what did i get myself into?...

So, the second day of work arrives. I get to school around 7:40am and add in a new activity for my lesson about hobbies. I managed to find a powerpoint that was already designed & everything! I chose hobbies as my first topic because it fit well with my introduction about myself. I told them what my hobbies were, and had them talk about their hobbies (IN ENGLISH is the goal lol) with their friends in class.

I finalize the lesson and head to class. Of course the screen hadn't been fixed yet so I went to their homeroom class again. My first class was Grade 3 of high school, which is like seniors in America, so you can imagine their enthusiasm in class. It's doesn't exist! lol. Seeing how Mr. Lee handled the discipline the day before I expected him to do the same. Instead, now that I was actually teaching, he just sort of wandered around joking and laughing with the students. The rest of the class went okay, but out of the 25 or more students (including a few special needs students) only a few were actively participating. This is when I think, "What did I get myself into?" haha.

SIDE NOTE:
I forsee a problem a couple co-teachers, but I'm going to give it a couple weeks before I say anything. That is what they recommended during my lectures at orientation. Each co-teacher is different. They either help you (like Ms. Kim and Mr. Bahn), ignore you (like Mr. Lee), or worst of all interrupt your lesson (like Mr. Jun). I have yet to work with the teacher who is new and my age yet. I will see how he is on Friday.

TAKING THE GOOD WITH THE BAD:
I survive the first class and move on to Mr. Bahn's class. I walk in and the atmosphere is completely different. The students (grade 2 high school) are seated and fairly interested in my lesson. I even had a student speaking fluent English to me and asking me questions. I leave class with a smile on my face and go back to thinking this isn't so bad.

WRONG! haha. I have lunch then head to my last class of the day, with Mr. Jun. I figured if he was anything like he was outside of school, it was going to be a challenge. I walk to their room (grade 2 high school again) and immediately notice that the kids are running around and there is no screen for my powerpoint. GREAT! I start writing my intro on the board (I was gonna wing it without the pictures or game) when Mr. Jun says we are moving to the art room so that I can have a computer...whew! We march down the hall and the kids pile around the big tables in the art room...this means trouble.

In Korean culture it is common for kids, or just all people, to TOUCH everything and everyone. Personal space does not exist. But, that's not the part that bothers me. It's when the boys, and some girls, start hitting each other. Of course kids hit each other in American schools, but here it is ridiculous.

Imagine this...these kids sit in class all day long, study at the school all night, get home past midnight, go to sleep, wake up and do it again all week and every other Saturday. My "english class" is the only class that doesn't count as a grade for them. What behavior would you expect from them?

So, back to my class. I start my lesson (which I've already lost time because of moving), and half way through it Mr. Jun takes over and has them repeat every hobby I had listed on the screen. This was not part of my lesson, and is taking up my time, so I get a little frustrated but just repeat the words along with the students. I was as bored as the students were! Finally, the torture is over and I introduce some rules I had added to my powerpoint slide.

AMANDA TEACHER'S RULES:
1.) Always speak English
2.) Keep hands, feet, and other objects to yourself.
3.) Respect the teacher & each other.

Now, this is the one time I like having a translator. No matter how hard I tried to explain the rules, I felt like some kids might not understand. So, I had the co-teacher translate and then had the kids repeat them in English with me. Low and behold, as I'm saying rule number 3, about 5 kids are breaking rule #2! I stop, give them the "stink eye" like we were taught in orientation, then hold up two fingers and point at the screen. They stop and say loudly "OK , OK, OK!" So you get the picture of what I am going to be dealing with!

BUS ATTEMPT #2:
I could talk about behavior all day, but I will spare you, in this blog post atleast! haha :) To end my day I sit at my desk until 4:15pm and leave for the bus stop again. This time I was told a different way that should take me to the train station...for real this time. This requires me to switch buses in Seonsan. So, I pay only 1,200 WON this time at the first stop. I get off in Seonsan and spot another english teacher, yay!! He shows me which bus I need to take to Gumi-yuk. Turns out he & his girlfriend live beside of it as well. I ask him how I buy a ticket and he informs me that you pay on the bus. I pull out my wallet and only have a 10,000 WON bill. He tells me they won't accept that large of a bill so I panic and try to find a way to get change. I run into a little store at the bus station, grab a drink, and get my change. As I'm walking back to the bus area I notice everyone boarding the bus...just in time!! I put my 1,500 WON in the box & sit with Ashley (a guy). We trade stories about our school and apartments and finally make it to the train station where we run into another english teacher. I'm assuming I will see these two every day, so that's something to look forward to...english conversation! haha! The girl I met, Ana, told us we should buy a bus card pass that you can swipe instead of using cash. You basically put however much you want on the card and it gives you your balance when you swipe. So on my way home I stopped to buy one and put 20,000 WON on it. I'm hoping I get reimbursed for the cost of commuting to work. I will find out soon.

Tuesday night I went home with the plan to adjust my lesson, blog, and relax. That is exactly what I did! :) The only time I went out was to get a pizza from Pizza Bingo lol. I did attempt to switch it up and tried to go to a place that sold chicken, but it was expensive because you have to order it in bulk basically...more for families, not one person. After ordering my pizza I noticed they have chicken there too, so next time I can get that! Here's the highlight of my night...after I pay for the pizza I turn to go out the door and trip over their stand-up heater they had in the middle of the floor, ooops! Hope I didn't break it...I'm sure he was thinking, "stupid foreigner!" HAHA!

XOXO,
Amanda