So during one of my worst blogging months ever (in terms of the number of posts) I have some exciting news: Busan FM asked me to join them for a radio show interviewing a few foreign bloggers in Korea. I'm excited and a bit nervous. It's kind of funny because I don't even own a radio though I just checked out the website and a lot of it is available streaming.
Things I'm nervous about:
-Getting nervous and babbling.
-My co-workers listening to the show.
-The blog posts they've chosen to read/talk about.
The first one is a bit inevitable though I've gotten better about speaking slowly under pressure as a teacher. I normally wouldn't have told anyone about the show at work because I'm a little embarrassed by that sort of attention from anyone outside of my family. However, I had to let them know why I wasn't playing volleyball or going to the teacher dinner tonight after saying that I would go on Monday. They think it's super cool and want to know when it will be broadcast and the name of the show. Here is how the conversation with my head teacher went:
Head teacher: When?
Me: I don't know.
Head teacher: *Looks incredulous. Has the 3rd grade English teacher translate just in case we were miscommunicating.*
Me: No really, I have no idea.
Head teacher: Show name?
Me: I don't know.
Head teacher: *continued look of disbelief that I don't know any details surrounding this*
It's a kind of last minute thing, I found out that I might be doing it late Monday night and I just got the question list today.
The only thing that is legitimately worrying is if they read any excerpts from my blogs. In the beginning I tended to really, really ramble in a hyper fashion and get distracted by lots of shiny thoughts in the process. This is still true to some extent but I think I tend to stay more on task these days. Most of the time. I hope.
I'm going to go make soothing lists and read some newspapers. Thank god I only had to teach 3 classes today and am on top of grading and prep.
Wish me luck!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Konglish in Class
My 6th graders have a huge government test in July, on everything they've learned in elementary school. The month of June has had identical lesson plans: dictation, practice test, go over practice test, give key sentences or flashcard making for homework. The only issue (for me) is that the government test is completely bilingual and very Korean heavy so it's very difficult for me to help teach. Basically, instead of our usual 50-50 balance, my co-teacher directs the class while I mark the homework and dictations, help keep students on task or help the low level/special needs students. Anyways, so I was grading today's dictations and I ran across some rather comical mistakes. It was necessary to suppress my giggles...
Actual Sentence: Does your mother work?
Student wrote: Does your mother wank?
Actual Sentence: I like red and blue.
Student wrote: I like rad and bar.
Actual sentence: Do you like fall?
Student wrote: Do you like fool?
Is it sad that they can't spell basic color words, of course. Is it hilarious at times? Absolutely.
On second thought, the mistakes aren't really laugh worthy but whatever. I get my kicks where I can.
Also, if you have time to kill, go check out my article over at Busan Haps, the Busan expat/tourist magazine.
Actual Sentence: Does your mother work?
Student wrote: Does your mother wank?
Actual Sentence: I like red and blue.
Student wrote: I like rad and bar.
Actual sentence: Do you like fall?
Student wrote: Do you like fool?
Is it sad that they can't spell basic color words, of course. Is it hilarious at times? Absolutely.
On second thought, the mistakes aren't really laugh worthy but whatever. I get my kicks where I can.
Also, if you have time to kill, go check out my article over at Busan Haps, the Busan expat/tourist magazine.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Open Class with Parents in a Korean Public School
Having an open class can be extremely stressful. A lot of it is out of your control: you can plan the perfect lesson but what if your kids get performance anxiety? What if your class starts late or early and throws off your carefully planned schedule? What if, what if, what if--all of those what ifs can drive you nuts. For the Korean public school teachers it can be even more stressful--the evaluations from parents and administrators will play a significant part in determining their pay scale. My co-teacher this year is new to teaching (and a fabulous natural) so I told her the essential thing about nailing an English open class:
It doesn't matter what actually happens. It just has to look good.
You'd think that having a 4th grade level English class would mean that everyone understands since most people were required to take over 10 years of English classes but this isn't the case.
In any case, it went down flawlessly. We basically took a standard lesson and made it glossier. Instead of black and white disposable game boards we printed color versions and had them laminated. The students we called on for the warm-up questions were students who we knew had loud voices and loved participating rather than the mix of levels we do in a standard class. Other than that, it was a completely normal lesson. And the parents loved it. Universally, they commented (my co-teacher translated everything for me afterward) that our energy was infectious--the kids loved learning with us. The parents loved how our acting everything we said made the class easy to understand and fun to watch. One mom said she was surprised by how fast the time flew by, 40 minutes seemed like nothing. And yes, I didn't see a single dad in a school full of mothers visiting.
I love teaching the 4th grade. They aren't jaded by learning yet or stressed out by overwork and exams. If you make it seem fun they will have fun learning. It makes my day when I get to chat with them in the halls or in the streets on the weekend. They are just so damned happy to be alive.
The only less than perfect thing that happened for the open class: my co-teacher and I accidentally wore the same color top again. Two open classes in a row we were very coordinated. I think that for the next one in December we might have to coordinate. Then again, Koreans are all about matching so maybe it was a good thing?
It doesn't matter what actually happens. It just has to look good.
You'd think that having a 4th grade level English class would mean that everyone understands since most people were required to take over 10 years of English classes but this isn't the case.
In any case, it went down flawlessly. We basically took a standard lesson and made it glossier. Instead of black and white disposable game boards we printed color versions and had them laminated. The students we called on for the warm-up questions were students who we knew had loud voices and loved participating rather than the mix of levels we do in a standard class. Other than that, it was a completely normal lesson. And the parents loved it. Universally, they commented (my co-teacher translated everything for me afterward) that our energy was infectious--the kids loved learning with us. The parents loved how our acting everything we said made the class easy to understand and fun to watch. One mom said she was surprised by how fast the time flew by, 40 minutes seemed like nothing. And yes, I didn't see a single dad in a school full of mothers visiting.
I love teaching the 4th grade. They aren't jaded by learning yet or stressed out by overwork and exams. If you make it seem fun they will have fun learning. It makes my day when I get to chat with them in the halls or in the streets on the weekend. They are just so damned happy to be alive.
The only less than perfect thing that happened for the open class: my co-teacher and I accidentally wore the same color top again. Two open classes in a row we were very coordinated. I think that for the next one in December we might have to coordinate. Then again, Koreans are all about matching so maybe it was a good thing?
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
State Testing in Korea: Protest is Futile
The JoongAng Daily published an article on Tuesday (...yes, I'm behind on blogging, what else is new?) about the recent actions of the teacher's union, "Union wages war on teacher evaluations, tests." Unfortunately, I think that the union is fighting a losing battle when it comes to protesting the nation wide tests. It's difficult to get students and parents to protest the tests with them when the scores will still be a central part of their applications to the next level of schooling (applying to middle school, high school and of course, college). Simply protesting the tests isn't efficacious. As terrible as 'teaching to the test' can be for schools it does allow a standard guideline for education across the nation.
I read an interesting teaching book lately that pointed out that for good teachers, students perform well on the tests, not because they were just teaching to the test but because they were teaching mastery of the subject material.
As for the teacher evaluation system, I don't really know enough to comment though the teachers I have spoken with seem unhappy with it.
Spaz update on life:
I had been getting constant upset stomachs this month. I finally figured out why: my vitamin C tablets are made with milk. Only in Korea people, only in Korea.
I read an interesting teaching book lately that pointed out that for good teachers, students perform well on the tests, not because they were just teaching to the test but because they were teaching mastery of the subject material.
As for the teacher evaluation system, I don't really know enough to comment though the teachers I have spoken with seem unhappy with it.
Spaz update on life:
I had been getting constant upset stomachs this month. I finally figured out why: my vitamin C tablets are made with milk. Only in Korea people, only in Korea.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Long Over Due: Drinking with Co-workers
I will never ever get used to the fact that it is not just socially acceptable but socially necessary to drink with your co-workers in Korea. The women tend to be very jealous that I don't turn bright red after a drink or two but mainly it's just a lot of fun. People aren't so embarrassed to try out their English skills after a few shots of soju and it's easier for me to be social. Anyways, we went to Moloondae (romanization??) and wandered around Dadaepo beach which is about an hour from Yangsan. It was nice to get out of the city and just walk around.
I could be teaching or doing lessons plans but nope! I got to spend the gorgeous afternoon strolling around and looking at this. It was kind of amusing, when other people passed us they always stared, pointed and talked about me (ooo waegook saram!). I don't think my co-workers realized what foreigners go through on a daily basis. They know the kids always give me lots of attention but somehow that's different.
Gorgeous, no?
I have about 10 more photos that I'd love to upload from the bar, the crazy light/water show and so forth but blogger is extremely unhappy with me today.
More updates this week, I promise!
I have about 10 more photos that I'd love to upload from the bar, the crazy light/water show and so forth but blogger is extremely unhappy with me today.
More updates this week, I promise!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Busan Haps 1 year anniversary and the World Cup
I have lots of great photos from this weekend. I had planned on bringing my card reader to work and posting them during lunch time BUT it seems to have gotten swallowed by my apartment. This is probably an indicator that I should straighten up the tornado of books and such instead of taking a nap after work. Probably.
If I find it I'll go back and edit this post, if not, use your sparkly imaginations!
World Cup Part 1:
I decided not to go to the local stadium in Yangsan with most of my friends since it looked like rain (and it did). Instead, I went to a sam gip sal restaurant with some friends and made the Koreans very happy since we were all wearing red and supporting Korea in the Korea v. Greece game on the TV. Nothing makes sam gip sal taste better than cheering ajosshis and victory.
Busan Haps Issue Launch Party/1 year anniversary:
Technically it was a giant pub crawl but if I hit 6 bars and had just a drink in each I'd be much drunker than I'd like. Pub crawls are not designed for those under a certain body mass I think. The last event was at a swanky (for Busan) club, MurpII (terrible name) in the basement of the Novotel Hotel. The atmosphere inside the club was pretty good though the door people left a lot to be desired. I was ushered right in since I was on the list but a few people had issues getting in. Confession: as small and silly as it is, being on the list made me feel kind of cool. Not to mention that not having to pay cover is excellent. Standard over-priced drinks though the pina coladas I had were excellent and had a giant wedge of pineapple on the rim so I felt like I was getting some nutritional value out of them too. Something tells me that the massive quantities of alcohol negated most of that but whatever. Vitamins are vitamins!
Funny bits: as I was coming out of the (amazing Western standard clean) bathroom I saw a woman going around picking up trash and such...in an old school maid's uniform. I'm talking about the black dress and white frilly apron on an ajumma. It was seriously bizarre.
World Cup Part 2:
After listening to the bands for awhile and schmoozing I decided to join the rest of my friends in Kyungsang to watch the US v. England game. It was utterly bizarre to be in a pub that was completely packed until 6am. Usually the crowd thins out at 1 and again at 3 but I don't think anyone left Eva's until the game was over.
Confession: I'm not into sports, at all. My usual stipulation for accompanying significant others to sporting events is that I be allowed to bring a book. Except for games like water polo where there are lots of near naked bodies to ogle. And yet, when you are across the world from home, it's invigorating to be somewhere packed with people who are shouting and jumping with excitement. The energy is contagious. At least I know the rules for soccer.
I finally got home around 7:30 and dropped into bed until 1 in the afternoon. Definitely not something to do every weekend but fun for a rare adventure. Pictures later, possibly.
If I find it I'll go back and edit this post, if not, use your sparkly imaginations!
World Cup Part 1:
I decided not to go to the local stadium in Yangsan with most of my friends since it looked like rain (and it did). Instead, I went to a sam gip sal restaurant with some friends and made the Koreans very happy since we were all wearing red and supporting Korea in the Korea v. Greece game on the TV. Nothing makes sam gip sal taste better than cheering ajosshis and victory.
Busan Haps Issue Launch Party/1 year anniversary:
Technically it was a giant pub crawl but if I hit 6 bars and had just a drink in each I'd be much drunker than I'd like. Pub crawls are not designed for those under a certain body mass I think. The last event was at a swanky (for Busan) club, MurpII (terrible name) in the basement of the Novotel Hotel. The atmosphere inside the club was pretty good though the door people left a lot to be desired. I was ushered right in since I was on the list but a few people had issues getting in. Confession: as small and silly as it is, being on the list made me feel kind of cool. Not to mention that not having to pay cover is excellent. Standard over-priced drinks though the pina coladas I had were excellent and had a giant wedge of pineapple on the rim so I felt like I was getting some nutritional value out of them too. Something tells me that the massive quantities of alcohol negated most of that but whatever. Vitamins are vitamins!
Funny bits: as I was coming out of the (amazing Western standard clean) bathroom I saw a woman going around picking up trash and such...in an old school maid's uniform. I'm talking about the black dress and white frilly apron on an ajumma. It was seriously bizarre.
World Cup Part 2:
After listening to the bands for awhile and schmoozing I decided to join the rest of my friends in Kyungsang to watch the US v. England game. It was utterly bizarre to be in a pub that was completely packed until 6am. Usually the crowd thins out at 1 and again at 3 but I don't think anyone left Eva's until the game was over.
Confession: I'm not into sports, at all. My usual stipulation for accompanying significant others to sporting events is that I be allowed to bring a book. Except for games like water polo where there are lots of near naked bodies to ogle. And yet, when you are across the world from home, it's invigorating to be somewhere packed with people who are shouting and jumping with excitement. The energy is contagious. At least I know the rules for soccer.
I finally got home around 7:30 and dropped into bed until 1 in the afternoon. Definitely not something to do every weekend but fun for a rare adventure. Pictures later, possibly.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Using K-Pop to fight Communism
The idea of using Korean pop music to as South Korean propaganda against the North is so ridiculously Korean and wonderful. At least it's not bombs. The Chosun Ilbo reported:
In other news:
My mother board on my old Dell died again. Since this is the 3rd or 4th motherboard it's gone through I think there is something else wrong causing the repeated deaths. Instead of having Dell do another shit repair job on it I'll probably take it to the computer repair shop on my street with a translated note from my co-teacher or something. Then again, Korea is so tech savy I wonder if they'll be able to get parts for my ancient beast. Point being: picture posts will be even more sporadic than usual for the next few weeks.
Tonight is the one year anniversary of Busan Haps! Korea has been going NUTS over the World Cup and even though I've never even been cognizant of the event going on I've been kind of getting into it. I even scored a shirt at E-mart with Korea spelled wrong so I'm going to wear that out tonight to the giant Busan Haps party.
An official in charge of psy ops at the Joint Chiefs of Staff said no decision has been made so far. "It will take months to set up the big screens to use in psychological warfare operations and a wide range of contents will be shown," the official said. "I don't know whether songs by girl groups will be included, but there is that chance since pop songs were used in the past."Brian in Jeollanam-do wrote a bit about it in "Shitty K-pop Groups to be used to torment North Korea." And while I agree that k-pop is pretty bad quality wise, the entirety of South Korea seems to be smitten with it. The Chosun Ilbo focused less on the music and more on the groups' appearance: "the revealing outfits worn by the performers and their provocative dances could have a considerable impact on North Korean soldiers." I think they are trying to tempt the soldiers but it has an enormous likelihood of backfiring. As much as the rest of the world scoffs at the propaganda mill in North Korea, it has a fairly strong grip on the society. It wouldn't take any work to make videos of the k-pop groups into proof the general moral degeneracy of the South.
In other news:
My mother board on my old Dell died again. Since this is the 3rd or 4th motherboard it's gone through I think there is something else wrong causing the repeated deaths. Instead of having Dell do another shit repair job on it I'll probably take it to the computer repair shop on my street with a translated note from my co-teacher or something. Then again, Korea is so tech savy I wonder if they'll be able to get parts for my ancient beast. Point being: picture posts will be even more sporadic than usual for the next few weeks.
Tonight is the one year anniversary of Busan Haps! Korea has been going NUTS over the World Cup and even though I've never even been cognizant of the event going on I've been kind of getting into it. I even scored a shirt at E-mart with Korea spelled wrong so I'm going to wear that out tonight to the giant Busan Haps party.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Blogging Ennui, Care packages, Life
In the past three days I've started 3 different blog posts and have yet to get past the second line of any of them.
Here was my day:
1. Administer speaking tests.
2. Discover care package waiting for me at 4:30.
3. Play volleyball. Somehow manage to cut my thumb on my fingernail and bleed all over my shorts.
4. Go to post-volleyball co-worker dinner. Proceed to sit in near silence for an hour and a half. Ponder my to-do lists for the next week.
5. Get home. Give up on to-do lists and eat chocolate instead. Get in bed and poke the internet.
6. Feel guilty about lapse in blogging....voila.
Number 2 really did make my day. A friend of mine from college had asked for my address awhile ago and I figured she was going to send me a post card or something. Instead I got a totally rad necklace and letter! I can count on one hand the number of packages I've gotten in Korea. Usually, it's something I requested from my parents (like the chocolate from no. 5...). Obviously, this is excluding book deliveries. The women in the office seem to get a kick out of it actually. This is probably due to the fact that I end up squealing and bouncing a bit while diving into the box. Obscure classic Japanese fiction! Urban Fantasy! Reference books! Everything a good little bibliophile needs to keep happy. Anyways....the point is that the random little surprise package made me quite giddy. Without it, I might have actually gone insane over dinner.
Number 3 should really be a spaz update. Luckily I had a box of band-aids in my purse and didn't have to resort to asking my coworkers for help and feeling like more of an idiot than normal. I kept hoping it was just a little cut and would stop bleeding in a minute but then I got blood spots on my shorts and decided enough was enough and quietly left the practice drill to get a bandage. I doubt they missed my playing though I didn't manage to hurt anyone but myself today.
Blah blah blah. I must stop being so lazy after work. Perhaps tomorrow...
Why does my family so completely lack the athletic gene?
Here was my day:
1. Administer speaking tests.
2. Discover care package waiting for me at 4:30.
3. Play volleyball. Somehow manage to cut my thumb on my fingernail and bleed all over my shorts.
4. Go to post-volleyball co-worker dinner. Proceed to sit in near silence for an hour and a half. Ponder my to-do lists for the next week.
5. Get home. Give up on to-do lists and eat chocolate instead. Get in bed and poke the internet.
6. Feel guilty about lapse in blogging....voila.
Number 2 really did make my day. A friend of mine from college had asked for my address awhile ago and I figured she was going to send me a post card or something. Instead I got a totally rad necklace and letter! I can count on one hand the number of packages I've gotten in Korea. Usually, it's something I requested from my parents (like the chocolate from no. 5...). Obviously, this is excluding book deliveries. The women in the office seem to get a kick out of it actually. This is probably due to the fact that I end up squealing and bouncing a bit while diving into the box. Obscure classic Japanese fiction! Urban Fantasy! Reference books! Everything a good little bibliophile needs to keep happy. Anyways....the point is that the random little surprise package made me quite giddy. Without it, I might have actually gone insane over dinner.
Number 3 should really be a spaz update. Luckily I had a box of band-aids in my purse and didn't have to resort to asking my coworkers for help and feeling like more of an idiot than normal. I kept hoping it was just a little cut and would stop bleeding in a minute but then I got blood spots on my shorts and decided enough was enough and quietly left the practice drill to get a bandage. I doubt they missed my playing though I didn't manage to hurt anyone but myself today.
Blah blah blah. I must stop being so lazy after work. Perhaps tomorrow...
Why does my family so completely lack the athletic gene?
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Fluency and Q-tips
I will be the first to admit that my Korean is absolutely terrible. That being said, I can construct basic present, past and future tense sentences with my limited vocabulary and can generally make my way around with little trouble.
Today I was nearly defeated by q-tips. In a particularly spaztastic moment 2 days ago I managed to knock my q-tip jar over which promptly dumped itself into the toilet. Thank god there was nothing in the toilet but it was still a rubber gloved effort to fish them all out.
Note: my bathroom was obviously designed by a man. Inadequate and awkward bathroom shelving was not created with massive quantities of toiletries in mind. And I'm practically spartan compared to the amount I've seen Korean women bring on camping trips, let alone their home bathroom.
Anyways, so I popped into E-mart 20 minutes before closing thinking that I could grab juice, fruit, vitamins and q-tips and be on my merry little way. Oh no. I had to circle the toiletry section 3 times before I found the damned things. The entire time, all I could think is that fluency in a language is knowing how to say asinine things like q-tips. I finally found some in the eco-friendly section but I remember for a fact that I got my last bunch in a regular section for 50 cents.
Mini spaz update: I keep bumping my hips into my desk and other awkward furniture edges. I have interestingly shaped splotchy bruises on my hips that look really ridiculous with my bathing suit.
Next time: Alex goes on an adventure with her Korean co-teachers in which we wander the beach, bars and a light show. Now to upload the pictures....
Today I was nearly defeated by q-tips. In a particularly spaztastic moment 2 days ago I managed to knock my q-tip jar over which promptly dumped itself into the toilet. Thank god there was nothing in the toilet but it was still a rubber gloved effort to fish them all out.
Note: my bathroom was obviously designed by a man. Inadequate and awkward bathroom shelving was not created with massive quantities of toiletries in mind. And I'm practically spartan compared to the amount I've seen Korean women bring on camping trips, let alone their home bathroom.
Anyways, so I popped into E-mart 20 minutes before closing thinking that I could grab juice, fruit, vitamins and q-tips and be on my merry little way. Oh no. I had to circle the toiletry section 3 times before I found the damned things. The entire time, all I could think is that fluency in a language is knowing how to say asinine things like q-tips. I finally found some in the eco-friendly section but I remember for a fact that I got my last bunch in a regular section for 50 cents.
Mini spaz update: I keep bumping my hips into my desk and other awkward furniture edges. I have interestingly shaped splotchy bruises on my hips that look really ridiculous with my bathing suit.
Next time: Alex goes on an adventure with her Korean co-teachers in which we wander the beach, bars and a light show. Now to upload the pictures....
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