
Ms. Caitlin: "I like baseball!"
And without further ado, they proceeded to dance the Tokyo Ondo to the music! The children had practiced the Tokyo Ondo choreography in anticipation of this day. They danced the Tokyo Ondo together while teaching Ms. Caitlin the moves. At first she just watched, but gradually Ms. Caitlin learned the choreography, and before long she was dancing with joy.
After the Bon Festival dance, the children and Ms. Caitlin learned from the homeroom teacher's picture book that O-Bon in Japan is the one day a year where ancestors come back to visit.
The children also showed off decorations for Tanabata, the Star Festival, with their wishes written on them, and taught Ms. Caitlin about the Japanese custom itself.
Ms. Caitlin and the children used break time to talk with each other.They took the time to communicate in English and get to know one another.
After the assembly, we asked Ms. Caitlin her impressions of the event.
