The topic today shall be about what I do here in Korea. Kind of. Actually, I won't really talk that much about what I actually do nor will I really talk about my students aside from vague generalities because this is a public blog.
So, instead I will talk about my schedule. Also, I will talk about what I love about Korean schools. Safe topics such like that.
My day starts when I leave for school at 8am. It is a 15-20 minute brisk walk there which means when the heat and humidity comes I shall have to leave earlier...If I come straight back after school I will arrive around 5pm or so.
We have to be at the school by 8:20am but my earliest class starts at 9am. During the day I teach 4-6 classes (depending on the day) which totals 24 hours/week. The other hours are spent doing lesson plans. The nice thing about teaching in Korea (as compared to teaching in America) is that I have at the bare minimum 2 hours of prep time per day but most days I have three. I only got one hour in America. Also, since I don't have to grade papers I can actually use the prep time to create lesson plans which means that I don't have to bring any work home with me, for the most part. It's really nice.
Another thing I really like about MY school (as I know it's not like this at every school in Korea) is the technology that I have to use. Seriously, the technology that I have is comparable (I think better) than the smart board. It makes teaching a lot easier and more interactive. For example, today I have been creating a Jeapordy Game for my "special classes" on powerpoint. This added technology just makes it easier to have a fun class.
I also really like the way the books are set up here. The students each receive their own book which is also a workbook. As we go along the student will write down answers and tear out activities in the book. This is a lot better than paper (it also saves a lot of paper) and the books are for the students to keep. This is probably also pretty unique to this area as I know this school is on the upper end of wealthy. It just shows what a little bit of money can do at providing a better education. Well, perhaps not better but at the very least it makes it easier to teach the students the material.
All of the teachers at the school have been very friendly although most are shy about speaking English with me. The principal and vice-principal are very important people (the most important in the school, of course) so when they enter a room we will stand. If I see them (or any teacher, actually) in the hall we will bow to each other. The principal's room (for the principal and vice-principal) is amazingly nice since they are the most important in the school. It is the size of a large classroom in the states and is filled with leather furniture. It is very classy and would be comparable probably to the office of a dean at a major university in the states.
The students, of course, are absolutely lovely. They still chatter away at me in Korean thinking I understand them which always makes me laugh. They probably feel the same way when I speak to them in English. "When will she learn I can't understand a word she is saying?!" ;-) They always bring a smile to my face, even when they are being mischievous, so it's a good thing I am not the one to discipline them!
Speaking of disciplining...The school has a no discipline policy. (Actually, I think it might be country wide?) It has only been a few years since the country has banned corporal punishment in the classroom. Instead they went to the opposite extreme and the teachers are not allowed to punish the students at all. They're not even allowed to yell at them. It's all very interesting. We haven't had any issues where we would really need to use any form of punishment, however, so it doesn't seem to be a big deal.
There are good days and bad days but overall I really enjoy teaching at this school. I definitely love the area that I have been placed. I really couldn't want it to be any better. :)
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