Pushing Forward

Especially considering yesterday, today was very normal and low key.  I only had four classes, so I used my extra time to make the lesson plans that Julia wants to see.

 My Beginner 2 (top) and Essential 2 materials.  My worksheets and homework assignments are in the plastic folders.  The only real difference is the written lesson plan.  

Making the lesson plans fit Julia's scheme was actually a lot more difficult than I had anticipated.  These plans are designed for Ian, who doesn't use books for the majority of his classes.  I had to make my books fit the three tiered plan.  I don't mind making these plans.  I'm a habitual list maker, so this type of activity isn't as tedious to me as it might be to someone else.  But, I worry that Julia will find a problem and make me do it over until it's exactly what she wants.  From experience, I know that it could be upwards of ten times.  Also, Julia mostly focuses on the time count (see the side of the sheet).  Every class is different, so I tend to play that part by ear.  But, Julia is obsessed with "wasted time."  I hope my model comes close to matching most of my classes.

Gene was at Sinback today, sitting in on my classes.  He said he thinks he's been demoted because he told Julia and David that he's quitting.  She told him that he must either leave at the end of this week or this month.  He hasn't decided yet, but he's very tempted to quit on Friday.  He didn't actually stay in my classes much.  He came in and watched for about a third of each, then left to fill out the check list.  My classes are pretty consistent (even from level to level), so I'm guessing he got bored and just filled in what he figured about each of my classes.  I'm pretty sure I can count on his grading of my classes to be in my favor.  I'm a little surprised Julia has sent him to assess me.  Granted, Julia is very tunnel visioned; so I doubt she actually realizes that anyone has a problem with her aside from Ian and I.

While Gene was at Sinback, we bought our plane tickets for Jeju-do.  We're taking Mom there.  I suppose it will be a bit of a Mother's Day holiday since she'll leave just before then.  Now, I feel comfortable booking our rooms and moving forward with those plans.  It's nice to have something else to plan.  Obviously, it isn't a pleasant sensation to have your possible termination hung over your head.

Ian said Julia was in a very good mood today.  He ran around making worksheet after worksheet and she was polite and even nice to him.  Julia finally has the employees she hoped for.  Opinion-less drones who are nothing but an extension of her will in the classroom.  Ian and I thought we'd be good at this job because we have ideas for the kids' educations; but it's better to be an empty vessel if you're choosing to teach in South Korea.  Julia's good mood is a reflection of her finally having us where she wants us.  I don't mean that we're doing what she asks.  Truly we've been trying to do that all along.  I mean we're running scared, constantly thinking about what Julia would do or how she would think of our behavior at any given moment.  There's no room for thoughts of our own and that's exactly why she's pleased.

But, our contracts only have four months left.  I have no problem with keeping my head down until we're out.  I still can't shake the worry that they'll terminate us just before we cross the finish line, but there's nothing to be done about that.  If we quit preemptively, we'd lose out on several months' salary.  So, we'll keep moving forward until there's nowhere left to go.

Good night!

In the Classroom

When Ian and I first started teaching, things were a bit rough.  We had no training and only a vague idea of what was needed from us.  Though it was hell at the time, I think it taught us some lessons about problem solving and about our own skill sets.  Also, Ian and I now have really concrete ideas about what we need from an employer and a workplace on the whole.  So, hopefully, this all means that we will interview much better and have a better shot at getting a job we'd really enjoy stateside.

Things have changed quite a bit.  We now have Gene to keep us abreast of what's happening on the business level of Yoon's and we've genuinely become better teachers.  I wouldn't say that I'm a good teacher.  I think that it takes a special person with a skill set I don't have to really succeed at this job.  I'm better at working on my own and I don't enjoy being 'on' all day.  I can find work on my own and I don't like have every millisecond of my workday planned out for me.  I like a little leadership and control, even if it is just over my own agenda.

In the beginning Ian and I had no idea what to do for lesson plans.  We simply went through each unit and there weren't many activities in our classrooms.  Occasionally we'd pull a worksheet off the internet, but that was about it.

Now, Ian and I make a worksheet and a homework assignment for every class above Beginner 2.  We've gotten to the point where we have a flexible formula for each class and a set of activities and games that we can fall back on if the class lulls.

Games

Pictionary- Using words from the topic of the week, the students take turns drawing pictures on the bored and the rest of the class guesses.  Whomever guesses correctly gets to draw the next picture.  The catch is that they must guess in full sentences, "Is it (a) ___________ ?" and the drawer answers, "No, it isn't," or "Yes, it is."

Hangman- I let my students run this one.  They choose the words, run the board and guess the letters.  This game is great for testing their vocabulary and spelling.

Taboo- This game only works for advanced classes.  I make cards with the key word and taboo words on them.  The students work in pairs and try to describe the key words without saying any of the taboo words.  It's pretty difficult, but it works to get them talking.

Bingo-  Self explanatory.  The little kids love bingo.  Really, it's just vocabulary practice and a chance to win a lot of stickers.

Activities

Word Race- Basic 1 and 3 students usually have a set of vocabulary words for the week.  So, I make little cards and pairs of two students lay out the cards on the tables.  When I say a word, the first student to pick up the correct card (in each pair) wins a point.  The number of points each student gets, anywhere from one to ten, equals the number of stickers they'll get at the end of the game.  The students collect stickers on a sheet in order to get prizes (board games, umbrellas, jump ropes, etc.).

Question Catch- The students throw a ball to each other and ask various questions relating to the topic of the unit.  They have to answer in full sentences, so I'm always correcting their grammar.

Worksheet Interviews- Ian and I make worksheets designed to help the students interview each other.  Sometimes the students put in a lot of effort and do very well, but other times I have to spoon feed them the assignment.

Animal Cards- Any time a class has a topic revolving around animals I make animal cards for them to play go fish or use them in Question Catch.  They love them and they usually beg to keep them.

Ian and I have certainly put in the effort to try to meet Julia's evasive standards.  I hope she's happy with us.  I haven't heard otherwise from Gene.  My students seem happier, and that's good enough for me.

If you had to teach an English class to 8 Korean children tomorrow, what activities or games would you do?

Good night!

Fun Lessons

Today I didn't start classes until 3:30.  No one has told me whether this means that I can wait until 2:30 (instead of 1:30) to show up, so I got there at 1:45.  No one seemed to care,  I was going to use my extra time to print and fill out loan forebearance applications, but I actually needed all that time to prepare for classes.  Mondays and Tuesdays always take more time because it's our first few times through the week's unit.

Our Basic 1 class is doing a unit on "Show and Tell."  In the imaginary world of the book the kids have animals that have human traits, like a cat that can paint and a bug that can sing.  Julia wanted us to make copies of the pictures of these animals and make cards for the students to play with.  But, I had a more entertaining idea.  Cartoons are one thing.  But, what about actual photos?  I thought the kids would get a kick out of that and Gene said that my idea was better because it got the students thinking creatively (something kids here don't get enough of in their education, as it's all multiple choice and test driven).  Luckily, with the popularity of LOLCats and their counterparts made it possible for me to find good pictures online.  The kids used the pictures to make the sentences "This is my ______.  It can ______."  Then they played a memory game where they tried to remember what the other students had, too.  "His/Her _______ can ________."  I'm sure you've seen at least some of these before, but here are the animal picture cards I used in class today.

This is my cat.  It can use the computer (read: surf teh internets[sic]).

This is my dog.  It can drive a car.

This is my iguana.  It can play ping-pong.

This is my cat.  It can play Nintendo DS.

These are my dogs.  They can fly.

This is my rabbit.  It can read a book.

This is my rat/mouse.  It can play the piano.

This is my cat.  It can sing a song.

This particular class was all boys, but they still really enjoyed it.  I think my girls will like it even more.  At the very least, it keeps my day entertaining.  I love the internet.  It's amazing how you can use something so silly or even stupid for educational means.  I hope Gene tells Julia about the extra creative work I've been doing.

Ian had to use the ball (a tool we use to get the young kids to talk to each other, they throw it to each other and ask questions) in his Essential 1 class (11-12 year olds) today.  They wouldn't talk, so he knocked them back down to "What's your name?  My name is ______."  I have a few Essential 1 classes that hardly speak as well.  Maybe it's their age.

Ian and I are having (microwave) baked potatoes and vegetable cream soup for dinner.  It's a good standard American meal after our 비빔밥 and 김밥 last night.  I like Korean food, but in small doses.

Good night!