Teaching in South Korea

Two of my 6th grade girls come in to talk to me when they are 심심해 (bored).

Today they asked me how old I was. I like to make a big production of it and ask if they want my American (younger) or Korean (older) age. Regardless of what they choose, I always pretend I'm reaaaallllly old.

Then we got into how old our parents were. She said her mom was 37. My student is 13. I did the math, "Wow! Your mom is really young. If I was your mom, you would be a baby now." It took a lot of slow talking and acting to get this point across.

Then she said a word in Korean that means something like "speed to illegal acts."

When I didn't understand she explained that her mom was actually 8 months pregnant when she got married. Oops.

"But Teacher, secret!"

Of course I told my co-teacher as soon as she came in.

There's a popular drama in Korea called Secret Garden. The main character, 현빈 (Hyun-bin), wears a blue sequence track suit throughout the show:


As a result, these suits are showing up on average-everyday-citizens across Korea. Including in the third grade classrooms at my school:

With the change in the 5th and 6th grade national curriculum this year, we've made a few adjustments with our classes. We've tested the students and split them according to their ability level. We've also split the English Zone into two parts:


This week was the first week that we've split the 6th grade classes for their different levels. Naturally, they were all curious about what was going on on the other side of the wall.

I started telling my students that the other group was eating pizza and relaxing while we were studying. One of my students swore that he could smell the pizza. Every three minutes or so he would stop and say, "아! 진짜 피자 냄새!" (Oh, It really smells like pizza!) He even asked if he could go to the bathroom, just so he could see what was really going on on the other side.

Later, the students were filling out their book work. For the "Let's Write" section, they had to fill in the blank, 'My teacher is _________" with the correct answer being Anne. Like this:

With that last post being a bit heavy, I thought I'd leave you for the weekend with a quote brought to you by one of my darling fourth graders:

Just in case anyone was confused about the ONLY FOREIGNER IN THE SCHOOL, I get to wear this:

I usually get to school before everyone else. We're supposed to get here by 8:40; I get here around 7:40. Only because I live an hour away and if I make it much later than that, I have to ride the bus with all of the high school kids. There are a lot of high schoolers.

First thing in the morning, I go upstairs to re-fill my water bottle. This morning I happened to run into the vice principal (she is never here this early). She smiled and said, "Oh, Anne! You early bird?" I laughed and told her yes. When I went to leave she called me back and said, "Present for you. Vitamins and grape!" And handed me these:



Then she said, "Nice to meet you!" and shook my hand. She tells me that everyday and everyday I reply with, "Nice to see you" but I suppose now she just thinks that's the typical response in English.

This week I taught my fifth graders about St. Patrick's Day. You know, the basics. Things like eating corned beef and cabbage, parades, wearing green or getting pinched and doing the Irish jig. 


The Irish Jig. I showed them a ridiculous video first. Then, during the power point, I showed them this picture:

Apparently at 4 o'clock yesterday a lady in the admin office sent out a message to everyone telling them that the radiation made it all the way to Korea. She told everyone they should cover their necks and faces when they left for the day. I found out at 10 o'clock this morning.


Her news most likely stemmed from this fake message found on BBC.com: 

My neighbor is my landlady's niece. She's 19 or 20 years old (western, 21 in Korea). She's a student at a nearby university and she's taking a TOEIC exam. It's one of the many English tests that Koreans (and other English language learners) take. And I'm the lucky one that gets to tutor her!

Me: So, why do we learn Spanish in America?
Student: Mexico under. So you can get the drugs!
      ---6th grade, Friday March 11

Me: Why should you study English?
Student: It's a mystery
     ---6th grade, Monday March 7

Crystal: Tiger, what if Anne was your daughter?
Tiger: If this is my destiny, I think this is some problem.
     ---sometime in February :)
          ['Tiger,' as we lovingly call him, is the owner of the Thursday Party chain and one of our really good friends]
     

I've had a few visits from students here and there. When they aren't being sent to deliver books and desks to other classrooms or running around like maniacs, a few will pop in to say hello.

Today after lunch a group of three 5th grade girls (Wow! They were 3rd graders when I came to Korea, they grow up so fast ...) came in and read/sang through Today is Monday and Wheels on the Bus. Before leaving we shared this gem of a conversation:

Student: Teacher, uh, you ... popular teacher.
Me: Popular teacher? Why?
Student: Because, uh, you cute.

If that's all it takes. ;)

The 2011 school year has started.

I've just come off of two weeks of vacation. Two weeks of pedicures, massages, sleeping in, vodka-water-cranberries and Burn Notice marathons.

I have entries on my trip to Hong Kong and Macau waiting to be published as soon as add all of the pictures.

Soon.