4. Week 1 Down
I have now been here for 8 days... and honestly, it feels like I've been here forever. And I don't mean that in a bad way, I just mean that... well, I don't feel like I've just arrived. I guess jumping in the deep end has its advantages.
Events this week? Well, the fraternal twins in my class had their birthday this week, which was nice. It was also the first day I actually saw a difference between Korean kids and Canadian kids. We made cards in class for the birthday boys (they didn't tell me it was their birthday or that there was a party at school until about half an hour before the party began), and all of the kids took an enormous amount of time on their cards -- more than I had planned on... and I couldn't get them to go any faster, despite the fact that the Korean staff wouldn't start the party until they were all done. The food (chicken, pizza, and other assorted treats) just waited outside the classroom while my class of 4 and 5 year olds drew detailed pictures of the X-Men, or Batman or whatever. And they didn't care. Also, the party came complete with a cake, which none of the kids touched. They blew out the candles and then just ignored the cake. The staff ended up eating it (or, well, half of it), and Suzanne informed me that the kids never eat the cakes. Strange!
Oh, also I've began teaching an afternoon class (well, an after 2:45 class)... I have 3 students in that class -- Terry, Robert and Angela. They're 12 (Canadian 10), and very nice. It's a fun class, I have to say. They are very much beginner English speakers. They speak like they took English classes once a week about 5 years ago. But we have fun, they can make themselves understood, and they have actually improved in the last... well, 2 classes. The only thing is, the parents want me to give them lots of homework, and I'm not sure how to do that. I managed to think of something on Friday, but their vocabulary is so low that I'm not entirely sure what to assign them. I'll have to wing it, I suppose.
I've only been watched once (watched on the TV screens), and that was for the afternoon class, but that is going to change drastically this coming week. Last Wednesday, a group of mothers decened upon LCI and watched a bunch of the Winter Intensive English Classes (none of which I was teaching) and complained about the one Korean (but English speaking) teacher, so I am taking over her class starting tomorrow. I'm not looking forward to it. The moms said that they would come every Wednesday and watch, which is a little nerve wracking, especially since I heard their list of demands from last Wednesday. Ugh. Oh well, the Winter Intensive classes are only for 2 more weeks, so I'll get through it.
Mr. Lee, the director, sat in on one of my classes (again, though, only the afternoon class), and he didn't have much to say -- his only suggestion was that I get them to speak louder and faster, which wasn't bad. I keep having to remind myself that I've only been here for a week, because none of the things that I've been warned about have happened. Parents haven't complained about me, and Mr. Lee hasn't given me a list of complaints... but I just have to remember that none of those things have happened yet. If after a month I'm still complaint free, then I'll relax, but I think it's a bit early. I don't want to get blindsided.
In other news... food: Well, I've decided on a policy of "eat first, ask questions later" which seems to be serving me well. I ate dried, sliced squid this week and loved it! I wouldn't have touched it if I had asked before I ate it. I also enjoyed a fried, fish and egg paste thing on a stick when I got together with Silvain on Friday. Some of you may remember Silvain from OCF, he's been living here for about 2 and a half years now, and he's actually living in Ilsan, which is pretty cool. Anyway, he suggested the fish/egg paste thing, and as gross as it sounded, it actually didn't taste bad.
Oh and I went to church this morning. One of the teachers found me a church in town that has English translation, a Presbyterian church. I had thought that there would be other English speakers there, but I was the only one (well, aside from the translator, who was quite nice). The service was nice, and their choir was amazing! But I couldn't help but wonder if they were singing the same words as I know to the tunes that I know... I mean, how can they make the same thoughts rhyme in different languages? They gave me a Korean/English hymn book and that's all I could think about as I was singing, how we probably weren't singing even remotely the same thing.
Anyway next weekend... well, next weekend I'll probably be in Seoul with Clara, but the weekend after that I think I'll try the Seventh Day Adventist Church. I've heard that they have services in English (not just a translator) so that would mean that there would have to be other English speakers there.
Oh, I took my camera to school on Friday so I have some pictures of the school and of my kids.
This is the display board with work from each of the 5 classes. Mine, as I have mentioned before, is the Cookie Monster Class... although by the end of the week I will have taught all 5 classes at different times (not just Storytelling, we share other things too).
Now, let me introduce the little Cookie Monsters.
This is Justin, who I believe I have already mentioned is my little trouble maker.
Annie, the little darling. She always wants to sit next to me... so close that I have to be careful not to hit her in the head, because I talk with my hands a lot... and even moreso as I'm teaching ESL!
This is Ashley. Now, maybe I've just had bad experiences with Ashley's in the past, but she so suits her English name to me. She completely ignores me unless she wants something. She doesn't disturb the rest of the class like Justin, she just pretends I'm not there. It's very disconcerting.
This is Brian, one of the birthday boys. I haven't spent enough time with him to be sure, but I suspect a learning disablity here... although it could just be a family trait, because I suspect the same thing with his twin brother...
...his fraternal twin brother Mathew (yes, spelt only with one T). But Mathew is more willing to engage, whereas Brian seems lost in himself all the time. Mathew is behind, but he tries, Brian would happily just sit there and stare all day if I let him.
Brian Song... oh man, what to say about Brian Song... he asks me about 10 times a day to go downstairs and speak to Mrs. Lee (the owner of the school), and when I ask him why it's usually because he's mad at Ashley. He cracks me up though... I find him so funny... and I can't stop thinking that he looks like a member of a boy band... but maybe that's just me.
Well, this is Grace, and... uh... well, Grace after school. I just think those face mask things are so cute on the kids, and given the pollution levels, they are probably quite practical. There isn't really much to say about Grace. She's very bright, probably one of the best English speakers in the class.
Kiersten -- super affectionate girl. Always hugging me and cuddling... but also always hugging and cuddling other students. It can be a bit of a distraction. But she's very sweet.
Sally... another one that Brian Song fights with. I'm never sure what it's about because it all happens in Korean (which they are not supposed to speak in class, but so far I haven't been able to stop that). She has told me a few times that she loves me very much, but it's usually right after I've told her to stop fighting or something, so I doubt it's very sincere.
Shawn... an absolute sweetheart. Again, I'm not sure what to say about him. He is probably one of the best behaved boys... and better behaved than some of the girls. He's very bright, and his work is very neat. But more than that, he's just plain sweet.
Anyway, that's it... those are the Cookie Monsters. I begin week 2 tomorrow.
Events this week? Well, the fraternal twins in my class had their birthday this week, which was nice. It was also the first day I actually saw a difference between Korean kids and Canadian kids. We made cards in class for the birthday boys (they didn't tell me it was their birthday or that there was a party at school until about half an hour before the party began), and all of the kids took an enormous amount of time on their cards -- more than I had planned on... and I couldn't get them to go any faster, despite the fact that the Korean staff wouldn't start the party until they were all done. The food (chicken, pizza, and other assorted treats) just waited outside the classroom while my class of 4 and 5 year olds drew detailed pictures of the X-Men, or Batman or whatever. And they didn't care. Also, the party came complete with a cake, which none of the kids touched. They blew out the candles and then just ignored the cake. The staff ended up eating it (or, well, half of it), and Suzanne informed me that the kids never eat the cakes. Strange!
Oh, also I've began teaching an afternoon class (well, an after 2:45 class)... I have 3 students in that class -- Terry, Robert and Angela. They're 12 (Canadian 10), and very nice. It's a fun class, I have to say. They are very much beginner English speakers. They speak like they took English classes once a week about 5 years ago. But we have fun, they can make themselves understood, and they have actually improved in the last... well, 2 classes. The only thing is, the parents want me to give them lots of homework, and I'm not sure how to do that. I managed to think of something on Friday, but their vocabulary is so low that I'm not entirely sure what to assign them. I'll have to wing it, I suppose.
I've only been watched once (watched on the TV screens), and that was for the afternoon class, but that is going to change drastically this coming week. Last Wednesday, a group of mothers decened upon LCI and watched a bunch of the Winter Intensive English Classes (none of which I was teaching) and complained about the one Korean (but English speaking) teacher, so I am taking over her class starting tomorrow. I'm not looking forward to it. The moms said that they would come every Wednesday and watch, which is a little nerve wracking, especially since I heard their list of demands from last Wednesday. Ugh. Oh well, the Winter Intensive classes are only for 2 more weeks, so I'll get through it.
Mr. Lee, the director, sat in on one of my classes (again, though, only the afternoon class), and he didn't have much to say -- his only suggestion was that I get them to speak louder and faster, which wasn't bad. I keep having to remind myself that I've only been here for a week, because none of the things that I've been warned about have happened. Parents haven't complained about me, and Mr. Lee hasn't given me a list of complaints... but I just have to remember that none of those things have happened yet. If after a month I'm still complaint free, then I'll relax, but I think it's a bit early. I don't want to get blindsided.
In other news... food: Well, I've decided on a policy of "eat first, ask questions later" which seems to be serving me well. I ate dried, sliced squid this week and loved it! I wouldn't have touched it if I had asked before I ate it. I also enjoyed a fried, fish and egg paste thing on a stick when I got together with Silvain on Friday. Some of you may remember Silvain from OCF, he's been living here for about 2 and a half years now, and he's actually living in Ilsan, which is pretty cool. Anyway, he suggested the fish/egg paste thing, and as gross as it sounded, it actually didn't taste bad.
Oh and I went to church this morning. One of the teachers found me a church in town that has English translation, a Presbyterian church. I had thought that there would be other English speakers there, but I was the only one (well, aside from the translator, who was quite nice). The service was nice, and their choir was amazing! But I couldn't help but wonder if they were singing the same words as I know to the tunes that I know... I mean, how can they make the same thoughts rhyme in different languages? They gave me a Korean/English hymn book and that's all I could think about as I was singing, how we probably weren't singing even remotely the same thing.
Anyway next weekend... well, next weekend I'll probably be in Seoul with Clara, but the weekend after that I think I'll try the Seventh Day Adventist Church. I've heard that they have services in English (not just a translator) so that would mean that there would have to be other English speakers there.
Oh, I took my camera to school on Friday so I have some pictures of the school and of my kids.
This is the display board with work from each of the 5 classes. Mine, as I have mentioned before, is the Cookie Monster Class... although by the end of the week I will have taught all 5 classes at different times (not just Storytelling, we share other things too).
Now, let me introduce the little Cookie Monsters.
This is Justin, who I believe I have already mentioned is my little trouble maker.
Annie, the little darling. She always wants to sit next to me... so close that I have to be careful not to hit her in the head, because I talk with my hands a lot... and even moreso as I'm teaching ESL!
This is Ashley. Now, maybe I've just had bad experiences with Ashley's in the past, but she so suits her English name to me. She completely ignores me unless she wants something. She doesn't disturb the rest of the class like Justin, she just pretends I'm not there. It's very disconcerting.
This is Brian, one of the birthday boys. I haven't spent enough time with him to be sure, but I suspect a learning disablity here... although it could just be a family trait, because I suspect the same thing with his twin brother...
...his fraternal twin brother Mathew (yes, spelt only with one T). But Mathew is more willing to engage, whereas Brian seems lost in himself all the time. Mathew is behind, but he tries, Brian would happily just sit there and stare all day if I let him.
Brian Song... oh man, what to say about Brian Song... he asks me about 10 times a day to go downstairs and speak to Mrs. Lee (the owner of the school), and when I ask him why it's usually because he's mad at Ashley. He cracks me up though... I find him so funny... and I can't stop thinking that he looks like a member of a boy band... but maybe that's just me.
Well, this is Grace, and... uh... well, Grace after school. I just think those face mask things are so cute on the kids, and given the pollution levels, they are probably quite practical. There isn't really much to say about Grace. She's very bright, probably one of the best English speakers in the class.
Kiersten -- super affectionate girl. Always hugging me and cuddling... but also always hugging and cuddling other students. It can be a bit of a distraction. But she's very sweet.
Sally... another one that Brian Song fights with. I'm never sure what it's about because it all happens in Korean (which they are not supposed to speak in class, but so far I haven't been able to stop that). She has told me a few times that she loves me very much, but it's usually right after I've told her to stop fighting or something, so I doubt it's very sincere.
Shawn... an absolute sweetheart. Again, I'm not sure what to say about him. He is probably one of the best behaved boys... and better behaved than some of the girls. He's very bright, and his work is very neat. But more than that, he's just plain sweet.
Anyway, that's it... those are the Cookie Monsters. I begin week 2 tomorrow.
posted by JJ at 12:32 AM
1 Comments:
Jenny! So good to be able to live your journey with you. You are the inspiration for our blog- lostboys.blogspot.com Keep writing, you've said you're good at that while you're 'away'. Keep checking mine. :)
Blessings..
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