RAVING/HAPPY SH!T MEGATHREAD

Tourist visa for China = approved!

Shanghai Shenanigans coming soon!

Our super stressful open class is over! (Now just two for the parents but that shouldn't be too bad.) My poor co was so nervous during our open class that she was shaking, but it went really well and the kids were so well-behaved. I could tell the kids were nervous too though because they sat straight up in their desks and just stared at me the whole time; they were too nervous to turn around and see the 18 or so teachers who were watching our class.

After it was over the VP came up to me, grabbed my hand, stared me in the eyes, and earnestly said, "This is the best English class I have ever seen." I'm so glad it's done with and her comment made all of the prep worth it.

In 5th grade a couple girls have been begging to play Sleeping Elephants, so we did that today. Some boys whined and moaned but I told them they could sit at the back of the class if they didn't want to play. All the kids looked like they had fun (even the grumpy boys got really into), and at the end of the class the two girls ran up to me and thanked me for the game. I've been having trouble connecting with the girls in this class (they are so darn quiet) but I think we're getting there. 

Our super stressful open class is over! (Now just two for the parents but that shouldn't be too bad.) My poor co was so nervous during our open class that she was shaking, but it went really well and the kids were so well-behaved. I could tell the kids were nervous too though because they sat straight up in their desks and just stared at me the whole time; they were too nervous to turn around and see the 18 or so teachers who were watching our class.

After it was over the VP came up to me, grabbed my hand, stared me in the eyes, and earnestly said, "This is the best English class I have ever seen." I'm so glad it's done with and her comment made all of the prep worth it.

In 5th grade a couple girls have been begging to play Sleeping Elephants, so we did that today. Some boys whined and moaned but I told them they could sit at the back of the class if they didn't want to play. All the kids looked like they had fun (even the grumpy boys got really into), and at the end of the class the two girls ran up to me and thanked me for the game. I've been having trouble connecting with the girls in this class (they are so darn quiet) but I think we're getting there. 

Why was your coteacher so nervous? Is she new to teaching English? Or just a new teacher in general?

Honestly, why does anybody sweat over open class? I've had some CoTs prepare a month ahead of time and stress incessantly for something that, at least at my school, isn't taken seriously by administration at all. It seems like whatever you write for the lesson plan is more important than what actually happens in class. The VP and P pop their heads in for 3 minutes max. Plus, don't teachers here have one of the most secure jobs you can imagine. What's the worst that could happen?

Why was your coteacher so nervous? Is she new to teaching English? Or just a new teacher in general?

Both. She taught for about a year, had a kid, and just came back now that he's in kindergarten. She's never taught English before, and her language ability is pretty low, which she knows. Open class is taken pretty seriously here. All the other teachers are required to attend (there's a sign in sheet for them), there's a teacher snapping pics constantly, all the teachers have a copy of our lesson plan that they're supposed to make notes on, and the VP and P both attend. After the lesson we all gather in the library where we explain what we did in the lesson and why, and then they give us feedback. Usually they record the class too, but they thankfully they didn't in our class. I wasn't too nervous, mostly because I was just so sick of my co freaking out about it I just wanted it to be over.

My co is just one of those people who has a nervous energy. She worries constantly and everything is a dramatic ordeal.  She obsessed over the open class for a month.

I love how excited some students get about games. I had them playing "Connect 3" (there's only 6 students in this class and they like working in groups of 3 instead of pairs) and one student realized he'd just won a match and was practically freaking out 

This made me especially glad to see him so elated because lately his great grandmother has been having health issues. His parents are out of the picture and he was dumped with great grandparents. He's been really worried about her health recently so it was nice to see him so happy

I just blew my sixth graders' minds by playing Salt n Pepa's "whatta man" for them.

Their 'new' favorite I.O.I. song is actually 22 years old.

I just blew my sixth graders' minds by playing Salt n Pepa's "whatta man" for them.

Their 'new' favorite I.O.I. song is actually 22 years old.

Its actually 48 years old cuz Linda Lydell sang it back in 1968. But that explains why I have been hearing it lately.

I just blew my sixth graders' minds by playing Salt n Pepa's "whatta man" for them.

Their 'new' favorite I.O.I. song is actually 22 years old.

Its actually 48 years old cuz Linda Lydell sang it back in 1968. But that explains why I have been hearing it lately.

And now my mine is blown!

My debilitating cold did not stop me from powering through two open classes for parents. They went fairly well and it's over and school life can get back to normal now. Just one more day of school then this weekend is the Hwaseong Cultural Festival and the fireworks festival in Seoul. I don't know if that will be worth the crowds but I love fireworks so we'll see how it goes.

I brought in some ice cream for the office cause it's stupid hot outside and one of the teachers goes "Ahh! Selection!" (he doesn't speak much English)

I was all "yeah!!" because I'd brought in two different kinds. Then I realized one of the brands was actually called "Selection." We all had a hearty laugh over that 

In class the students were practicing dialogue when one student said his last line with an upward inflection at the end like a question. He immediately corrected himself though, and then fell on the ground laughing at himself. 

My debilitating cold did not stop me from powering through two open classes for parents. They went fairly well and it's over and school life can get back to normal now. Just one more day of school then this weekend is the Hwaseong Cultural Festival and the fireworks festival in Seoul. I don't know if that will be worth the crowds but I love fireworks so we'll see how it goes.

I hope you don't mind crowds. I live super close to the fireworks festival and have literally never gone to it, because it's just goofy crowded.

I want to go with my boyfriend because I have never gone before and I also live pretty close now, but he just fractured his hand and a couple fingers the other day and I don't want him getting bumped and jostled. I was hoping that maybe if we went to another area, across the river, at the little island in the middle between Dangsan and Hapjeong...

I have this student in first grade who is really not very good at English. I remember the first or second class I talked to the teacher about how she refused to answer any questions or practice reading the conversation in the book, and she said "oh yeah, she can't speak English" as if this meant I was free to give up on teaching her. I remember being very upset about it.

Her English has improved a tiny bit, but the biggest change is she seems much happier in English class and likes me a lot!!! I just had her class and she always does the heart-hand thing at me casually until I notice and give her a heart back, and she smiles and looks so happy.

Even if I didn't help her with English much, I'm happy at least if I can brighten her day.

Principal shenanigans continued, although this time it wasn't really shenanigans:

Drinking coffee in our section of the office and she comes up, my boss gives her some coffee. Then she starts talking to me

  : Guest teacher! I saw your class the other day and it was so good! The students seem to like you a lot!
  : Because it was a fun class haha
  : Your voice was loud and clear and you had such a big smile! That's so good! Good job!

Most of the "feedback" I get is from boss teacher who doesn't think I work hard enough, so it was nice to be recognized a little bit. The emotional labor of maintaining a positive classroom persona is probably something she doesn't understand lol

I have this student in first grade who is really not very good at English. I remember the first or second class I talked to the teacher about how she refused to answer any questions or practice reading the conversation in the book, and she said "oh yeah, she can't speak English" as if this meant I was free to give up on teaching her. I remember being very upset about it.

Her English has improved a tiny bit, but the biggest change is she seems much happier in English class and likes me a lot!!! I just had her class and she always does the heart-hand thing at me casually until I notice and give her a heart back, and she smiles and looks so happy.

Even if I didn't help her with English much, I'm happy at least if I can brighten her day.

Ugh this grinds my gears so much. Some teachers think, "Oh, X student isn't good at Y subject. Better not bother with them and focus on the ones who are good already."

That's literally not how you're supposed to teach. The students who are already good at something are either 1) self-motivated enough that they don't need excessive attention from teacher, or 2) going to enough hagwon that they're already way ahead of the game and don't need you. Teachers who only focus on the high level students are literally just taking the path of least resistance to getting through the workday. Miserable.

My elem. coT is like this which is why I dislike her a lot. Part of it may have been a translation issue but she has literally told me that I "don't need to care" about the lower level students. My middle school coTs actually try to help the lower level students when they can, which is why I respect them far more.

One of my lower level students was extremely sullen the first few classes. I made sure to pay attention to her and help her when I can and she's now happy to come to class and see me even though she's not good at English.

Yeah, when it happened initially I was very upset because the teacher who said that is one of the best teachers who I work with. I also feel really bad for this girl in particular because she has an English name (샤론 written in Korean. It's her actual name) so I wonder if maybe her parents gave her that name because they had high hopes for her in terms of English achievement. Or maybe they just gave her that name because they thought it was cool and it was easy to write in Korean, idk. Either way it must suck a little to have a foreign name and have a lot of trouble learning that language.

I think though, even though this teacher is good, she tends to try to cram as much as she can into one lesson and talks a mile a minute. For the high-level classes it's okay because they're already at that level, but for the first graders who are heterogeneously grouped, it's way too much for all but the top students. She knows how to teach high-level students very well, but maybe just isn't patient enough for low-level students.

First and second period were canceled so the students could harvest the sweet potatoes they planted last term. Best way to start a Monday.

Noticed a big change in a "problem" student today. I don't know if it's due to his homeroom teacher, the other students (they're good kids), time (to acclimate, as he's technically a new student this year though he has attended this school before in the past), or a combination of all, but it makes me happy to see such a change in him.

This kid used to be sullen and throw screaming/crying fits. Originally my coT told me he didn't speak any English and not to bother with him because he's "stubborn" but he seems completely different now. Now he's kinda chatty, seems to get along well with the other kids, and even follows along in class.

Just wanted to say I'm generally feeling pretty bloody good about this whole Korea thing! I've settled in really well at my elementary school, the kids are super cute, high school is doing midterms at the moment so no teaching (apart from helping third graders prep for interviews, which is basically a 'free chatting' class so is fun), Korean lessons are going well which really helps, weather is nice and 해피 and most importantly POKEMON X ARRIVED YESTERDAY!!! ^^^^^^

Wednesday is language exchange day and my fave part of the work week! :)