A few days ago was Ed's big day. Some of you know, but for those of you who don't, Ed was asked to sing/dance or do something in his school's festival. If you remember, a while back my school had its festival. It is a pretty big deal for the students. Ed's students in particular stopped showing up to class about two weeks ago in order to practice. They told him, that they must practice, and English class was finished (it so was not, the students just needed some time to practice and the only class that can be skipped easily was English class--though not by Ed's standards). Needless to say, Ed was pretty mad for two weeks when students wouldn't show up, and he would have to find them, only to be told by the students (and other teachers) that there was no class. "Must Practice", they said.
Anyways, a few days ago was the big event. Ed debated and practiced several songs, and eventually decided to play the guitar while singing a Korean song called "Nobody" by the Wondergirls (again you will remember them from my festival). So after 4 hours of sitting watching other acts (including 6 other versions of "Nobody"), it was Ed's turn. Note this is what happens when you really only practice for two days, and don't know the words, especially to a song in another language. You can listen to the original version at the link above(Ed asked me to write this.) Personally, I think he did a great job. I also want to apologize for the shakiness of the video and the quality...I don't know what happened with the shakes and well we had to change the quality in order to upload it. Enjoy and leave positive comments please! ;)
Monday, December 29, 2008
Interesting Read...If Your Interested That Is
I found this article written by Brain in Jellanamdo pretty interesting and accurate.
It Korea's plan to hire non-native speakers who speak English to fill the roles of the English teacher in the classroom. Confusing right? Although not a bad idea, Brian brings up a couple of good points, as do the commentors that follow his post.
Here is a preview:
It Korea's plan to hire non-native speakers who speak English to fill the roles of the English teacher in the classroom. Confusing right? Although not a bad idea, Brian brings up a couple of good points, as do the commentors that follow his post.
Here is a preview:
Having seen the way native speakers are currently used in the schools, I have to say that having more non-native speakers isn't necessarily a bad idea. The point of having native speakers in the classroom is to give students exposure to foreign cultures and to give them a chance to use the English they've learned. However, since there is some resistance to introducing foreign cultures into the classroom, since students are reluctant to speak English in class, since productive skills are deemphasized in favor of teaching toward tests, and since foreign teachers' classes are presented as goof-off time, I'm not sure they're such a wise investment.
I Did It Myself!
In Korea, being technologically smart, they have an automatic bill pay machine at the bank. You don't send in your bills like you do in America. You go to the bank to pay your bills. You just insert your bills into the machine, press a few buttons, swipe your bank card, then presto! Bills paid!
This machine, no matter how simple it may be to the average Korean 5 year old, has been the bain of my existence since I've had to start paying bills here. It is not in English. There are no English options. It shouts Korean at you when it wants you to press a button. Its scary.
No matter how many times I've been shown how to work the stupid thing, I usually ended up needed some kind Korean to assist me with the process; usually a pissed off ajuma--old married woman, literally--to cluck and sigh at me, then push me out of the way, rip my bills out of my hand, clucking the whole time, then push me when it is time to enter my pin number. Another reason why it is so scary--man I thought Mom had a good evil eye!
Anyways, after four months of paying bills, I can now proudly say that I can do it my self, thank you very much! Yesterday, I went to pay bills. I ponied up to the machine, pressed all the right buttons, swiped my card twice (once was the wrong way), and pleased the ajumas behind me because I was fast. When I finished, I wanted to turn to the person behind me and give them a hug (or have them hug me because I did something all by myself). I wanted someone to pat me on the back, to say congratulations! But then I remembered that I was at the Korean bank, and they don't really care about me, except that I'm a foreigner in their bank (WOW!!). So I did get patted a few times, but because I'm pretty, not because I did something all by myself!
So moral of this story: Its okay that it takes me five times to get something right, I'll eventually get it. At least now I can pay my bills with out help. Can you?
This machine, no matter how simple it may be to the average Korean 5 year old, has been the bain of my existence since I've had to start paying bills here. It is not in English. There are no English options. It shouts Korean at you when it wants you to press a button. Its scary.
No matter how many times I've been shown how to work the stupid thing, I usually ended up needed some kind Korean to assist me with the process; usually a pissed off ajuma--old married woman, literally--to cluck and sigh at me, then push me out of the way, rip my bills out of my hand, clucking the whole time, then push me when it is time to enter my pin number. Another reason why it is so scary--man I thought Mom had a good evil eye!
Anyways, after four months of paying bills, I can now proudly say that I can do it my self, thank you very much! Yesterday, I went to pay bills. I ponied up to the machine, pressed all the right buttons, swiped my card twice (once was the wrong way), and pleased the ajumas behind me because I was fast. When I finished, I wanted to turn to the person behind me and give them a hug (or have them hug me because I did something all by myself). I wanted someone to pat me on the back, to say congratulations! But then I remembered that I was at the Korean bank, and they don't really care about me, except that I'm a foreigner in their bank (WOW!!). So I did get patted a few times, but because I'm pretty, not because I did something all by myself!
So moral of this story: Its okay that it takes me five times to get something right, I'll eventually get it. At least now I can pay my bills with out help. Can you?
Friday, December 26, 2008
On Break.... Finally!!!
Today marks the first day of our two month vacation from teaching English!
I LOVE vacation!
I LOVE vacation!
I LOVE vacation!
Eddie and I will be around Yeosu until the 5th, then we will be heading to Malaysia for a bit of a stay. I'm hoping to still have internet though, as I will be working on another masters' course during our vacation (bahhh--why do I need to be educated--huh??).
So until then, I'm sure I'll have a few more things to write--but I wanted to let you all know in case you wanted to send some care packages or such--we won't be around to get them (if a dire emergency arises, please let me know and I will get you an address!)
Hey, did I mention that I get my vacation, for two months, and its paid??
I LOVE vacation (and I love rubbing it in!) :)))
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Merry Christmas
From Ed's Students:
'Hello How are you? We are Buyeong High School students in Korea. Though we have never seen each other, we hope this Christmas makes you feel very special and very loved, for all! PS Edward Teacher is very handsome and teach well"
To Mr. and Mrs. Lemery
"No cry. No cry. Santa grandfather do not give present to crying children. !Fighting! (means go team) Santa knows you. Children who are kind or bad. Today night will visit your home and go!!! Early morning she wakes up with a knock, knock, knock on the door. Why you not give prise to us. We disappointed and very sad but we wish your merry christmas Happy new year. Ok? Thank you read this letter. Bye."
(the Korean says 'Edward should shave his beard'.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hazard:
"Hello! We are Bu-yong 'elite' high school students (Ju-Hee, Jin-Hee, Lemon, Lucy, A-Ram). We are Edward's students. Ummm......Happy New Year!" (notice the picture of Edward)
This one pretty much just says Merry Christmas and I love you.
Here's hoping you all have a wonderful Christmas and we miss you all!
'Hello How are you? We are Buyeong High School students in Korea. Though we have never seen each other, we hope this Christmas makes you feel very special and very loved, for all! PS Edward Teacher is very handsome and teach well"
To Mr. and Mrs. Lemery
"No cry. No cry. Santa grandfather do not give present to crying children. !Fighting! (means go team) Santa knows you. Children who are kind or bad. Today night will visit your home and go!!! Early morning she wakes up with a knock, knock, knock on the door. Why you not give prise to us. We disappointed and very sad but we wish your merry christmas Happy new year. Ok? Thank you read this letter. Bye."
(the Korean says 'Edward should shave his beard'.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hazard:
"Hello! We are Bu-yong 'elite' high school students (Ju-Hee, Jin-Hee, Lemon, Lucy, A-Ram). We are Edward's students. Ummm......Happy New Year!" (notice the picture of Edward)
Here's hoping you all have a wonderful Christmas and we miss you all!
Monday, December 22, 2008
X-Mas Wagookin' Stylz
This past weekend was our Christmas in Yeosu! We invited our two extra classes over for a 'Western Christmas'. Many, if not all had never been to a 'foreigner's house' so that was a treat in itself. We made cookies, at mandu and kimchi, watched Tim Allen try to be Santa. It was a good time. Here are the highlights:
Violet
Star, Taylor, and Toni
B Class
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Violet
Star, Taylor, and Toni
B Class
Saturday, December 20, 2008
More to come!
As I said, I'm with out a computer at work, but I wanted to let you know we have more coming! And with pictures too!!
So keep a look out for some new blogs!
So keep a look out for some new blogs!
Where did all of our Handlers go??
Sorry for not writing much lately. I have been with out a computer at work, so I haven't had as much time as I normally have to sit and write!
So last night, Ed and I went out for dinner. We went to a tiny place near our house that is always busy. It was a usual sam gyup sal style place. That means that they bring you a plate of meat and you cook it yourself on the grill in front of you. Its a pretty novel, and uniquely Korean thing to do. And while Ed and I enjoy the food immensely, it always is a hassle for us. Here's why:
1. We never really know what we are doing.
2. Usually someone, the owner, comes over and cooks the meat for us. This is kind of funny because any small Korean child could cook the meat with ease, but not us! We end up burning the meat, making tons of smoke and ruining their grills.
3. We are at the mercy of our 'Handlers', other wise known as Koreans who take pity on us waygookins and do everything for us. The Handlers are sometimes a bit much to handle, but overall a joy to have around. I usually think when approached by a Restaurant Handler "You want to cook that for me? Sure, go ahead, I didn't want to try to do it myself anyways. You would do a much better job than I could conceive of doing, because after all, I'm a foreigner and have no clue."
Okay, so anyways Ed and are eating at this restaurant, barbecue style. At this point in our eating experiences, we have not been left to fend for our selves. A Handler usually comes over and takes over the cooking process. They tell us how to eat the stuff, smile a lot, and speak a lot of Korean to us. We smile back, and like small children do as we are told. So with this in mind, we order some shrimp. Now here in Korea, they don't let silly things like the head, legs, or shell go to waste. They eat the whole thing. Ed tried to eat everything, as he is more culturally willing than I am when it comes to food. But he couldn't do it. I didn't even attempt. I sat there in all my foreigner glory, picked the head off, de-shelled, and tried to de-vein (not easy with only chopsticks), and enjoyed some really good shrimp. Needless to say we made a mess.
Now usually the Handlers come over and tell us that we are eating it wrong. But at this place, they left us alone! It was unnerving because even though I was determined not to eat the shrimp like a Korean, I still felt that I needed a Korean to tell me what to do. We were burning the shit out of their grill, and they didn't come running. We were eating food wrong, and they didn't come running. Ed and I remarked several times how odd it was that they left us alone, especially when we clearly had no clue how to do things Korean style. It was like we were missing our left arm.
We were like kids driving for the first time with out an adult. We knew what to do, we just have never done it before with out adult (handler) supervision. It was overall, an empowering experience. We now know of one place in Korea where they don't care that we burn the food, the table, the grill, and make a mess. I think that we will most definitely go back there, willing that they let us in through the door again!
So last night, Ed and I went out for dinner. We went to a tiny place near our house that is always busy. It was a usual sam gyup sal style place. That means that they bring you a plate of meat and you cook it yourself on the grill in front of you. Its a pretty novel, and uniquely Korean thing to do. And while Ed and I enjoy the food immensely, it always is a hassle for us. Here's why:
1. We never really know what we are doing.
2. Usually someone, the owner, comes over and cooks the meat for us. This is kind of funny because any small Korean child could cook the meat with ease, but not us! We end up burning the meat, making tons of smoke and ruining their grills.
3. We are at the mercy of our 'Handlers', other wise known as Koreans who take pity on us waygookins and do everything for us. The Handlers are sometimes a bit much to handle, but overall a joy to have around. I usually think when approached by a Restaurant Handler "You want to cook that for me? Sure, go ahead, I didn't want to try to do it myself anyways. You would do a much better job than I could conceive of doing, because after all, I'm a foreigner and have no clue."
Okay, so anyways Ed and are eating at this restaurant, barbecue style. At this point in our eating experiences, we have not been left to fend for our selves. A Handler usually comes over and takes over the cooking process. They tell us how to eat the stuff, smile a lot, and speak a lot of Korean to us. We smile back, and like small children do as we are told. So with this in mind, we order some shrimp. Now here in Korea, they don't let silly things like the head, legs, or shell go to waste. They eat the whole thing. Ed tried to eat everything, as he is more culturally willing than I am when it comes to food. But he couldn't do it. I didn't even attempt. I sat there in all my foreigner glory, picked the head off, de-shelled, and tried to de-vein (not easy with only chopsticks), and enjoyed some really good shrimp. Needless to say we made a mess.
Now usually the Handlers come over and tell us that we are eating it wrong. But at this place, they left us alone! It was unnerving because even though I was determined not to eat the shrimp like a Korean, I still felt that I needed a Korean to tell me what to do. We were burning the shit out of their grill, and they didn't come running. We were eating food wrong, and they didn't come running. Ed and I remarked several times how odd it was that they left us alone, especially when we clearly had no clue how to do things Korean style. It was like we were missing our left arm.
We were like kids driving for the first time with out an adult. We knew what to do, we just have never done it before with out adult (handler) supervision. It was overall, an empowering experience. We now know of one place in Korea where they don't care that we burn the food, the table, the grill, and make a mess. I think that we will most definitely go back there, willing that they let us in through the door again!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
A Day in the Life of a Real English Teacher
This was yesterday.
7:00am Alarm goes off. Hit the snooze.
7:10am Alarm goes off again. Make Ed get up.
7:20am Alarm goes off again. Get up take a shower. Get ready for school
8:10am Walk to school.
8:30am Arrive at school. Say hello a thousand times.
8:31am Hide in English lab.
8:34am Check email. Check Facebook.
9:00am Check master's email.
9:10am Write paper due on Sunday
10:10am Check Facebook
10:15am Go back to writing paper for masters
10:30am Pee break.
10:33am Check Facebook
10:45am Lesson plan for next week
11:00am Give up lesson planning for next week. Everything is too difficult and they won't get it.
11:02am Check Perezhilton.com
11:10am Check Facebook
11:12am Check email
11:15am Do squat lunges around the English lab. Stare into space.
12:15pm Go to lunch. Eat fish head soup, rice, seaweed soup, fish paste balls. Yum
12:45pm Decide to go for a walk to Dunkin Dounuts. And pee using a real toliet at Lotte Mart
1:45pm Arrive back at school. Students invade English lab. Try to show me videos of Korean pop music stars
1:50pm Student flips a breaker switch, blows up two surge protectors and possibly computer monitor.
1:55pm Student gets beaten (not by me) for flipping breaker switch. I feel bad and offer her candy.
2:00pm Tech guys come to fix computer station, and look at me like I am the foreign freak that I am.
3:30pm Computer fixed
3:32pm Check facebook
3:35pm Read masters book
4:45pm Shut down now fixed lab, and get ready to go home.
5:15pm Arrive at home. A hard days worth of work over with! I can now relax
7:00am Alarm goes off. Hit the snooze.
7:10am Alarm goes off again. Make Ed get up.
7:20am Alarm goes off again. Get up take a shower. Get ready for school
8:10am Walk to school.
8:30am Arrive at school. Say hello a thousand times.
8:31am Hide in English lab.
8:34am Check email. Check Facebook.
9:00am Check master's email.
9:10am Write paper due on Sunday
10:10am Check Facebook
10:15am Go back to writing paper for masters
10:30am Pee break.
10:33am Check Facebook
10:45am Lesson plan for next week
11:00am Give up lesson planning for next week. Everything is too difficult and they won't get it.
11:02am Check Perezhilton.com
11:10am Check Facebook
11:12am Check email
11:15am Do squat lunges around the English lab. Stare into space.
12:15pm Go to lunch. Eat fish head soup, rice, seaweed soup, fish paste balls. Yum
12:45pm Decide to go for a walk to Dunkin Dounuts. And pee using a real toliet at Lotte Mart
1:45pm Arrive back at school. Students invade English lab. Try to show me videos of Korean pop music stars
1:50pm Student flips a breaker switch, blows up two surge protectors and possibly computer monitor.
1:55pm Student gets beaten (not by me) for flipping breaker switch. I feel bad and offer her candy.
2:00pm Tech guys come to fix computer station, and look at me like I am the foreign freak that I am.
3:30pm Computer fixed
3:32pm Check facebook
3:35pm Read masters book
4:45pm Shut down now fixed lab, and get ready to go home.
5:15pm Arrive at home. A hard days worth of work over with! I can now relax
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Vavoom Vanna
Next week, most Korean students will be participating in final exams (their year starts in March, ends in December). So in preparation for final exams, my co-teachers have asked me to play games with the students; you know give them a chance to relax. Well the teacher in me protested and said that I would not play games for four weeks (yes four weeks). So last week I secretly played a game with a grammar skill attached to it. Well wouldn't you know it--it bombed. Big time. It was horrible.
So this week, game week number two, we played a different game. A game that you all know and love. A game that I was positive would go over with the kiddos. A game surprisingly similar to hangman, but with money. Yup, I played Wheel of Fortune all week with my students, other wise known by my students as 'Tire of Luck'. In my teacher defense, I chose words and phrases that would be on their tests next week...so there I taught something!
Can I just say that Wheel of Fortune week has been the best week yet! I had almost every kid interested. Almost every kid participated. There were screams of joy for $1000 letters. There were screams of agony for Bankrupt (or 파산 -ppa san-in Korean). There were even chants for other teams to get Bankrupt. Nothing like a little healthy competition. My boy classes were much more into playing than the girls, who wisely used the time to pop each others zits and stare into their little hand mirrors.
Many of my boys actually got 'excited' when Vanna showed up (I showed a video to explain the game; much easier than actually trying to explain it). 'OOOOHHHH Sooo Sexy!!!" So its good to know that she's still got it.
My favorite moment of the the week was when 'Cody' a charming second year that reminds me of Rufio from Hook was trying to win the game(he also has the same type of 'puck you' personality as well). He was purposely calling out letters like q and z for the other teams to guess. And wouldn't you know it, they did. He was the leader in my Bankrupt chants, and screeched like a girl when another team landed on it.
When he won, he paraded around the room flexing his muscles (what they had to do with winning still has me puzzled) and screeching "YEAH!!!" Cody was told to sit down many times, and to calm down, but the Tire of Luck was just too much to handle.
So now, when I'm asked (told) to play games, we will play the Tire of Luck.
I'm not going to lie. My week went very well. I'm glad that real teaching does not go to waste here, and my students are like any other students across the world. Forget playing a 'learning game'. They just want Vanna and candy.
So this week, game week number two, we played a different game. A game that you all know and love. A game that I was positive would go over with the kiddos. A game surprisingly similar to hangman, but with money. Yup, I played Wheel of Fortune all week with my students, other wise known by my students as 'Tire of Luck'. In my teacher defense, I chose words and phrases that would be on their tests next week...so there I taught something!
Can I just say that Wheel of Fortune week has been the best week yet! I had almost every kid interested. Almost every kid participated. There were screams of joy for $1000 letters. There were screams of agony for Bankrupt (or 파산 -ppa san-in Korean). There were even chants for other teams to get Bankrupt. Nothing like a little healthy competition. My boy classes were much more into playing than the girls, who wisely used the time to pop each others zits and stare into their little hand mirrors.
Many of my boys actually got 'excited' when Vanna showed up (I showed a video to explain the game; much easier than actually trying to explain it). 'OOOOHHHH Sooo Sexy!!!" So its good to know that she's still got it.
My favorite moment of the the week was when 'Cody' a charming second year that reminds me of Rufio from Hook was trying to win the game(he also has the same type of 'puck you' personality as well). He was purposely calling out letters like q and z for the other teams to guess. And wouldn't you know it, they did. He was the leader in my Bankrupt chants, and screeched like a girl when another team landed on it.
When he won, he paraded around the room flexing his muscles (what they had to do with winning still has me puzzled) and screeching "YEAH!!!" Cody was told to sit down many times, and to calm down, but the Tire of Luck was just too much to handle. So now, when I'm asked (told) to play games, we will play the Tire of Luck.
I'm not going to lie. My week went very well. I'm glad that real teaching does not go to waste here, and my students are like any other students across the world. Forget playing a 'learning game'. They just want Vanna and candy.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Korean Driving Part II
On my walk to Ed's school tonight, I saw crazy Korean driving--almost worse than the drunk driver car....
This was a mini-van full of students (going to academy after school) with two students standing on the back bumper hanging on for dear life to the roof!! Come to think of it--I don't know how they were hanging on!?! I'm pretty sure the driver knew that they were there--because all the kids in the van were screaming with glee. Oh yeah, these kids were probably 10 years old!! Hello!!! How dangerous is that!!??!!! Especially with crazy Korean drivers!! Oh I hope those kids made it to Academy okay!!
I have to start carrying a camera with me...too many random things that happen and no great pictures on the web to represent them!
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