Since Sensei is well known to be the Ebenezer Scrooge of Halloween, it will probably surprise none of you that I’m giving an exam tomorrow. I fully expect several of my students to come dressed for the occasion, though I hope none of them in costumes that will hinder their performance in any way. Goodness… Read More Ask Sensei: Carved Orange Gourd Edition
Cooler weather is coming to those of us in Texas, or as I like to call it, the Down Under of the US. A friend of mine, who hates hot weather, is always looking for the annual appearance of “pumpkin spice” products around this time. Since I enjoy hot weather but not pumpkin spice products… Read More Ask Sensei: Venti Skim Half-Caff Pumpkin Spice Latte With Extra Whip Edition
Well, the semester has started, the students are back on campus, and things are hopping here at the university. I hope those of you in school, regardless of your level, are also off to a good start. I have met all my students once, and I figure Shiraishi-kun must be out there somewhere, though he… Read More Ask Sensei: They’re Back Edition
It is indeed an odd relic of history that September, October, November, and December are our ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth months rather than our seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth months respectively. So with Octogust just around the corner, we should all probably consider making the most of our time as the school year approaches… Read More Ask Sensei: Octogust edition
Well, greetings, fellow Amerikajin! I’m glad to be back from Glorious Nihon in God Bless America, and am pretty much over the jet lag. You will be disappointed that I bought very little while I was over there, only a figure of Kaburagi Koutetsu, the first title character of Tiger & Bunny, and the latest two… Read More Ask Sensei: Jet Lag Edition
Summer break is finally here! Sensei spends the summer doing research with Everyone-Else-Is-Wrong Hakase, a far more distinguished professor in my department. Sensei depends on this time to be cut back down to size after the school year. Sensei is also planning to travel with friends and acquaintances over break, including meeting a former student… Read More Ask Sensei: Summer Break Edition
It’s that time of year everyone dreads — final exams. Everyone? Yes, including teachers. Not just because we have to write and grade exams, which would seem to be a just punishment for giving exams in the first place. But also because we don’t know what’s going to happen. Every class is different, every semester is different,… Read More Ask Sensei: End Of Term Edition
Well, the school year is progressing nicely, and I’ll be darned if I don’t see everyone hard at work. Sensei is impressed! Even Shiraishi-kun is opening his textbook and handing in homework on occasion. Do you think he might actually pass? I certainly hope so. Not that it matters. After all, every class has a… Read More Ask Sensei: Shiraishi-kun Edition
Spring break is coming, and you know what that means for students of all ages: Time to forget everything you managed to learn the previous seven weeks. No, of course I’m just kidding. It’s time to kick back for a week and not get into more trouble than you can live down during the next… Read More Ask Sensei: Spring Break Edition
It’s about halfway through winter, which means life here in east Texas is chilly and rainy. And yet I’ll take it gladly over the Minnesota snow and ice that I braved for 16 years. Moving closer to the equator: I recommend it highly. This time, three readers have asked questions via Instagram. First, @gablumpot wonders: How… Read More Ask Sensei: Midwinter Edition