Friday meant the end of my second term. 6 months of teaching, done. I really can't believe I have been here that long. So Monday means new kids, new schedule, new classes. I'm looking forward to the next term because I will be teaching more upper-level classes. I am told these are a lot more fun and of course, have a little bit more mental stimulation. It will be nice to use my brain in class and stop reacting only to misbehaving children. Anyway, the end of the term also meant receiving student evaluations. The kids were surveyed, asked a series of standard questions. Most of the questions I ranked about average or a little above, compared with the rest of the staff. Then comes the Student Opinions. In this section, the students have the option to write our merits and demerits. Some examples:
Merits:
-You're kind and funny. And your voice is loud.
-You teach class so carefully and make us understand well.
-You say to me exactly so I can know the correct meaning.
-You're kind and nice so I like you. You're bright and laugh readily.
-When Critical Thinking Project finish, you give us some clap.
Overall, the merits focused on how I teach meticulously to help the kids truly understand what they were learning. I patted myself on the back...this is what I am here for, is it not? Turn the page, demerits...
Demerits:
-When I sit some seat in front of the classroom, my ears have pain sometimes.
-You nag a lot.
-You're cold-hearted.
-You act irritated everyday and say "F" continuously...I'm annoyed (this is a quote, the kid actually said, I'm annoyed)
-Other students say some Korean but you point out only me.
-When you shout, your face turns purple with rage. Please don't shout.
-You make me that I never say anything during class. Your class is so boring everyday. You get angry too much over trifles.
This last one was the one that got me the most. Clearly I am a raging bitch, but boring?! No, but really, the idea that my particular class caused a kid to stop participating really hit me at my core. My reactions to the reports were mixed. Anyone that knows me well is aware of how poorly I take criticism. I can dish it out, but I definitely cannot take it. So yes, my feelings were hurt and I felt very defensive in my head. I also knew exactly who was writing what. I have one class that continuously gives me trouble. They are a low level middle school class. Not only are they lazy, and understand maybe 5% of my words, but they are punks. They have no respect and constantly mock me and disrupt class. I have gone off on them so many times, and yes, I am sure that my face turned purple with rage. See? I'm even getting defensive on this blog right now. After a little while, I realized I have to do exactly what the reports were meant to do: take them in and adjust accordingly. Apparently I am TOO loud, that shouldn't be that hard to fix. But the irritability thing is going to be a tough one. I cannot help it; the kids drive me absolutely crazy. And the whole disrespect aspect is a whole other issue. There is nothing that will infuriate me more than an outright disrespectful student. I guess I just have to pop a chill pill before I go to work.
The other complaints were things like "bring us pizza and snacks," "you make me come back from break too early" (CORRECTION, sir, I always give you at least 1-2 extra minutes, so shut your trap). "Class goes until the end" "you take too much time on the activities." These comments I just disregarded, obviously. You think you're getting pizza after that? hell no!
My co-workers received similar criticisms, and some were more hilarious than others. One of my co-worker's demerits was "your height is small and you can't kill the mosquito," whereas one of his merits was "your height is short and that makes me feel good because I don't have to look up when I talk to you."
Friday, May 28, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Lovely Lisa
In Korea, they celebrate teachers' day. So, many of the students will give their teachers cards or gifts. One of my students gave me this note, addressed, To: My good teacher; From: Lovely Lisa.
Here is what the letter says:
To: My teacher
Hello? I'm Lisa. In Korea May 15th is teacher's day. So I writted a letter for you. You helped me in a thousand ways but I paid your kindness in test fail. Oh! No!!! I'm Sorry. When I did homework, sometimes is very easy, and sometimes is very hard to do it. I can't give you present. Sorry I don't have money. But I can write letter. I want you happy to see letter. Um...I don't know this word. I read book 3 days ago. Book says when we study very well, we can success. I want trust that book. I want to success. Teacher, please study hard with me. Thank you I like you and I thank you. I want you healthy. Goodbye. Teacher~
2010 years May 15th
From Lisa that like and thank for teacher
(Then there is a big thank you and what seems to be a self-portrait at the bottom)
The best part of this is where she says, "You helped me in a thousand ways..." Quick explanation: we are reading Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In it, Mr. Hyde writes a letter to Dr. Jekyll (this is obviously before we find out they are one in the same) saying you have helped me in a thousand ways and I have repaid your kindness with nothing but trouble. First of all, I am proud that she remembered this line, and second, how hilarious is that? Second favorite part: "Um...I don't know this word."
Lisa is quite young (3rd or 4th grade I think) and is extremely smart. I obviously laughed at the letter, but it's really quite impressive, to be honest. I wish all my students wrote me letters, but I am often told that I am mean...
By the way she chose her name from her love of Lisa Simpson, which really makes her that much cooler.
Here is what the letter says:
To: My teacher
Hello? I'm Lisa. In Korea May 15th is teacher's day. So I writted a letter for you. You helped me in a thousand ways but I paid your kindness in test fail. Oh! No!!! I'm Sorry. When I did homework, sometimes is very easy, and sometimes is very hard to do it. I can't give you present. Sorry I don't have money. But I can write letter. I want you happy to see letter. Um...I don't know this word. I read book 3 days ago. Book says when we study very well, we can success. I want trust that book. I want to success. Teacher, please study hard with me. Thank you I like you and I thank you. I want you healthy. Goodbye. Teacher~
2010 years May 15th
From Lisa that like and thank for teacher
(Then there is a big thank you and what seems to be a self-portrait at the bottom)
The best part of this is where she says, "You helped me in a thousand ways..." Quick explanation: we are reading Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In it, Mr. Hyde writes a letter to Dr. Jekyll (this is obviously before we find out they are one in the same) saying you have helped me in a thousand ways and I have repaid your kindness with nothing but trouble. First of all, I am proud that she remembered this line, and second, how hilarious is that? Second favorite part: "Um...I don't know this word."
Lisa is quite young (3rd or 4th grade I think) and is extremely smart. I obviously laughed at the letter, but it's really quite impressive, to be honest. I wish all my students wrote me letters, but I am often told that I am mean...
By the way she chose her name from her love of Lisa Simpson, which really makes her that much cooler.
All-You-Can-Eat
I recently went to Namdaemun market, a street market in Seoul. It is similar to Dongdaemun, a place which I have previously written about. Similarly, it had a lot of crap, but also had lots of goodies like jewelry and shoes.
It wouldn't be a true Korean experience without sporting some fake glasses. Although these particular ones were sitting out for so long they were filthy. I could barely see out of them and they left a dust stain on my nose...lovely.
We came across a toothpaste holder whose sample toothpaste had piled up for what looked like years.
As we walked, we heard someone yelling something over a loudspeaker. We soon found out it was just a recording, as the loudspeaker was actually strapped on to the giant poster contraption that this man wore. I didn't get a good picture because despite the extra weight on his back, he was moving quite fast. And also some idiots kept walking in front of him (probably to protect his message). If you cannot read what the back says, It's "Lord Jesus Heaven; No Jesus Hell." There is NO grey areas for this dude.
We were about to head out to eat when we saw a long line. Curious, we investigated and soon found out the line was for dumplings. We looked at the menu; 10 for 4,000 won. Yeah, thats a no-brainer. So I get in some make-shift line and wait what seemed like would be quite a while. However, one of the workers took my order in a backhanded way before I even got to the front of the line. Why? No idea. She was probably thinking, "alright I gotta get these foreigners out of our hair as soon as possible." I asked for ten, and accidentally got 20. I peaked into the factory-like shop where they were made. The uniforms, along with the speed with which they cranked these dumplings out reminded me of the "I Love Lucy" which Lucy and Ethel get a job working at the chocolate factory.
It had just started to rain, so, in true homeless fashion, we crouched under a bridge to eat the 20 doughy, delicious dumplings we had just gotten. Wow. There were two kinds: kimchi, and just regular pork. The box weighed about 5 pounds, so these little snacks probably filled my caloric intake for the day. There was only four of us, and we ate all but 2 out of the 20 that we had bought. I am upset that this picture does no where near the justice these dumplings deserve.
Later, we moved on to an all-you-can-eat beef barbeque. Yes, all-you-can-eat: some of the deadliest words to have ever been put together. They continuously bring out plates of different cuts of beef. I don't think they anticipated foreigners when the place was created. We can really put a serious dent in their food supply. Anyway I obviously ate my life away and had garlic and onion breath for the next 3 days....there is not much more to say about that.
It wouldn't be a true Korean experience without sporting some fake glasses. Although these particular ones were sitting out for so long they were filthy. I could barely see out of them and they left a dust stain on my nose...lovely.
We came across a toothpaste holder whose sample toothpaste had piled up for what looked like years.
As we walked, we heard someone yelling something over a loudspeaker. We soon found out it was just a recording, as the loudspeaker was actually strapped on to the giant poster contraption that this man wore. I didn't get a good picture because despite the extra weight on his back, he was moving quite fast. And also some idiots kept walking in front of him (probably to protect his message). If you cannot read what the back says, It's "Lord Jesus Heaven; No Jesus Hell." There is NO grey areas for this dude.
We were about to head out to eat when we saw a long line. Curious, we investigated and soon found out the line was for dumplings. We looked at the menu; 10 for 4,000 won. Yeah, thats a no-brainer. So I get in some make-shift line and wait what seemed like would be quite a while. However, one of the workers took my order in a backhanded way before I even got to the front of the line. Why? No idea. She was probably thinking, "alright I gotta get these foreigners out of our hair as soon as possible." I asked for ten, and accidentally got 20. I peaked into the factory-like shop where they were made. The uniforms, along with the speed with which they cranked these dumplings out reminded me of the "I Love Lucy" which Lucy and Ethel get a job working at the chocolate factory.
It had just started to rain, so, in true homeless fashion, we crouched under a bridge to eat the 20 doughy, delicious dumplings we had just gotten. Wow. There were two kinds: kimchi, and just regular pork. The box weighed about 5 pounds, so these little snacks probably filled my caloric intake for the day. There was only four of us, and we ate all but 2 out of the 20 that we had bought. I am upset that this picture does no where near the justice these dumplings deserve.
Later, we moved on to an all-you-can-eat beef barbeque. Yes, all-you-can-eat: some of the deadliest words to have ever been put together. They continuously bring out plates of different cuts of beef. I don't think they anticipated foreigners when the place was created. We can really put a serious dent in their food supply. Anyway I obviously ate my life away and had garlic and onion breath for the next 3 days....there is not much more to say about that.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Strangism
Long time no post, I know. I have gotten lazy about writing and in all honesty, there is not much to report. I've been gathering pictures of some odd/funny art (this is a very broad term) and decor that I have come across while being here. Here are just a few that I actually had my camera on hand for:
Starbucks decked out with a 3-D deer whose antlers are garnished with some lovely flowers.
A pimply teen, not yet grown into his ears. Talk about the awkward years.
Yoshi, Mario's dinosaur companion
Crash-test dummy, grieving the loss of a fellow CTD.
These seal-human hybrids really freaked me out...gave me the chills a little bit.
I'm so mature.
Starbucks decked out with a 3-D deer whose antlers are garnished with some lovely flowers.
A pimply teen, not yet grown into his ears. Talk about the awkward years.
Yoshi, Mario's dinosaur companion
Crash-test dummy, grieving the loss of a fellow CTD.
These seal-human hybrids really freaked me out...gave me the chills a little bit.
I'm so mature.
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