The First Week of Teaching

After being here for 3 weeks, we have finally done some teaching! We were told so many conflicting tales about who we would be teaching and what our schedule would be like that we really had no idea what to expect. In true Korean style, we didn't receive our schedules until the day we started... but it was definitely worth the wait. We are teaching from 2.30 until 8.30 Monday to Thursday, which we are really pleased about. Many of the other teachers we know have to start teaching at 6 or 7am and finish around the same time as us, with random long breaks in between where they are expected to nap, but luckily our institute caters mainly for children, so doesn't begin until the childrens' normal school is over. We normally try to get there for 1ish to prepare for our classes, as we are still getting use to the books. It is a bit manic from 2.30 until 6.30, as we run around the classrooms doing 15 minute classes where we basically act as teaching assistants for the Korean teachers, mainly going over pronunciation and doing speaking drills. It is quite hard to keep to the timings and be on time for each class when you only have such a short time in each one. Then at 6.30 I have a 50 minute class where I prepare a topic for discussion, then two 30 minute classes which is the same sort of thing but the Korean teacher prepares the topic. Alex has these two classes first, then an adult class for an hour. And then it's off home for some well-earned food!

Most of the kids are really cute and lovely, I have some really little ones who are so sweet but a little bit difficult to communicate with as they are so young! They all say 'hello!' when you are walking through the corridoors which is really nice, and the younger girls tend to hold my hand or compliment my clothes or jewellery! Some of the more teenagery ones are a bit grumpy and silent, but after a game or two they tend to forget that they are too cool for your lesson. I have only had a couple of instances of kids being naughty - one of the kids likes to use Konglish (a Korean-English hybrid) on me, which I am completely unfamiliar with and it throws me. I am starting to get used to it and I tend to ignore him when he does it - but the first time I was really confused, and the Korean teacher laughed along with the kids which kind of annoyed me, but I covered this up, laughed along with them and moved on. Occasionally the kids start chatting together in Korean when you aren't focussing on them, but this is just kids being kids and getting easily distracted. It still surprises me when I tell them to listen and they do it - I never expected them to actually do as I tell them!

So far so good as far as the teaching goes! We are really enjoying it and I think that it will only get better as the kids get to know us more and we get more accustomed to the books and lessons. We have been rubbish at taking photos, but will try and get some more of the school and the kids soon.