More considerate toward Pair activities

I had thought when students are to be in pairs, teacher should be more considerate to how to pair. I was sure that pairing a student with the person next to is the best thing for students because most college students take seats with their friends. As a result, we had a lot of male-male pairs and female-female pairs.
But this time I tried to mix gender, I mean, literally Pairing, or male-female. Then I was so surprised that ‘Maximizing interaction’ took place. It seemed that all college students have been waiting for the chance to talk to people of the opposite sex. A male student who is shy and always speaks with little intonation began to speak loud and clear when a female student asked him to speak louder.
Hey! How many times did I tell him “Speak louder”? How many times did I say about the importance of intonation in English?
Anyway, I found out he is not shy. I’m so glad.

Shunichi

I tried 'Shadowing'

Last week I used shadowing in my classes which are preparation for TOEIC test.
First we ( all students and I) worked on grammar questions together and made sure of answer keys.
Secondly students were in pairs and picked up ten sentences. So one read out 5 sentences and the another did Shadowing. and then switched the role. All students have never done Shadowing before, but they liked Shadwoing so much and were really into it. I'm glad.

Shunichi

Schools

Hi, my friends. Everybody is fine?
Tomorrow my school will start the second semester (because of the system of second semesters).

I want to try something new teaching methods next semester. And Bobby's idea is great!
I'd like to arrange it for my high school students. I should have bought Tim Murphy's books and DVDs at UH.
If possible I want to try to speak English in my classes though my students don't like it. (even in ALT's classes, they are silent. They are typical Japanese students.)

And then I have a question. I want to know American graduate schools. I'm just interested in them. Maybe they are quite different from Japanese graduate schools. Right?
Anytime and anything is OK, so please let me know!

See you,
From yogurt