I finally got to teach today and it was so much better than sitting at a desk!
First I taught Mr. Song's 6th graders - they were a tough crowd, it will definitely be a challenge. He says they're shy and I definitely had a hard time getting them involved in my game. First I did a Powerpoint showing them pictures of Utah, my family, my friends, likes and dislikes. They loved the red rocks and pictures of our dogs. It took a lot of explanation to clarify that Brady IS related to me even though he's tall and darker than me. And trying to explain that, yes, Cho is Korean but she's actually an American and goes by two different names. They prefer "Soohyun". They also think my sisters are all very tall and pretty with big eyes. Explaining Haley and Tori's height versus mine was funny. They all felt bad for me being so short, while my family's "tall". I got questions like "How old you are?" "Do you have boyfriend?" "Do you want KOREAN boyfriend?" and "What is your favorite Korean food?" We played a "show me your name" game where they said their name and did an action then the whole class would repeat the names and actions in order. The autistic boy actually did really well with this. He insists on being called "Annyeong" (Yeah, like Arrested Development, it means "hello") and is a very bright and animated kid. The game took a while to catch on but by the end the kids were pretty into it, though they were still pretty reserved and some of the girls didn't want to talk. I tanked at trying to say their names right and they got a kick out of that. Some shortened their names to "Kyung" or switched to an English-sounding name for me like "Jay" or "Don". Mr. Song assured me that they like me even though they're shy.
First I taught Mr. Song's 6th graders - they were a tough crowd, it will definitely be a challenge. He says they're shy and I definitely had a hard time getting them involved in my game. First I did a Powerpoint showing them pictures of Utah, my family, my friends, likes and dislikes. They loved the red rocks and pictures of our dogs. It took a lot of explanation to clarify that Brady IS related to me even though he's tall and darker than me. And trying to explain that, yes, Cho is Korean but she's actually an American and goes by two different names. They prefer "Soohyun". They also think my sisters are all very tall and pretty with big eyes. Explaining Haley and Tori's height versus mine was funny. They all felt bad for me being so short, while my family's "tall". I got questions like "How old you are?" "Do you have boyfriend?" "Do you want KOREAN boyfriend?" and "What is your favorite Korean food?" We played a "show me your name" game where they said their name and did an action then the whole class would repeat the names and actions in order. The autistic boy actually did really well with this. He insists on being called "Annyeong" (Yeah, like Arrested Development, it means "hello") and is a very bright and animated kid. The game took a while to catch on but by the end the kids were pretty into it, though they were still pretty reserved and some of the girls didn't want to talk. I tanked at trying to say their names right and they got a kick out of that. Some shortened their names to "Kyung" or switched to an English-sounding name for me like "Jay" or "Don". Mr. Song assured me that they like me even though they're shy.
Afterwards, I stopped by the nearby Mart since I hadn't had breakfast and was starving. A guy about my age was working outside and called out to me, I think asking where I was going. I went up and told him I was looking for food. He asked where I was from and if I was a tourist. I told him I was an English teacher and asked if the Mart had muffins or pastries. He spoke a little English and seemed happy to talk with a foreigner and led me inside, helped me pick something out and then led me to the checkout. I heard him telling the other workers that I was an English teacher as if it was some sort of high status.
Older women in Korea are called "Ajjima" and anyone over 50 is highly respected so they pretty much do whatever they want. I've gotten used to Ajjimas kicking me out of my seat on the bus, cutting me in line, pushing me out of the way to go to the bathroom, or just squatting in the street because they don't give a crap. They're easy to spot because all Ajjima's get a short perm and a scowl the second they turn 50 (at least, as far as I can tell). So, when I got to the checkout, an Ajjima came up behind me and planted her carton of eggs in front of my scone and cut in front of me. I shrugged and stepped back but the guy would not have it. He handed her her egg carton said something about me being first and shoo'd her away. I tried to argue but he insisted. He told me to come back anytime.
Older women in Korea are called "Ajjima" and anyone over 50 is highly respected so they pretty much do whatever they want. I've gotten used to Ajjimas kicking me out of my seat on the bus, cutting me in line, pushing me out of the way to go to the bathroom, or just squatting in the street because they don't give a crap. They're easy to spot because all Ajjima's get a short perm and a scowl the second they turn 50 (at least, as far as I can tell). So, when I got to the checkout, an Ajjima came up behind me and planted her carton of eggs in front of my scone and cut in front of me. I shrugged and stepped back but the guy would not have it. He handed her her egg carton said something about me being first and shoo'd her away. I tried to argue but he insisted. He told me to come back anytime.
Next I taught the 5th grade. I wasn't sure about the time so I waited until a fifth grader came to fetch me from the library. This class was nothing like the 6th graders. They seemed to have a much better grasp of English and were super energetic. There were two or three shy kids but the rest were very vocal and excited about English. I did the presentation again and then got to the game. They loved it and were a hundred times faster at it then the 6th graders to the point where I almost couldn't keep up. Their actions were hilarious - they did dances, played air-guitar, drew in the air, did devil horns, and one kid outlined his faux-hawk. I think it helped that I talked slower for them, the sixth graders had kept asking me to slow down. We still had about 5 minutes left at the end of the class so I let them ask me questions. They asked the usual about age, favorite foods, my dog's name, etc. When I told them I really like "bibimbap" they got excited and told me that was for lunch today. Yes! Then at the end they asked me to sing. I clammed up for a second and slowly asked them what they wanted me to sing. They asked for an American song so the first thing that came to me was "call me maybe". I agreed to sing if they sung with me. Turns out they know the lyrics way better than I do. I sang the chorus for them and then they started from the beginning and sang almost the entire song while I sang along as best I could. I'm thinking pop songs will be a hit with this class. Their last question was what I thought of them as a class and I told them I love their energy and how happy they all are, they were excited and shouted "see you Monday!" as I went out the door. So, so cute. I already know I'm going to love that class. Ms. Kim, their teacher, has a fun teaching style and loves playing games so it will be a lot of fun. She followed me into the hall and told me we're the same age, explaining that we're both "white horses" according to the Korean calendar. We exchanged numbers and she asked me to come up with a game to play on Monday. She speaks very broken English but we're able to communicate just fine.
Now, I'm done teaching for the day since there's no after-school class today and I'm feeling really good about everything.
I'm meeting my new "little sister", Yeonjae, after school at the bus stop so she can show me the city. She's a middle-schooler who Mr. Song introduced me to last night when I went to dinner at his house. He lives way up in the mountains in a tiny village full of older people and farmers. I should have taken pictures but didn't want to seem rude. It was beautiful though. Everyone there lives in tiny more traditional-style houses, some in disrepair. Song's house was very nice and he maintains a sizeable garden. I helped him pick tomatoes before dinner while his dog ran circles around me (he's a little white Japanese dog, I forgot the breed). He grows strawberries, corn, tomatoes, sunflower seeds, peppers, and jujubes. He had a purple flower bush growing by one of the trees and explained that it's a very rare flower in Korea. His wife loves the flower so he went way up into the mountains and found a single bush up there, which he dug up and transplanted into their garden for her. It was very sweet and he's proud of his garden. He even has photos of it throughout the year in his kitchen - one of which shows his wife with her flowers.
I'm meeting my new "little sister", Yeonjae, after school at the bus stop so she can show me the city. She's a middle-schooler who Mr. Song introduced me to last night when I went to dinner at his house. He lives way up in the mountains in a tiny village full of older people and farmers. I should have taken pictures but didn't want to seem rude. It was beautiful though. Everyone there lives in tiny more traditional-style houses, some in disrepair. Song's house was very nice and he maintains a sizeable garden. I helped him pick tomatoes before dinner while his dog ran circles around me (he's a little white Japanese dog, I forgot the breed). He grows strawberries, corn, tomatoes, sunflower seeds, peppers, and jujubes. He had a purple flower bush growing by one of the trees and explained that it's a very rare flower in Korea. His wife loves the flower so he went way up into the mountains and found a single bush up there, which he dug up and transplanted into their garden for her. It was very sweet and he's proud of his garden. He even has photos of it throughout the year in his kitchen - one of which shows his wife with her flowers.
Afterwards, Yeonjae came over. She was shy at first and kept giggling whenever I spoke to her. She's 16 (I think 15 in American years?) and reminds me a bit of Emily Mckell. She's eager to practice her English so I told her that she spoke well and she must have studied a lot. After that, she spoke more and more. I showed her pictures of my family and Utah and she told me all about her favorite K-Pop bands and her brother who she says is "ugly". We exchanged numbers and she told me she would take me out for some kind of Korean noodles that I've never tried. Mr. Song wants her to ride the bus with me so that I don't get lost anymore. I think we'll be good friends and she's already helping me with Korean and how to hold chopsticks (I've been doing it wrong all this time, apparently).
Dinner was a lesson in etiquette. Mr. Song's wife and son joined us. First, I put the seaweed in my soup but I was supposed to use my chopstick to wrap it around my rice. I still don't get how. Then I didn't finish my rice and Mr. Song told me it was okay but normally it's rude to leave any rice. Oops. After desert (cut apples) I shoveled the rest of my rice into my mouth as discreetly as I could. I just can't eat rice dry... Ugh. Mr. Song's son was very shy and all I could get out of him was that he's studying to be a pilot. He did keep making remarks in Korean under his breath about my poor etiquette. Kind of embarrassing.
Mr. Song and Yeonjae gave me a ride home and both of them walked me up to my apartment since it was late. Yeonjae asked for tips on learning English and I told her to watch TV - especially cartoons. Music too. Mr. Song told me to stop eating Ramyun (ramen) and go buy some vegetables - he's decided that Americans are very unhealthy. Guess I'll be grocery shopping tomorrow. That will be an experience.
Anyway, next week I'll be teaching nonstop and may not have as much free time to e-mail. Let me know when you want to skype this weekend though! Glad to hear school's going well. Smaller backpacks? What's that all about? Mom, how's the VP stuff treating you? Have you gotten to know the kids? Junior High school must be pretty bizarre after Elementary school.
Oh, I did find a ward here in Chuncheon. It's actually the only one for miles. But it meets at 10AM and I may need to take a taxi there and back because I don't understand the bus system or addresses very well. The taxi drivers are pretty nice here though - I had to grab one this morning since the bus was late.
Anyway, talk to you soon!
-Whit
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