This morning, I heard that the principal was in an "angry mood". Everyone was feeling her wrath (including me - in an indirect way).
The worst thing was that she apparently was having words with a teacher and saying how disappointed she was in her amongst other things (I have no idea what the story's about) BUT - they were standing right next to the intercom ... the school's broadcasting system ...and... it...was...ON.
Terrible!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
"In my next life I would like to be born Indian"
My friend, Chetan sent this to me.
It's a good read and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Note: You can click on the picture to open it in another window for better reading
Note: You can click on the picture to open it in another window for better reading
Beginning of Academic Year 2010
Leaving home at 5pm today, I shared the elevator with a 6th grade teacher.
"How was your first day?" I asked him.
He shook his head and said, "Terrible."
I nodded my head to indicate that I understood.
Today marked the first day of the academic year. The school and English system are completely different to last year and the previous year. Now I have three co-teachers.
KH will teach grade 3 and 4 with me.
JY will teach grade 5.
IK will teach grade 6.
In addition, I will teach Kindergarten as I've done before. This year I will also teach an adult class - an English class for teachers at my school.
IK has just come back from a six month sabbatical. This is the third year I'm working with her, so I'm used to her style - cold and serious.
I'll be teaching fewer classes than previous years, yet my workload seems to have increased. There are more demands and paperwork that needs to be done. I don't mind this. What I do have a problem with is that IK keeps telling me, "It's up to you, but I'd like you to..." when discussing about my lessons...especially classes I'll be taking alone.
I'm completely open to new ideas, but she doesn't seem to want to accept mine.
This afternoon, JY came to the English office to meet me so we could discuss our grade 5 lesson plan. IK was also in the office. She interrupted JY my conversation to say that she'd rather we focus more on the curriculum - OF COURSE I'm going to do that, but I also think it's important to teach them things like days of the week, seasons etc.
Then, she told me that we need to teach the alphabet - which I do ANYWAY.
IK said that the principal told her that there are some students in middle school (who've graduated from MY school) who don't even know the alphabet.
WHAT? I asked her when she "heard" that and she said this morning.
I've said this before. I teach over 1000 (ONE THOUSAND) students per week. Each class is 40 minutes long. By the time the class settles and we get started with the actual curriculum, you can cut that 40 minutes down to 30 minutes.
I'd teach phonics, the curriculum work and other things. And getting a class quiet and/or reprimanding time eats into my TEACHING time. So how many minutes does a child have with me a week?
During my winter camp, when I asked a few students, "How are you?" they couldn't respond.
I feel so despondent.
When IK left the office, JY told me not to worry about what principal "said" because she has a reputation of fabricating stories.
Schools have just commenced. How can the English level of the new middle school students already have been assessed?...and the news traveled to quickly?
I live and work in an area that is not well off. Students have no motivation to study. Many were forced to come to my after school English classes. As a teacher, of course I want my students to learn something from me. Realistically speaking, all 1000+ students WILL NOT.
Hearing that some of MY students don't even know the alphabet does not have a good reflection on ME the English teacher.
This was my day.
"How was your first day?" I asked him.
He shook his head and said, "Terrible."
I nodded my head to indicate that I understood.
Today marked the first day of the academic year. The school and English system are completely different to last year and the previous year. Now I have three co-teachers.
KH will teach grade 3 and 4 with me.
JY will teach grade 5.
IK will teach grade 6.
In addition, I will teach Kindergarten as I've done before. This year I will also teach an adult class - an English class for teachers at my school.
IK has just come back from a six month sabbatical. This is the third year I'm working with her, so I'm used to her style - cold and serious.
I'll be teaching fewer classes than previous years, yet my workload seems to have increased. There are more demands and paperwork that needs to be done. I don't mind this. What I do have a problem with is that IK keeps telling me, "It's up to you, but I'd like you to..." when discussing about my lessons...especially classes I'll be taking alone.
I'm completely open to new ideas, but she doesn't seem to want to accept mine.
This afternoon, JY came to the English office to meet me so we could discuss our grade 5 lesson plan. IK was also in the office. She interrupted JY my conversation to say that she'd rather we focus more on the curriculum - OF COURSE I'm going to do that, but I also think it's important to teach them things like days of the week, seasons etc.
Then, she told me that we need to teach the alphabet - which I do ANYWAY.
IK said that the principal told her that there are some students in middle school (who've graduated from MY school) who don't even know the alphabet.
WHAT? I asked her when she "heard" that and she said this morning.
I've said this before. I teach over 1000 (ONE THOUSAND) students per week. Each class is 40 minutes long. By the time the class settles and we get started with the actual curriculum, you can cut that 40 minutes down to 30 minutes.
I'd teach phonics, the curriculum work and other things. And getting a class quiet and/or reprimanding time eats into my TEACHING time. So how many minutes does a child have with me a week?
During my winter camp, when I asked a few students, "How are you?" they couldn't respond.
I feel so despondent.
When IK left the office, JY told me not to worry about what principal "said" because she has a reputation of fabricating stories.
Schools have just commenced. How can the English level of the new middle school students already have been assessed?...and the news traveled to quickly?
I live and work in an area that is not well off. Students have no motivation to study. Many were forced to come to my after school English classes. As a teacher, of course I want my students to learn something from me. Realistically speaking, all 1000+ students WILL NOT.
Hearing that some of MY students don't even know the alphabet does not have a good reflection on ME the English teacher.
This was my day.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Happy Birthday, Mummy!
Today , March 1st is my mother's birthday.
Happy Birthday, Mummy!
My brother sent me this pic just as they were about to go out. I think my mum looks stunning and I sincerely hope that I look as GOOD in the future!
Sunday Night at the Sauna
Last night, my friend Hye-jin (HJ) and I went to a "sauna" (pronounced sa-oon-na). Last week we were chatting about saunas in Korea and decided to go to one together. Basically, it is a public bath house. HJ did some online research to find the perfect area for us to go to. We're both teacher's and the last thing we need is to see our students or their parents in our birthday suits!
HJ found a sauna quite near to her apartment, but far from mine. We arrived there at around 7:30pm (Sunday, February 28).
We paid our admission fee (6,000 Won / approx $6US) and we were given two towels each. Then we entered another room where we have to put our shoes into a locker.
We found a locker where we kept our bags and clothes. We stripped down. Yes, everything - off. No underwear. No bra. Nothing. It was very empty when we got there and I was really relieved. I felt conscious when I saw one lady looking at me, but I tried to ignore her.
First, we paid money (15,000 Won each) to two ladies sitting in a room next to the showers. They are the ladies who SCRUB!! We entered the shower area. It's a large room that has showers where you can either sit or stand. You take a regular shower and wash your hair as well.
There are four large pools with different temperatures - warm, hot, cool and cold. After taking a shower, we went to these "pools" (like a hot tub) and sat there for a while. Remember, we were still in our birthday suit. WOW! Immediately I thought of my Korean friends / colleagues who told me they go to a sauna to relax.
A few minutes passed, and we went to an area where there were two beds covered in plastic. Two ladies, only wearing underwear (no bra) told us to lie down on our tummy (still naked). They put on scrubbing gloves and started to scrub from my legs right up to my back. She hit me twice to tell me to flip over. She scrubbed every inch of me from head to toe. I'm a bit ticklish, but had to endure it! After the scrub, she soaped me down and then put hot towels on my back. To wash the scrub and soap off my body, she poured a bowl of water on me.
HJ and I headed back to the hot tub for a few minutes, and then went to the sauna room (sauna as we know it). We took one last shower and left to enter the locker room area.
THIS is the secret to Korean's supple skin!
HJ found a sauna quite near to her apartment, but far from mine. We arrived there at around 7:30pm (Sunday, February 28).
We paid our admission fee (6,000 Won / approx $6US) and we were given two towels each. Then we entered another room where we have to put our shoes into a locker.
We found a locker where we kept our bags and clothes. We stripped down. Yes, everything - off. No underwear. No bra. Nothing. It was very empty when we got there and I was really relieved. I felt conscious when I saw one lady looking at me, but I tried to ignore her.
First, we paid money (15,000 Won each) to two ladies sitting in a room next to the showers. They are the ladies who SCRUB!! We entered the shower area. It's a large room that has showers where you can either sit or stand. You take a regular shower and wash your hair as well.
There are four large pools with different temperatures - warm, hot, cool and cold. After taking a shower, we went to these "pools" (like a hot tub) and sat there for a while. Remember, we were still in our birthday suit. WOW! Immediately I thought of my Korean friends / colleagues who told me they go to a sauna to relax.
A few minutes passed, and we went to an area where there were two beds covered in plastic. Two ladies, only wearing underwear (no bra) told us to lie down on our tummy (still naked). They put on scrubbing gloves and started to scrub from my legs right up to my back. She hit me twice to tell me to flip over. She scrubbed every inch of me from head to toe. I'm a bit ticklish, but had to endure it! After the scrub, she soaped me down and then put hot towels on my back. To wash the scrub and soap off my body, she poured a bowl of water on me.
HJ and I headed back to the hot tub for a few minutes, and then went to the sauna room (sauna as we know it). We took one last shower and left to enter the locker room area.
In the locker room, they sell everything you need - sachets of soap, shampoo, cleansers, panties, bras, snacks and drinks. HJ (doesn't know why exactly) told me that people often eat a boiled egg after a shower or they drink iced coffee. We had the iced coffee. While the lady was making it for us, we applied oils and lotions and got dressed. We sat around chatting for a bit before it was time for us to leave.
We got a cab and went back to HJ's apartment where her husband and baby were waiting for us. By then, it was 9:30pm and we were going out for dinner! At dinner, HJ told me that she couldn't stop stroking her arms and I realized that sitting cross-legged on the floor, I was stroking my leg! My skin was silky smooth.
Of course, I do my own scrubs at home, but the pressure of someone else doing it for you is very different. The difference is definitely noticeable.
I've always been conscious to even get dressed in front of people, so for me to walk around in absolutely nothing in front of strangers is something quite unreal. And - being a foreigner, I stand out more! After a minute, it just doesn't matter!
HJ and I agreed that it should be a monthly outing for us!
Dinner was soon-du-bu (spicy tofu stew)
Absolutely delicious!
Baby Seo-jun - such a good boy!
Teacher's Farewell Dinner - 2010
On Friday, February 26 2010 we had a Farewell Dinner for all the teachers leaving the school. I've known some of them since my first day teaching in Korea so it was a bit sad saying good bye to some of them. The dinner was at Seafood Blue (buffet) in Bucheon.
With Joo-hye Park, one of the teachers leaving
Principal giving gifts to teacher's leaving
2009 6th Grade Teachers
Some teacher friends
Pianist at restaurant
Candy Floss machine & Chocolate Fountain
Bucheon at night
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Grade 6 Graduation - 2010
On Friday, February 12 2010, the 6th Graders graduated from Elementary School. This lot is very special to me, because when I started teaching in Korea in '07, they were my youngest students... and now they're all grown up and moving to middle school!
It was pretty sad saying bye to them, because they're really nice kids.
**********
People selling flowers outside the school for the graduates!
I went to every class (6-1 to 6-8) to say good bye.
This is one of my favourite classes: 6-6!
Parents standing in the back (taking loads of pics!)
The school principal giving a speech.
They're brother-sister.
When I arrived in Korea in '07, he was a senior, and she was a junior!
Snacks for teachers at lunch time
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