Yesterday while teaching a second year class, I could not get one boy to quiet down. Well, the class in general wouldn't quiet down, but one boy in particular was being obnoxious and he knew it. After warning him several times I lost it. I screamed at him "SHUT UP" and threw my chalk at him. The look on his face was priceless. He was shocked beyond belief that I threw a piece of chalk at him. He was actually quiet, but just from shock. The class erupted in laughter.
Some of you might find this to be horrible. Just remember that I'm in Korea. I could have beat him with a bamboo stick, which would have been perfectly acceptable. So, I think throwing a piece of chalk at him was really nothing major. Really, I wanted to throw my mug of hot tea on him... but I exercised restraint.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
Time Goes So Slowly
Well, it's been a slow week here in Korea. Just another week of working and waiting for April to arrive. The weather has been nice and finally it looks like spring is here.
The students are getting into more and more trouble. Lots of kids have been punished in the teachers' office this week, lots of kids smoking and just being generally horrible. It's a real problem here. I know that this year is going to be very difficult on the teachers. I don't know if there are more students smoking this year, or if the new principal is just cracking down on the juvenile delinquent behavior. I suspect it has to do with the principal. Every morning there are teachers outside, keeping an eye on the students as they walk to school. I don't know how long this will keep going on, but it's amusing to watch at least. It's given me lots of punishment ideas.
My classes have been uneventful. The bad classes (the vocational classes mainly) continue to be as bad as ever. My goal is really just to play a lot of games with them until I get to leave. I'm mentally checked out... so don't judge me, I've already put up with these kids for 2 years. The "good" classes (the general education kids) are ok but nothing spectacular. My seniors this year are much worse in terms of English than the seniors from last year. I miss those kids for sure.
I came to school this morning, and my candy jar is open and empty on my desk. I'm not happy about this. I don't know if it's a teacher or a student, but it makes me angry that the candy that I buy with my own money has disappeared. I guess I will have to keep it locked up from now on.
I talked to a friend who is teaching English in Paris. She wants a job here in Korea. After sending a couple of e-mails, I got her a job... in less than 24 hours! I know, I'm good. I really hope she gets to Korea before I leave because I haven't seen her in more than 2 years. It would be nice if she could come to my going away party here.
That's all the daily happenings here in Korea. Gotta run. More students are in trouble and in need of some discipline.
The students are getting into more and more trouble. Lots of kids have been punished in the teachers' office this week, lots of kids smoking and just being generally horrible. It's a real problem here. I know that this year is going to be very difficult on the teachers. I don't know if there are more students smoking this year, or if the new principal is just cracking down on the juvenile delinquent behavior. I suspect it has to do with the principal. Every morning there are teachers outside, keeping an eye on the students as they walk to school. I don't know how long this will keep going on, but it's amusing to watch at least. It's given me lots of punishment ideas.
My classes have been uneventful. The bad classes (the vocational classes mainly) continue to be as bad as ever. My goal is really just to play a lot of games with them until I get to leave. I'm mentally checked out... so don't judge me, I've already put up with these kids for 2 years. The "good" classes (the general education kids) are ok but nothing spectacular. My seniors this year are much worse in terms of English than the seniors from last year. I miss those kids for sure.
I came to school this morning, and my candy jar is open and empty on my desk. I'm not happy about this. I don't know if it's a teacher or a student, but it makes me angry that the candy that I buy with my own money has disappeared. I guess I will have to keep it locked up from now on.
I talked to a friend who is teaching English in Paris. She wants a job here in Korea. After sending a couple of e-mails, I got her a job... in less than 24 hours! I know, I'm good. I really hope she gets to Korea before I leave because I haven't seen her in more than 2 years. It would be nice if she could come to my going away party here.
That's all the daily happenings here in Korea. Gotta run. More students are in trouble and in need of some discipline.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Smoking In The Boy's Room
I don't know what is going on here. It's only the first week of school. There have been so many kids getting in trouble this week for smoking. As I'm writing this, there are 7 freshmen boys standing in a line with their hands up above their heads. They were all carrying cigarettes and were all caught smoking in the bathrooms. They will have to wear the "sashes of shame." This is going to be a very very long year if they keep this up.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Sadness
Today I mentioned on the way home that I missed the computer teacher Mr. Lee, who was by far my best English student ever. My co-teacher told me that Mr. Lee, who was about my age, died on February 14. Apparently he had a rupture in an artery. I am completely floored by this news. Mr. Lee was such a young and healthy guy, with a young daughter who is only two. It's really a tragedy and I will miss him.
Inked
Over the weekend, well, on Friday, myself and three of my friends all got tattoos. We all got the same tattoo, with slight variations. Here are some pictures of the tattooing process.
Mr. Joo is the tattooist that we found in Songtan. He was highly recommended, and did some good work. He's a detail man and does some really fine work. In his office was a big polished wood penis. I don't know why exactly, but Koreans love penises.
The tattoo that we all got is the samjoko. If you want to know more about it, google it. It's a 3-legged crow from Korean mythology that lives in the center of the sun. It's a symbol of power. It is also a symbol of freedom and independence from the Japanese occupation before World War II. Incidentally, we all got the tattoo the day before Korean independence day... that was a coincidence.
Mr. Joo is the tattooist that we found in Songtan. He was highly recommended, and did some good work. He's a detail man and does some really fine work. In his office was a big polished wood penis. I don't know why exactly, but Koreans love penises.
The tattoo that we all got is the samjoko. If you want to know more about it, google it. It's a 3-legged crow from Korean mythology that lives in the center of the sun. It's a symbol of power. It is also a symbol of freedom and independence from the Japanese occupation before World War II. Incidentally, we all got the tattoo the day before Korean independence day... that was a coincidence.
A New School Year
March 3rd marks the beginning of the new school year across all of Korea. It also marks just 7 weeks before I'm finished in Korea and get to go home. The first day in school involves an opening ceremony, where you are introduced to the students. It was nice. When I was introduced (I'm always last, in English because my last name begins with "Y" and in Korea because I'm different) the students clapped and yelled and said "cutie." It was a good feeling.
We have a new principal. I'm hoping that the new principal will end up resulting in better treatment for me during these next 7 weeks. I have no way to tell. I don't think anyone has an opinion yet of the new principal.
I have a new co-teacher also. I don't quite understand this one. I was told that because the freshman enrollment numbers were so low, that we'd be getting rid of an English teacher and a math teacher. Well, Ms. Park (my co-teacher who is very nice but super annoying) left, and Ms. Heung is here in her place, so I don't know what that accomplished. Ms. Heung seems to have a personality that isn't going to mesh so great with me, but I'm willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Good news is that she spent time at the University of Michigan studying for a bit, probably as part of this study program they have here that lasts only 4-6 weeks. Her English is good enough. I feel bad for the woman though. She had me go to a class with her, and she tried (bless her heart) to teach the class as an "English-only" class. The poor woman had no idea that she was assigned to the worst school in the area. She has no idea what she's supposed to do with the kids. What a rude awakening.
Nothing else is going on in school. There is no real schedule yet, since they wait until the last minute to do anything, so as a result, I don't have a schedule for another week or so. I think I won't really have any classes to teach, which isn't really a problem for me.
Oh, a piece of news from my city. Apparently a foreign teacher was busted for selling drugs. I don't know anything else. Is it any wonder that I don't like to hang out with these people? I hope I find out who it was.
We have a new principal. I'm hoping that the new principal will end up resulting in better treatment for me during these next 7 weeks. I have no way to tell. I don't think anyone has an opinion yet of the new principal.
I have a new co-teacher also. I don't quite understand this one. I was told that because the freshman enrollment numbers were so low, that we'd be getting rid of an English teacher and a math teacher. Well, Ms. Park (my co-teacher who is very nice but super annoying) left, and Ms. Heung is here in her place, so I don't know what that accomplished. Ms. Heung seems to have a personality that isn't going to mesh so great with me, but I'm willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Good news is that she spent time at the University of Michigan studying for a bit, probably as part of this study program they have here that lasts only 4-6 weeks. Her English is good enough. I feel bad for the woman though. She had me go to a class with her, and she tried (bless her heart) to teach the class as an "English-only" class. The poor woman had no idea that she was assigned to the worst school in the area. She has no idea what she's supposed to do with the kids. What a rude awakening.
Nothing else is going on in school. There is no real schedule yet, since they wait until the last minute to do anything, so as a result, I don't have a schedule for another week or so. I think I won't really have any classes to teach, which isn't really a problem for me.
Oh, a piece of news from my city. Apparently a foreign teacher was busted for selling drugs. I don't know anything else. Is it any wonder that I don't like to hang out with these people? I hope I find out who it was.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)