Some classroom moments stay with you forever.
Not because they were in the curriculum—
but because no textbook could’ve prepared you.
A brave student stands up, smiles politely, and asks:
“Do you like gorilla?”
Now, most teachers would assume they meant gorillas.
But as a senior English teacher (and honorary stand-up comic), I replied:
“Well… I haven’t tried it yet. Does it taste like chicken?”
The class exploded.
Laughter. Confusion. Fear. Admiration.
The holy mix of a good language joke.
These days, I often start class with a listening question:
“Today, let’s see what Chat-sensei has for us.”
Chat Sensei asks: So what do you think about the price of eggs in China and how does it relate to world trade?
Students freeze and whisper, “何これ…？”
Symeon whispers to Chat Sensei: Uh, this is the “gorilla” level class.
This is Oki Gakuen High School—not exactly famous for academics,
unless we’re talking about baseball stats.
In the staff room, the secret’s out (but whispered anyway):
Me?
I just smile and say:
“Next time, tell Chat-san you’re a friend of Symeon’s, ね？”
They roll their eyes.
I win.
The classroom isn’t just where we teach English.
It’s where we learn grace, over and over again—
through broken sentences, heroic attempts, and gorilla jokes that still work a decade later.
—Chat-san