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My blog entry for Week Three finds me on the wrong side of a soju experiment. I write to you from a very dark place. As the work week concluded on Friday, a co-worker of mine said, "Now you know why teachers drink."
As a first time teacher, I am utterly aware that I have a lot to learn. Teaching anywhere is a challenge when you are first starting out, but the language barrier of teaching English in Korea to Korean children presents its own particular set of obstacles. Here I provide you with my first ridiculous teaching moment, Korea style:
I have been assigned to teach a class that is notorious for behavioral issues at my school. It is a group of 8 little boys, around the age 8 or 9. I see them on Tuesdays and Fridays. They are usually a rowdy bunch that never stay quiet or in their seats, and they feed on eachothers misbehaviors. On Tuesdays they are required to turn in a book report. This is not new news to them. They have know this for months before I even arrived. So on Tuesday, I went into class and not a single student had a book report. I thought, Hey, this is my first week with them, I'll give them a break. So I told them, and wrote it down on the board for back-up, that they must bring a book report on Friday or else they would have detention. So imagine my surprise on Friday when only one student showed up with a book report! So, I told the rest of the students that they needed to go to detention after class and write a book report before they could go home. And then three boys start crying. No crying, isn't an appropriate enough word. Weeping. They began weeping. Audibly. And this is a class of boys that will never stop heckling and squirming and screaming.
Now, if anyone has some interesting advice on how to handle that situation, I will listen to it with Dumbo-sized ears. Because I just caved, like a big, gooey, marshmallow of a mess. Nobody got a detention, everybody got a hug, it was ridiculous. I am a spineless, jellyfish. But I swear on all things good in this world, if those boys don't bring me a book report next week, there isn't a tear in heaven that could break me. I will be strong!
So, when the end of the day came on Friday, myself and all the other teachers for their own ridiculous reasons, needed a drink. And what is a better way to let off steam than soju and singing terrible karaeoke? South Korea, and many other Asian nations, have these awesome little joints called noraebangs, where you can rent out a private room to sing your heart out with your friends, no audience required. It was an evening filled with all the best, worst songs people with no vocal talent could possibly display. There was Pearl Jam, Artic Monkeys, Springsteen, Maroon 5, Lou Bega, Loius Armstrong, Nirvana and some other terribly awesome music. I happened across "Born in the U.S.A." but being the only American in the room, I felt it would be underappreciated and inappropriate to sing this approximal to Vietnam. It just felt weird.
Aside from all the tears this week at school, and the screechy singing this weekend, I sit here on Sunday evening looking forward to work tomorrow. And I like that feeling. I have the unfortunate tendency to start looking at the end of something when the beginning has barely started, but I've already begun to wander around the internet looking at opportunites to do this elsewhere. And the possibilities are endless. South Korea is amazing so far, but the entire world is out there looking for people to teach English. And if I can do something where on Sunday night, Monday morning is looking good, I think I want to keep that ball rolling, no matter where I go.
"It's not just a daydream if you decide to make it your life."
- comments
Heather Oh yes! After 3 years of teaching I still struggle with this! Do the parents call and complain like American parents?? Stay strong or the kids will know how to work you and do it every time. It's not as bad as their crying makes it seem. They will survive detention and ultimately it will make them better students and you a better teacher because they will walk away from your class with knowledge and not just the ability to slide their way through situations that they screwed up. :) tough love, tough love is the most effective! I know nothing about Korean schools but maybe the Friday before the Tuesday it's due you spend the last 5 minutes of class letting the boys write one or two sentences so they go home with a start and you are there to help them get going. Sometimes the kids avoid assignments because they are just plain stuck- not sure if this is the case for you since they knew these assignments were coming or they had to do them before. Do you know much about what their home life is like? Living conditions? Family support? Etc? I bet you're an awesome teacher! I'm also glad you see why drinks are necessary in this profession and why teachers spend a lot of time at the bar on the weekends! It's not the materials youre teaching at all but it sure is everything else!! Good Luck!!! :) miss you!
Karen I wonder if crying like that is a cultural thing? It does seem a bit odd compared to boys of that age in the US. You need to be tough though, no matter what the reason for the tears. I've been homeschooling my kids for almost 20 years now. They'll try almost anything to delay getting the work done. (Not all kids do) I think you are handling it right. Giving them more time gave you some time to think through what the reasons for the tears may have been. It's good they see you as compassionate, but stern, and know that you mean business. I'm thrilled you love what you're doing! Being a teacher is awesome!
Kinsey I want know to know if they turned them in or not.. you should update me asap. Since mom and dad will be in KC this weekend - I thought we should all make a skype date? Let me know when is good for you :)
Mum I agree with Heather; help them get started and tell them you want a one page report at first. keep it simple til they show signs of adapting to the assignment and then build on that. You know what they are capable of but start small enough they can gain confidence without having to spend hours completing the job. They do have an awful long school day so i'm sure fatigue is a factor too. Say something positive to each child individually so they know you are interested in their achievements and care about their success. You will do fine with them. You have an inspiring personality and the students will want to respond to your presence in their lives in due time. I'll drink a toast to your success too. Ha.