Boys!

I have the joy of teaching at a boys middle school.  I say joy because my students bring me a ton of happiness especially on those offish days when I feel like life is horrible and all I want to do is curl up in bed and sob like a 3 year old.  They are always full of life and their smiles melt my insides. When my boys see me outside school they run to greet me or will stop in the middle of the street to bow. However, there is also a dark side to them.

They are boys! So, naturally they are rough, dirty and noisy.  Like most teenagers, they are super competitive as well.  A simple game of bingo can become very violent, very quickly.  Don't ask me how! It just happens.

Sports Day '12 - The Chicken Fight

We have a 10 minute recess in between each class.  This gives the teachers a chance to make a quick dash to the toilet or grab a cup of coffee which means the students are left without supervision.  During this time the kids behave as though they have just been released from prison.  You will find them running up and down the hallway; hugging each other; throwing stuff at each other; and kicking around all sorts of little things they can find.  But, as the saying goes, "it's all fun and games till someone gets hurt".  One minute you will hear roars of laughter, the next you will find an army of boys rushing to the nurse with an injured boy.  Injuries usually range from a tiny scratch to nose bleeds, broken limbs and a number of other bloody wounds.
Over the past two weeks we have seen a few casualties come to the teachers office with the same injury.  It's like a growing epidemic or something but somehow 3 boys all sustained injuries around their left eye that required stitches.

Ji Woo's rendition of the Gangnam Style dance

Needless to say, the injuries do not stop these kids from running wild and from showing their affection toward each other through playful violence.  At times I'm torn between laughing at them and feeling sympathy.  There's constant entertainment at my school and I'm never left with a dull moment.

Teaching Evaluation

Koreans take education very seriously.  Parents are more involved and teachers have sleepless nights thinking up new ways to improve their lessons to be effective in their classrooms. To add to their stress all teachers, both Korean and guest English teachers, are required to open their classrooms to parents, fellow members of faculty and teachers from neighbouring schools.  

I was required to host several open classes since I started teaching. Having the parents sit in your class is not so stressful as most of them don't know much English and won't understand what's going on.  They are just thrilled at hearing their children say a few words in a foreign language.  My stress built up when the principal, vice principal, all my co-teachers and a few senior members of faculty came into my class, not just to watch! They came to evaluate my teaching skills. 

Last year (2011) was no different, I spent weeks preparing my lesson to impress their socks off.  Finally, the big day arrived, my students were a dream to teach.  They were well behaved, answered my questions to point, they actively participated in the activities and completed all written tasks. After the class I received a heap of compliments and my stress was over.  But, that was short lived. Little did I know that I was secretly being entered into a competition with other native teachers within my district.  A few months after my open class I was informed that I ranked among the top ten teachers in our teaching district which meant that I would have to host another open class.  I did not know if I was happy or sad with the news; but, I took on the challenge and began working on my lesson plan for my  follow up class.  Again, my school evaluated me but, this time my class was recorded and a copy of the video was sent to the education office for evaluation.  Just before we went on our summer break I was informed that I had passed the second round of the competition and now ranked in the top 5.  "Yay me!" I thought. However, this meant that I had to have ANOTHER open class, only difference this time was that there would be guest English teachers from neighbouring schools observing my class.  Talk about pressure!

Many MANY visitors

I spent the entire summer break perfecting my lesson.  I stressed everyday for 2 months until D-Day.  My co-teacher sent out invites to all schools in our district thinking that only a few teachers would actually show up.  To my horror, I had over 20 visitors on top of the teachers from my school.  This class was also recorded for the education office to evaluate.  During the class I focused on my students and blocked out the crowd of judging eyes. 

In my eyes, the class was a success and my co-teachers took me out for a huge dinner to celebrate.  Before the semester ended we received a call from the education office informing my school that I was crowned "Super Teacher" in our district.  I received a certificate of excellence from the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education as well as a cash incentive.  It has certainly been the highlight of my time in Korea.  All my stress and hours of planning definitely paid off.

Below is a link to the video from my open class.  My friend, Tom, was kind enough to upload it to his YouTube channel so that we can demonstrate what teaching ESL in Korea is like.  

**Video Courtesy of: http://www.youtube.com/user/SeoulTee **

Happy Halloween

The 31st of October is commonly referred to as the scariest day of the year.  Growing up in South Africa I never celebrated Halloween.  Somehow the spooky holiday never made it to our country.  It never quite made it to Korea either; however, with the gradual "westernisation" of Korea certain "American" traditions have crept in, namely, Halloween.

Being at a middle school it's safe to assume that my students have already had their introduction to Halloween.  I was proven right in that assumption when I first began teaching because my boys somehow knew a lot more than me about this creepy day.  Therefore, this Halloween I decided to take a different approach.  I quickly ran through the reasoning behind Halloween and what people do in celebration of this day followed by a music video.  

I played "Backstreet's Back" by the Backstreet Boys ~ They are stranded at a haunted house and turn into various monsters... Very Halloween! :)

Since my class focuses predominately on reading, I opted to read a Halloween themed story.  We read through the story once and I explained each line as we went along, I also picked out difficult vocabulary and explained it.   This particular story has an open ending which allows for the students to get creative and write their own ending to the story.  I gave them a few examples of how the story could end and explained that they were at liberty to decide if the story had a happy, sad or horrific ending.

My students' intended to write horrific endings but with their choice of words and over dramatisation I found them to be quite hilarious.

For a more controlled practice I prepared a set of comprehension questions which they were required to answer before they left.

To end the class on a high I hid candy under a few chairs and used the last 2 minutes of the lesson for the "great candy search". It saved me from having to buy a ton of Halloween candy and scored me some points with the kids. :)

Source: http://bogglesworldesl.com/halloween_worksheets.htm

Inspiration

Over the past three years that I have been teaching in Korea, I have had many laughs.  My students' never cease to assume me with the quirky little things they say and do.  But, there are times when they say the most mind-blowing stuff which leaves me speechless.

This week, I have been testing the students' speaking ability. The test is structured in the form of an interview so I get to speak one-on-one with my boys. This test has given me a little more insight into some of my students and I feel more connected to them.

I selected three questions which have more of a personal feel.  I went through each question in class a few weeks earlier in preparation for the test and gave the students some skeleton points to work with when answering the questions.  A few students asked me to check their grammar and sentence construction because they were really determined to get a perfect score on this test.  It really pleased me to see the great initiative that was put in by most of my boys.

And so the interviews began... Some better than others. Some were excruciatingly painful for me because of the blank looks on their faces.  I had a few laughs along the way but what really caught my attention was the heart warming answers that some of my students gave.

Here are a few of those precious conversations with my second grade (8th grade) students.

Question:  Travel can be a great experience. Which country would you like to visit and why?
Answer: I would like to visit different countries in Africa because they are poor and I want to help them.
Question: How would you help them?
Answer: I will get money from my father and give to them.


Question:  Which country would you like to visit?
Answer: North Korea!
Question: Why?
Answer: I want to take food and money to them.


Question: What is your dream job?

Min Chul: I would like to be a dentist because there are many poor people with no teeth and I want to help them.

Oh Won:  I want to be a diplomat and work to bring peace in the world.


Jae Young: I want to be a teacher like you and help students study hard.

Chan Huk: I would like to be a doctor because my sister is sick and she is always kind to me but I'm not so  kind so I want to be her magician and make her better.
**This student went on to tell me what was wrong with his sister and how sad his family is.  I was brought to tears.**


The next one is slightly funny but at the same time it's really sweet.

Question: Tell me about your best friend.
Answer: My friend is very cute. He looks like a flower and he has many girlfriends.
Question: Do you also have a girlfriend?
Answer: No!
Question: Are you sad that your friend has many girlfriends and you don't?
Answer: No, I'm not sad because he is my friend and he is happy so I'm happy with him.

It's an absolute blessing to be teaching these boys.  They can be a handful at times but they bring so much joy on a daily basis.  I love them to bits!

Fable Time

Since I've been in Korea I've always taught relate-able topics to the students so that it encourages them to speak in the target language.  In my first year I dug deep into Google to find ideas and topics that I could adapt into my classroom. In my second year I began using the prescribed textbook which made life slightly easier; however, the topics in the book were dull and the language sounded very robotic so I added a bit of my own spice to those topics and created lessons which I knew my students would enjoy.  At the start of this year I was told that we needed to grade the students for reading and my co-teacher asked me for suggestions for books.  I gave a few suggestions "Charlie and Chocolate Factory" was thrown into the mix and to my surprise that was the book the English department decided to go with.  A little into the first semester I was asked to stop teaching from the textbook and I was handed this golden opportunity to teach my students literature.  It was the start of a lot of work but the end of silly-textbook-robot-English. I grabbed the challenge and ran with it.  I surprised myself as well as my co-teachers with my careful adaptation of the text into low-intermediate ESL teaching material.

Riding on the success of the first semester, I was asked to find new literature to teach this semester.  I decided to go with fables because they are short and the language is simple enough for the students to follow.
Coming up with the idea to teach Fables was the easy part; planning the lesson was a bit of a struggle but nonetheless I got it done with the help of a few useful online tips.

The figured that the first step to teaching fable is picking a "good" version of the story.  There are a number of variations to the Aesop's original work so it's important to pick a version with simple vocabulary which are suited to second language learners.

Lead in: I began by reading through the story once.  For this you can get the students to read a small paragraph to aid in their reading practice.

Elicitation: After the first reading I got them to give their understanding of the fable.  If the language is simple they will be able to pick it up immediately.  Next, I went through each line and picked out difficult or tricky words and we discussed them, the students also wrote down the meanings in the margin.

Controlled practice: For this part I like to use an interactive activity like running dictation or a story map where they are required to document the timeline of the story.  The students get to work in groups or pairs depending on the size of the class and help each other understand the story better.  They are likely to use their mother tongue during this activity but their minds will be working over time as they will be translating their thoughts into English.

Freer practice: Our school dedicates the last 5 minutes of every class for a short time of review.  During this time I like to give the students a short worksheet with a few comprehension questions based on the story done for the day.  However, we sometimes run out of time and in this instance the students complete the worksheet as homework and we have a quick review at the start of the next lesson.

I've implemented this lesson plan in my classroom for the past month and a half and everyday I find new ways of tweaking it a little so that it doesn't become boring for both the students and myself.  Hopefully, by the end of this semester I would've mastered the art of teaching fables.  Till then, Happy Teaching.







Source: Fable Time: Using and Writing Fables in the ESL Classroom

...And we're back!

Hello Second Semester!

Returning to school after the vacation is the worst! I sometimes feel as though I'm more depressed about the start of the semester than my students but then I show up to class and see their cute little faces and that sadness disappears.

Like me, the students don't want to be at school so to make the day less painful for all of us I like to kick off the first week with a few ice-breakers and games.  Often times the students get really sucked into the first game that we play so we end up just playing that for the rest of the class.  My co-teachers also get into the spirit of things and join in which is always encouraging.

Today was rather easy for me as I only had one class but I'm certain that the rest of the week will follow suit.  Here's hoping for a great semester and lots of smiles along the way!

Happy Summer!

Today marks the end of the first semester. Like most teachers I am ecstatic.  Don't get me wrong, I love my job but to be effective in the classroom we as teachers deserve a lot of rest and relaxation.  Being an ESL teacher in Korea limits this time to 8 days during the summer vacation (as per our contract) and we are required to teach a summer camp for 2 weeks prior to our vacation.  But, the upside of the camp is that you have complete control of how you use your time.

 Summer in Korea is HOT and HUMID and the last thing the students want is to sit and listen to me lecture on. So, keeping that in mind I have planned a series of interactive games which doesn't require too much prep work and will allow for time to pass swiftly.  


One of my favourite games is "Stop the Bus"  It's excellent to review vocabulary or parts of speech.  

How to play:   Write 5 categories on the board, for example: 

1. Animals

2. Sports/games

3. People

4. Places

5. Food

Then choose a letter. Get them to write one word for each category that starts with the letter. I also place a time limit which makes things a little more competitive but the students have a lot of fun.

You can put the students into teams if you're working with a large group.  

Variation:  Instead of the categories mentioned above you can get the students to write down a noun, verb and adjective beginning with a certain alphabet.  

The first team to fill in all the categories shouts "STOP THE BUS!" and all other teams must stop writing. Points are awarded for every correct answer. 

The students get really into this game and even when I say "game over" they beg to continue.

NB: Take a look at my post on games for more ideas. But, above everything else, have a SUPERB SUMMER!!!

Laugh out Loud

I love to laugh, even in a difficult or awkward situation I will find a reason to crack a joke and laugh.  Being in Korea has certainly contributed to my need to laugh out loud all the time.  My students have a very low grasp of the English language but they try really hard and that brings me a lot of joy as fulfilment. Through their valiant efforts in trying to study English they manage to make me laugh.

I am required to conduct interviews with the students every year and grade them on their speaking ability.  It's usually difficult to keep a straight face because their answers are out of this world funny.

Here are some highlights from my classroom.

Me: What job would you never do and why?

Student: I don't want to do any job that uses my body because I don't want to get tired.

Me: What job would you like to do?

Student: A job that only uses my mind.

Question: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Answer:  I want to be a mathematician because I want to have smart brain. My favorite subject is math. Especially I love numbers from zero to nine, numbers can make lots of various problems. So in the future I want to be a mathematician like Euclid.

Task: Write a travel diary about a trip you took with your family or school.

My Travel Diary

Hello, I'm Kim-Dohyun. Now, I'm going Igidae with my family.  The place is very dark at night and a lot's of warm. But it is very funny.  Next time, I'll come again.

My Travel Diary

When I went to Seoul I was very excited but I felt dissopointed because we were going Everland again!  At first night I slept with 'Lee Hyun' I thought he didn't take a shower because he smelled very dirty but I slept because I was tired.

This trip was tied but very exciting! but I didn't want to go Everland again.


The next conversation took place during the 3rd lesson of the day.  It was a Tuesday morning around 11:15 am. So my students shouts from his seat, "Teacher, what time is it?"
I reply, It's 11:15. Why? Do have an appointment?" 
He responds, "No, I'm hungry! My stomach alarm is ringing."


There is never a dull moment in my class.  I could publish a small book if I wrote down every little thing my students say or do.  I love them to bits!^^

Vacation classes

One of the first things I learnt about Korea was that they are passionate about education.  Their passion is so great that you will find students returning from a learning institute at midnight, and getting up early over the weekend to go to school.  As a guest English teacher we are expected to go with the flow and teach during the vacation. As predicted the students don't want to be there and us teachers would much rather be spending our summer at the beach or travelling to some inexpensive yet exotic location.  Thus, to make the 2 longs weeks move as fast as possible I turn my classroom into a cool vacation hang out.  

Day one usually begins with a short introduction lesson.  I also assign nicknames to the students (it makes it easier for me to remember).  To keep the atmosphere light I play a game of pictionary or charades and I dish out candy.  Fortunately we only have to be at school for 3 hours so by the end of it the students are "hypnotized" into believing that the rest of the 2 weeks are going to be just as much fun. And they are not wrong.

I try to theme each day and do activities related to that theme.  For example:

Week 1

Monday: Welcome party

·         Introductions

·         Getting to know each other

·      Icebreakers 

Introduction Lesson

Tuesday: All about summer

•  Summer games
•     Crafts

    

  

Wednesday:  Detectives for a day

·         What are detectives?

·         What do they do?

·         Solving mini mysteries

Thursday: Around the world in 3 hours

·         A look at different countries and their culture, food, clothing etc.

Friday: Going to the movies

·         How we buy tickets

·         Movie genres

·         Watch a movie and complete a set of activities related to the movie.

    Vacations are for having fun so have fun with your lessons and make the students eager to come back everyday.  By the end of the vacation classes they will be sad that it's over.

 Happy teaching :)

Learning about each other

Getting to know your students is really important. Finding out their likes and dislikes can be very helpful when you're preparing future lessons.

I like to use the first two lessons of the semester as introductory lessons.  The lesson usually begins with me telling the students about myself, where I come from, hobbies, interests, etc. Then I turn the lesson over to the kids and get them speaking about themselves.  It's usually difficult for them to come up with the right words so I like to provide them with a worksheet which acts as a guideline for their introduction.

One option is to get them to interview each other using the worksheet on the right and then ask the students to introduce their classmates.  Or you can opt for the "traditional" route and ask them to introduce themselves using the worksheet below.

Seeing as we live in the age of Facebook, you can get the students to create a Facebook profile with the help of the worksheet on the left.


Note: This can be adapted to fit the 4 basic learning areas of ESL, i.e: Speaking, Reading, Writing and Listening.

Trial and Error

I moved to Korea in August 2009 and I have not looked back. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Sure, it has had its ups and downs but my experience here has been an absolute thrill.

Flag of Korea

Relocating to a new country and one with a language barrier is a huge decision. There are a number of factors to consider, therefore, extensive research is vital. I researched about teaching ESL in Korea for a year before I actually filled out an application. I remember how nervous as I filled out my details on the online application form of a recruitment agency based in Canada. A few days after completing my application I received an email from the agency saying that my application was successful and I qualified for a telephonic interview. I was over the moon (I tend to celebrate every little victory). The interview comprised of three questions which were in the form of case studies. They did not ask me any of the "regular" interview questions. I felt a bit weird after the interview, sort of like a gut feeling that result will not be positive. A week after the interview I received an email from the agency saying that I was not successful and that they could not disclose the reason but they wish me well in my future and they gave me a list of other agencies I could contact. I was disappointed but I got over it, I realised that maybe I needed more time to prepare myself to leave the comfort of home. After the disappointment of my first failed attempt of coming to Korea I stopped trying for a few months. In that time I managed to get a new job in the media field because that was my initial goal; however, my joy was short lived as it was not as fun as I had made out to be in my head. I was there for a week and my Korean dream came back to life. A friend of mine put me in contact with a lady in Cape Town, South Africa who was recruiting people. I contacted her via email and we communicated for a few weeks. I sent her my resume and she managed to find me a position in Korea. Within a few days she had a contract for me to sign, no interview, no requests for a mountain of paper work...it all seemed too good to be true. I flew to Cape Town to meet with her and go over the contract. My aunt who is quite business savvy came along with me. I read the contract about three times and analysed every last word because I had a researched and researched and researched some more about Korea so I was quite aware of scams and ill-practices. And lo and behold I found a huge deal breaker. According to the contract I had pay my ENTIRE first month's salary to this lady as commission . That right there screams SCAM!!!! According to several sources YOU SHOULD NOT PAY ANYONE ANY MONEY in exchange for them finding you a job... Which resulted in me turning down her offer but I got a good weekend in Cape Town at the end of the all the contract drama.

Cape Town, South Africa

My second disappointing attempt did not kill my dream. I was more determined than ever to come to Korea. By this time I was smarter and knew exactly what I wanted. I searched through a number of different agencies and finally I struck gold with an agency based in Seoul, Korea (http://www.worknplay.co.kr/). I communicated with the wonderful people at this agency for about and things were looking very promising. They sent me a list of locations to chose from and an application form. I researched about the different locations before settling on my final destination, filled out the application and within a month of back and forth emails I was successful in qualifying for a telephonic interview. I was filled with such confidence during my interview which resulted me chatting to my interviewer as though he was my long time friend. A week later I received my much anticipated "congratulatory" email. I left home in August 2009 and have not looked back since. The journey here was a long one not counting physical distance...Just the stress and emotion of relocating and not falling prey to a scam. I hope that your move is a smooth one.