Ok, so the last couple of weeks were a bit on the crap side. What with the perpetual state of tiredness as a result of the building work, the constant changes to my schedule, and some serious doubt on my part as to my teaching ability it’s probably safe to say Jo Teacher was not happy. This last week has changed all that around. On Friday last week I managed to get covered in bubble gum-ruining a perfectly good pair of work trousers and leaving me with very sticky shoes! The students found it hilarious, and their laughter was infectious. On the train to Seoul on Saturday I started speaking to someone who had previously taught in Hongseong-I explained apart from my apartment and the constant schedule crap I was having a great time in Korea, and I meant it. Perhaps one thing this experience has revealed about me is that I have a lot of patience-or maybe that I should get covered in bubble gum more often.
I haven’t had any formal teacher training. I have a TEFL certificate through i-2-i, which has been about as helpful as taking teaching tips from back of cereal boxes “Snap Crackle Pop.” As I have mentioned before the “Fun Fun English” books I teach from leave a lot to be desired and to say I am given free reign to teach what I want is an understatement. I could be teaching the kids German for all my hagwon knows. There is no curriculum, no lesson plans, no materials outside of the jumbled up flashcards and the text books, and no real understanding of how to teach the kids best. As long as I don’t finish the book too quickly it’s fine. The only feedback I have had was from the Elementary manager telling me to include more songs in my classes, which I kind of ignored. Some of my classes go well and the kids are coming along nicely, and others are like pulling out my own eyes with a blunt pencil. I am teaching myself how to teach, and hopefully I am not doing a completely terrible job. I guess it’s all part of the adventure. Here are a couple of funnies from this week.
Yesterday, my Grade Four class aptly demonstrated the effects of the Nintendo DS on South Korea’s youth when I was greeted with a chorus of “Jo Teacher, Jo Teeeeacccchhhherrrrr.” It must show something about my classes if the kids can’t remember phonics but they can quote from their Nintendo DS. On Tuesday I had kicked eight of the students out of the class for not doing their homework, which left me briefly with the best three. So on Thursday I was delighted and amazed by the students and their sudden desire to communicate with me in English. I asked James what was wrong. He replied “Jo Teacher…..today is name changee….My name is Mario.” I went round and asked each student in turn “What is your name?” and instead of Eddie, Jerry, Tom, and Deon I was introduced to Luigi, Sonic, Wario and God. I “misheard” God as Goat though, much to the annoyance of Deon! Still, they were talking in English, one step at a time!
I was surprised in my one on one lessons when Sonia didn’t know who Kim Jong-il is, and Angela pointed to what she thought was South Korea on a map but what was in fact Florida. Still, I guess they are both peninsulas.
Today I went into my favourite Grade 5 class and Brady told me that he is Jo Teacher, and opened the class with my usual spiel of “How are you?” “How’s the weather?” and “What day is today?” (see the prop above!) So I must be making some impact!
My current project is Grade 4’s Thomas, who is probably the weakest student in his class. Every time he sees me he outstretches his hand and says “candy chuseyo”-thinking that he deserves candy for his use of one English word. If he can say a full sentence to me, maybe, just maybe he will get a piece of candy!
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