I TOLD you guys I wasn't cut out for teaching! Okay, I'll start from the top...
My first day of actual teaching was this Tuesday. The training was minimal at best and I still have no idea what I'm doing. The first day quite painful actually. I have 6 classes in the morning about 30 minutes each. I teach 2nd year 6-year-olds, 1st year 6-year-olds, and 1st year 5-year-olds. The older ones can be little shits at times. I mean, I really have no idea what I'm doing, and they're used to having a teacher who at least knows how to deal with little kids. Anyway, I've been told that I speak too quickly, even by the other English teachers, so I've begun to slpw down my speech a LOT... I feel like I'm making fun of the people I'm conversing with, but hey, they seem to appreciate it. The classes contain a LOT of repetition and I'm not sure if the children are absorbing it. I'm sure once we both warm up to each other we'll start to have some real fun... as for the teaching aspect, my main goal at the moment is to stretch that 30 minutes out as much as possible until the end of the day.
Ok, so getting to the crying kid. I mean, I've been teaching them the same thing in various ways for 3 days.. and I am not a patient person when I'm trying to get someone to understand something (no excuse actually, I was kind of a bitch, but I didn't mean to be!). So it's the last section of the class and we usually do a game. I won't go into the details, but there were basically two parts and if you got at least one of the parts correct, you got some points... apparently, I should have given this little girl a "0" or at least a "1" or something other than an "x" (which she was the only one to get by the way.. yeah I know, icing on the cake). The Korean teacher that is in the room with me told me at the end of class... I really felt bad about it. But this is why I hate kids! They can be little shits all they want and then as soooooon as you make them stand in front of the classroom, embarrass themselves, give them an "x," and effectively lower their self esteem, you're the bad guy! Lol, jk. I just don't know how to deal with kids... also I have no heart, so there's that factor.
Anywho, aside from that little mishap, the school is very nice. The other people working there are great. I'm slowly venturing out more and more into the city (which has a Curves Fitness, Costco, TGIFridays, and 7-Elevens at every corner! Freaking weird). I'm trying to learn the bus schedule (yeah I know, I'm probably going to get lost). This Tuesday I went of a 3 hour hiking trip (and you know I don't do hiking) which was surprisingly great on the way up... but miserable on the way down. My legs still hurt. I can't remember where we were, but I'll be posting my video-blog fairly soon and I'll post the pictures as well and let you all know!
Please keep sending me FB messages, comments, and e-mails because I love them! I'll be getting back to everyone over the next few days or so. I still do not have a cellphone or bank account and I still don't know what my address is... I'm kind of useless, ha, but I'll let you all know ASAP! Miss you!
My first day of actual teaching was this Tuesday. The training was minimal at best and I still have no idea what I'm doing. The first day quite painful actually. I have 6 classes in the morning about 30 minutes each. I teach 2nd year 6-year-olds, 1st year 6-year-olds, and 1st year 5-year-olds. The older ones can be little shits at times. I mean, I really have no idea what I'm doing, and they're used to having a teacher who at least knows how to deal with little kids. Anyway, I've been told that I speak too quickly, even by the other English teachers, so I've begun to slpw down my speech a LOT... I feel like I'm making fun of the people I'm conversing with, but hey, they seem to appreciate it. The classes contain a LOT of repetition and I'm not sure if the children are absorbing it. I'm sure once we both warm up to each other we'll start to have some real fun... as for the teaching aspect, my main goal at the moment is to stretch that 30 minutes out as much as possible until the end of the day.
Ok, so getting to the crying kid. I mean, I've been teaching them the same thing in various ways for 3 days.. and I am not a patient person when I'm trying to get someone to understand something (no excuse actually, I was kind of a bitch, but I didn't mean to be!). So it's the last section of the class and we usually do a game. I won't go into the details, but there were basically two parts and if you got at least one of the parts correct, you got some points... apparently, I should have given this little girl a "0" or at least a "1" or something other than an "x" (which she was the only one to get by the way.. yeah I know, icing on the cake). The Korean teacher that is in the room with me told me at the end of class... I really felt bad about it. But this is why I hate kids! They can be little shits all they want and then as soooooon as you make them stand in front of the classroom, embarrass themselves, give them an "x," and effectively lower their self esteem, you're the bad guy! Lol, jk. I just don't know how to deal with kids... also I have no heart, so there's that factor.
Anywho, aside from that little mishap, the school is very nice. The other people working there are great. I'm slowly venturing out more and more into the city (which has a Curves Fitness, Costco, TGIFridays, and 7-Elevens at every corner! Freaking weird). I'm trying to learn the bus schedule (yeah I know, I'm probably going to get lost). This Tuesday I went of a 3 hour hiking trip (and you know I don't do hiking) which was surprisingly great on the way up... but miserable on the way down. My legs still hurt. I can't remember where we were, but I'll be posting my video-blog fairly soon and I'll post the pictures as well and let you all know!
Please keep sending me FB messages, comments, and e-mails because I love them! I'll be getting back to everyone over the next few days or so. I still do not have a cellphone or bank account and I still don't know what my address is... I'm kind of useless, ha, but I'll let you all know ASAP! Miss you!
HAHA!!!!! Chine I'm disappointed in you. you should know better than to treat Asians like that. Stop limiting the educational opportunities of minorities! On an unrelated note if you see a full-body Hello Kitty costume in Korea please send it to me!!!
ReplyDeleteHaha! I couldn't stop laughing when I read your post. Cheer up, if you look on the bright side of things, making one child cry out of the hundreds you teach isn't so bad for your first couple days on the job. :D
ReplyDeleteChine!!! I am totally following this blog now! (I read all since the first post so I am updated and ready to roll). I left a message on facebook but ill give you the gist again: Your son is doing great as cinemateque director! Biggest meeting I've been to so far (and it was following comedy and pkg too!). And yes, I am on it now, staffed Star Trek tonight (last night I guess, since it's 1 am here). Hope the culture shock isn't too much and that you are loving Korea!!!
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