Finished
Intensives are over. The insane teaching schedule is finally over. On Tuesday, I start the normal 6 hours of teaching plus 2 hours of prep work schedule. This past week was really difficult. I'm sorry I've been out of touch this week. I am amazed I didn't oversleep and miss my first class. Well. Amazed is too mild of a word. Flabbergasted. Astounded. Shocked, Awed, & SO ^$&%^@*%!@*#&*ing Thankful. You know me. I set three alarms and sleep through all of them. I tried to wake up between 5 and 6 every morning this week, though once I didn't wake up 'til 7:30. (eep.) I was up until 2 or 3 most nights grading essays and writing progress reports for the students. My co-workers keep telling me not to feel badly that I fell so far behind, that intensives are difficult enough as is with one essay class, and I was one of three or four people with two essay classes. Still, I wish I'd been able to keep up. I think it will be easier now. I hate taking work home. Now I can just go in early to work and grade, it's going to be like stealing cake, kisses, balloons, very small socks, and spare change from a baby.
Here are some photos of my kids. I only get to keep three students from all of my classes into the next term, which runs February and March. I was so sad to lose my first class, these kids make me smile every day, they are so excited to learn, so happy to speak up in class, so happy, and have such good attitudes. Every single student in that class is incredibly intelligent, they made my job so easy. I'm going to miss teaching them.
Class One:
Tom, the sports expert & master of enthusiasm:
Henry, the adorable & creative other sports expert, with Anna the shy & uber-intelligent aspiring vet in the background:
Hyung-Ji and Cindy, the super-brilliant, destined to go to harvard and be famous writers and professors:
Eleni & Jennifer, the super smart smilers with the happiest, sweetest grins in the world:
Peter & Jason, the quiet yet super funny class clowns - Jason writes some very funny essays:
Jean & Sunny, the smart, super shy, quiet ones who started raising their hands the last two weeks of class and made so much progress. I had to get down on my knees and beg for this picture:
Class Two, the young ones.
Billy, Danny, Sam, John, and Kipper - the boys, all so funny:
Sally who spells her name S-e-r-y because that's how it sounds to her - the only girl in class and such a sweet, quick kid:
This class was a handful. Well. Sam was a handful. He needs a lot of attention, and would have temper tantrums if he wasn't first all the time. He usually gave me a headache. *grin* He's a good kid overall, though. Danny and Kipper are really smart, Billy and Sally are quieter, and John had a hard time because he doesn't really know how to read yet, he listens and repeats.
I am not very good with the little kids. I don't have enough patience. They made me laugh most days, though. For example, they would do almost anything to get my attention to be called on first to answer questions or read in class. Some days they'd hold up both arms and both legs in the air, or stack all of their workbooks inside each other and hold them up in the air to try and be taller than everyone else. Yesterday was monster day:
Class Three, the older kids, many of whom are just beginning to learn english at a hagwon:
er. yeah. No photos. They wouldn't let me take photos. Most of them won't speak in complete sentences because they lack confidence, lack the grammar, or just don't want to talk in class. Still, I really liked them by the end of the month, even though they made me work really hard. I had to be an idiot to get them to react at all. Stuck a post it note on my head one day when we were talking about inventions, and yesterday I was running around the room with my jean jacket over my head, pretending to be the headless horseman chasing Icabod Crane in the Sleepy Hollow story. I don't know if I will have them again next term. I hope I do, but I don't think I will. rats!!!
I have a sneaking suspicion that I might really enjoy teaching literature or drama lit and writing to middle school - high school kids. hrm. We'll see how this year goes. It's only been a month. ~lol~
More soon. I now have an internet connection, and in 1.5 hours I am going to get a cell phone. The last time I called home most of the subway phones were covered in dried up puke. People get so drunk here, it's hilarious and disturbing. I can understand why, many people have so much pressure, they need a release of some sort. I could do without the puke, though. Someone even puked in one of the elevators in my building. I wonder if other areas are like Cheonho. From what I've seen, they're a lot cleaner. Well, except for Itaewon. Itaewon wins the nasty dirt award. ~lol~
How are you??? How did the New Eyes festival go last weekend at Theater Mu? What have you all been doing? I am going to catch up on my email this weekend, will write to you soon. =)
Happy Lunar New Year!!! ^^
love,
~sara
Here are some photos of my kids. I only get to keep three students from all of my classes into the next term, which runs February and March. I was so sad to lose my first class, these kids make me smile every day, they are so excited to learn, so happy to speak up in class, so happy, and have such good attitudes. Every single student in that class is incredibly intelligent, they made my job so easy. I'm going to miss teaching them.
Class One:
Tom, the sports expert & master of enthusiasm:
Henry, the adorable & creative other sports expert, with Anna the shy & uber-intelligent aspiring vet in the background:
Hyung-Ji and Cindy, the super-brilliant, destined to go to harvard and be famous writers and professors:
Eleni & Jennifer, the super smart smilers with the happiest, sweetest grins in the world:
Peter & Jason, the quiet yet super funny class clowns - Jason writes some very funny essays:
Jean & Sunny, the smart, super shy, quiet ones who started raising their hands the last two weeks of class and made so much progress. I had to get down on my knees and beg for this picture:
Class Two, the young ones.
Billy, Danny, Sam, John, and Kipper - the boys, all so funny:
Sally who spells her name S-e-r-y because that's how it sounds to her - the only girl in class and such a sweet, quick kid:
This class was a handful. Well. Sam was a handful. He needs a lot of attention, and would have temper tantrums if he wasn't first all the time. He usually gave me a headache. *grin* He's a good kid overall, though. Danny and Kipper are really smart, Billy and Sally are quieter, and John had a hard time because he doesn't really know how to read yet, he listens and repeats.
I am not very good with the little kids. I don't have enough patience. They made me laugh most days, though. For example, they would do almost anything to get my attention to be called on first to answer questions or read in class. Some days they'd hold up both arms and both legs in the air, or stack all of their workbooks inside each other and hold them up in the air to try and be taller than everyone else. Yesterday was monster day:
Class Three, the older kids, many of whom are just beginning to learn english at a hagwon:
er. yeah. No photos. They wouldn't let me take photos. Most of them won't speak in complete sentences because they lack confidence, lack the grammar, or just don't want to talk in class. Still, I really liked them by the end of the month, even though they made me work really hard. I had to be an idiot to get them to react at all. Stuck a post it note on my head one day when we were talking about inventions, and yesterday I was running around the room with my jean jacket over my head, pretending to be the headless horseman chasing Icabod Crane in the Sleepy Hollow story. I don't know if I will have them again next term. I hope I do, but I don't think I will. rats!!!
I have a sneaking suspicion that I might really enjoy teaching literature or drama lit and writing to middle school - high school kids. hrm. We'll see how this year goes. It's only been a month. ~lol~
More soon. I now have an internet connection, and in 1.5 hours I am going to get a cell phone. The last time I called home most of the subway phones were covered in dried up puke. People get so drunk here, it's hilarious and disturbing. I can understand why, many people have so much pressure, they need a release of some sort. I could do without the puke, though. Someone even puked in one of the elevators in my building. I wonder if other areas are like Cheonho. From what I've seen, they're a lot cleaner. Well, except for Itaewon. Itaewon wins the nasty dirt award. ~lol~
How are you??? How did the New Eyes festival go last weekend at Theater Mu? What have you all been doing? I am going to catch up on my email this weekend, will write to you soon. =)
Happy Lunar New Year!!! ^^
love,
~sara
posted by smochs at 9:59 AM
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