So this is Neil and my first post. Miko has done all the posts thus far but I figured I should get one in every once in a while. You'll be able to tell the difference because mine will probably be much more of a ramble and Miko's will be clear and concise. I told a bunch of people to check out the blog so I figured this was as good a time as any to post something. Also, Miko is in Japan getting her work Visa finally so I'm home alone and looking for something to do. Let's start!
Yesterday I found some great comics on Facebook that must be drawn by a guy teaching in Korea. They are spot on about life in Korea so if you really want to know what it's like over here then check them out. The link is posted on my page. I'll include a few of them below.
So teaching overseas is not new to me since I taught in China for a year. Because of this I assumed I'd be set and this would be a cake walk. Not so much. One, Korea is very different from China. Two, in China I taught first year College and now I'm teaching mostly Kindergarten so far. This obviously provides different experiences. Third, in China I had to create my own curriculum and here it is mostly provided for me. Both of these have there ups and downs so it's a toss up. Ultimately I just keep trying my best and try not to care too much. That's what I keep telling myself. Like the title of this post says, I'll keep leading the little horses to water but it's up to them if they're going to drink.
One great thing about this time around is that I'm learning as much as my students sometimes. A secret of Neil is that I've never really understood things like verbs, nouns, adverbs and adjectives. Don't even get me started with Present Perfect Tense, Infinitives and such. I never really needed to know the difference because I already speak the language and I know how to form sentences. I even made it through a year in China without really knowing. Obviously this has changed though because you gotta know what you're talking about when you teach. I'm smart now! I still never use "their" though. I just like "there" so much more.
My charades skills have also improved once again. I acted a lot of stuff out in China so it came back to me quite easily. This also brings us to our first comic that I mentioned earlier.
Hehehe They're so funny...but more so if you're here I assume.
One of the things that my kindergarten students do that makes me laugh is when they whisper to each other. I assume this is because they are trying to keep a secret. We all know how well most Kindergarten kids are at whispering though so it's not difficult to hear. The thing that makes it great is that they generally whisper to each IN KOREAN. They don't want me to listen in on something that I won't understand a word of. Silly Kindergarten students.
Now it brings us to our second cartoon. Excited? This is something I somewhat experienced in China but more so in Korea. The students will have layers of clothes on and a big winter coat and then they complain about being hot. Meanwhile I'm standing at the front of the class standing under the heater because I forgot a sweater. "Hot, teacher." Silly students.
This next cartoon is spot on as well. This situation has happened to me many times. At least 5 times a week. Bottom line - I'm a freak to my students. My arm hair is fascinating to them. Students of all ages have randomly either stroked my arm hair or pulled my arm hair during class. A friend of mine here even had a student lick his arm hair which luckily hasn't happened to me...yet. They enjoy the facial hair as well and want to touch it but that's not as easy since I'm usually standing and my head is luckily out of reach. Silly freakish teacher.
Lastly, I just want to mention how it weirds me out how the english speaking Jehovah's Witnesses seem to keep finding me. They've found me twice so far and I expect this to continue. I'm gonna have a large collection of The Watchtower newsletters in no time. Last time I just kept walking and said I already got a newsletter downtown. Seemed to work...for now. Apparently there are lots of Mormons as well but I haven't been approached by them yet. We've found a Mormon church and seen Missionaries on the street but that's about it.
Anyways, I'll stop rambling for now. Thanks for checking out our blog and feel free to post comments if you're so inclined.
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