Wow. It really does seem to work.  Yesterday was another candy-free Thursday for my Japanese munchkins, and the kids were calm enough that we actually managed to learn some English. Well, first we played indoor soccer for 15 minutes, after which the girls were tired. I let them play for another 10 minutes while I played keepings-off with the boys until they were tired too. Then they were all willing to do stuff with flash cards for 10 minutes, then practice actions with English words. After break the boys were still in play mode, as usual, while the girls seemed undecided, so I tried a new tactic, telling them that they could either play a game or study English. I was surprised when both of the girls (one was absent, and yes, this is only a class of five; I have no idea how real teachers manage classes of 30+, but I take my hat off to them for doing it) decided to study. So while the boys amused themselves the girls got half an hour of solid learning. I figured that was better than me spending all my time trying to get the boys’ attention, as I often do, in which case no one learns anything. However, the boys seem to be getting English from somewhere, and one of them is starting to play with the language, saying deliberately wrong and funny things. I figure if I can help them get used to the idea of just using English, even if they make mistakes, we’ll have achieved something. I’ve met too many Japanese people who know enough English to get by but are afraid to use it. And yes, I am teaching by example, re the mistakes, including a flustered moment when I said “Don’t eat the classroom” (heya o tabete wa ikemasen) when I meant to say “Don’t eat in the classroom.” (heya de tabete wa ikemasen) They still remind me of that from time to time…