First Week of Teaching at Jamhyun Elementary.

First week done and over with and heading into my second week.  My first week went really well. My co-teacher Nicky is soooo helpful.  I teach Grade 5 and 6's English, Grade 5's Pop music class, and Debate class (which I am really looking forward to).  So far I've been doing a lot of planning and have not had a lot of down time (a.k.a desk-warming they call it here).  My english classes are pretty much text-based but we can deviate from the plan and make it more interesting or fun:)  Pop music and debate are classes where I can really be inventive and make English really fun to learn...I hope!!  I can make up my own plans or use ones previously taught by other teachers....I have lots of resources at this school.  The school was built in 2008 and looks like a museum...I shit you not! This school has the BEST of EVERYTHING. Not even my university was as nice or has more technology.

On my first day I had to give a small speech to the staff and students introducing myself. I stood in the broadcasting room in front of a camera where I told everyone about myself.  This message was sent live into all the classrooms on BIG SCREEN televisions....ughhhhhh! My first day consisted of lesson planning only and  that great.  The next day I gave a powerpoint presentation about myself to all my students...which they all seemed to really enjoy.  HINT: Anytime you turn an activity into a game, where someone can potentially be the "best winner of all time", it really makes students participate lol.

Tea time: the awesome part of the day!! I am in an office with six other women and at around 3p.m. we have tea time and snacks! They all talk in Korean and then Nicky translates for me...hahaha...none of what they say makes sense to me or vice versa. Our language is soooooo different.  I can totally understand what the kids are going through...

Although...most of these kids at this school have fantastic English skills.  Nicky says it's because their parents put them all in evening English classes as well. These kids are pretty much in school all day and most of the evening as well.  They even go to school for half days on Saturday.

I've posted pics on Facebook showing my apartment and neighborhood in Gangdong.  One exciting event this week...I got stuck in the elevator in my apartment for about 30 seconds. hahaha....scary but pretty funny now because I actually figured out today that I didn't really get stuck but maybe, perhaps hit the wrong buttons...which led me to believe I was stuck....

I should wear a helmet most days I think lol....

I also attacked the subway this week and was very successful at navigating about. And when I looked lost, many people helped me...even if I couldn't speak their language. 

Cute story: I was sitting on the subway and an older lady came on and there was no where for her to sit. I got up and  gave her my seat....and she gave me the biggest bow EVER! For those not familiar, bowing in Korea is an important thing to do...people always bow when meeting or when you see someone who deserves it (like a principal, grandfather, etc). Anyhow, she bowed to me and was saying something that I couldn't understand  but she looked very happy. Then as seats were freeing up, she motioned for me to sit beside her. I came and sat beside her and then she started rubbing my back and held my hand...it sounds weird I know, but when you are far from home and haven't been hugged in a while, you welcome things like this I guess. I loved every single minute of it:)

Anyhow...gotta run. Hope you are all well.

xoxo