On my way to class this afternoon I stepped out the office door only to jump right back. There was a fresh trail of blood leading all the way down from somewhere on the second floor (it went past where I was headed) to the nurses office.
I've seen this before but only small drops that seem fairly containable. By the time the students went to their classrooms it looked like someone had spread red paint down the hallway.
As I walked up the stairs one of the special Ed kids ran after me yelling " PI, PI, PI, PI!!!" (Pi, or 피 is a Korean word for blood)
I felt like I was walking into a scene from a horror movie.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Proud Parent
While I'm not exactly in a parental position at this school I'm still quite proud of at least one teacher.
Corporal punishment is slowly falling out of favour in Korea but, in schools like mine, it still exists. When I ask my teachers about it they say they don't know where they would begin to control 1000 teenage boys. My guess is that for many of the older teachers they were never formally taught other methods of punishment besides hitting their delinquent students with sticks.
I often find myself bearing witness to these punishments as the Detention teacher sits in my office. I'm sure he sees no reason to punish them elsewhere. Next to him sits a P.E. teacher who is also involved in various disciplinary measures.
Today I saw something new....and improved? methods of punishment.
The students were made to do burpies for a certain amount of time (they stopped whenever the teacher wandered off) and then sent outside to collect garbage. With exams next week, high school entrance tests in a month, and rain pouring down outside (which is where they had to collect garbage) keeping these kids from their classes and out in the rain seem like fitting punishments to me.
Corporal punishment is slowly falling out of favour in Korea but, in schools like mine, it still exists. When I ask my teachers about it they say they don't know where they would begin to control 1000 teenage boys. My guess is that for many of the older teachers they were never formally taught other methods of punishment besides hitting their delinquent students with sticks.
I often find myself bearing witness to these punishments as the Detention teacher sits in my office. I'm sure he sees no reason to punish them elsewhere. Next to him sits a P.E. teacher who is also involved in various disciplinary measures.
Today I saw something new....and improved? methods of punishment.
The students were made to do burpies for a certain amount of time (they stopped whenever the teacher wandered off) and then sent outside to collect garbage. With exams next week, high school entrance tests in a month, and rain pouring down outside (which is where they had to collect garbage) keeping these kids from their classes and out in the rain seem like fitting punishments to me.
The Life and Times of a Soccer Ball
When I arrived at my school I inherited a soccer ball from my predecessor. Once the students realised I had it and was willing to lend it out they would often come by at lunchtime to ask to borrow it. More often than not I would not be at my desk when they wanted it...so they would take it. Usually they would return it....but sometimes they didn't. Eventually I never saw it again. Since there were still students asking to "borrow a ball" I went to the local sports store and bought a new one.
Long before it's time, the soccer ball became flat. It softened to a point but didn't flatten completely...so the students kept borrowing it. It was perfect for their needs: A version of monkey in the middle where the ball is kicked/thrown at the monkey in order to hit him. If the 'monkey' catches it, his changes positions with the person who kicked/threw the ball.
I guess they were better off with a soft soccer ball.
Anyways, they would play this game under, and around the very tall trees lining the entrance to my school. At times the ball would get kicked high into the air and fall through the trees. I always wondered if any of the ball got stuck in the trees....
I was about to find out.
I've been a bit of a nazi about getting the soccer ball back at the end of the lunch hour. One day this week they didn't bring it back. After class in the afternoon I went upstairs to confront the students I knew had had it last. One of them is a particular favourite from the month long winter camp we had in January. I saw him in the hallway and approached him:
Me: Hyeon Jun, where's my soccer ball?
HJ: Hehehehehe. I don't know....hehehehe.
Me: What do you mean you don't know?
HJ: Weeeeellll......hehehehehehe.
Me: Where's the ball?
HJ: Teacher...uh, friend kick the ball....ball goes whoosh...*points upwards*...*keeps looking up*....ball is in a tree.
Me: It's in a tree? Which tree?
HJ: *waves in the direction of the front gate*...Hehehehehe
Me: *sigh.
On my way home, passing under the trees, I tried to look for the ball. I couldn't see it anywhere.
The next day, yesterday, I was walking outside at lunchtime. Hyeon Jun and his friends saw me and pulled me over. They point up...up...up into a tree. Sure enough, about 40 or 50 feet up, caught at the crux of three branches, was my soccer ball.
When I asked who put it there they just laughed....except one student who was standing in the back, pointing to another student. When I asked his name and called him out....he ran away.
I went back later to find them desperately trying to retrieve the ball.
First, they tried to climb the tree. Fail.
Second, they tried to throw brooms up to knock it out. Fail. And loss of several brooms.
Third, they tried to throw another, miniature soccer ball (mine as well) up in the tree. Fail. I took it away.
The day ended and the ball was still there. It was still there when I came to school this morning. Looks like I left my mark on this school.
Until the next big storm anyways.
Long before it's time, the soccer ball became flat. It softened to a point but didn't flatten completely...so the students kept borrowing it. It was perfect for their needs: A version of monkey in the middle where the ball is kicked/thrown at the monkey in order to hit him. If the 'monkey' catches it, his changes positions with the person who kicked/threw the ball.
I guess they were better off with a soft soccer ball.
Anyways, they would play this game under, and around the very tall trees lining the entrance to my school. At times the ball would get kicked high into the air and fall through the trees. I always wondered if any of the ball got stuck in the trees....
I was about to find out.
I've been a bit of a nazi about getting the soccer ball back at the end of the lunch hour. One day this week they didn't bring it back. After class in the afternoon I went upstairs to confront the students I knew had had it last. One of them is a particular favourite from the month long winter camp we had in January. I saw him in the hallway and approached him:
Me: Hyeon Jun, where's my soccer ball?
HJ: Hehehehehe. I don't know....hehehehe.
Me: What do you mean you don't know?
HJ: Weeeeellll......hehehehehehe.
Me: Where's the ball?
HJ: Teacher...uh, friend kick the ball....ball goes whoosh...*points upwards*...*keeps looking up*....ball is in a tree.
Me: It's in a tree? Which tree?
HJ: *waves in the direction of the front gate*...Hehehehehe
Me: *sigh.
On my way home, passing under the trees, I tried to look for the ball. I couldn't see it anywhere.
The next day, yesterday, I was walking outside at lunchtime. Hyeon Jun and his friends saw me and pulled me over. They point up...up...up into a tree. Sure enough, about 40 or 50 feet up, caught at the crux of three branches, was my soccer ball.
When I asked who put it there they just laughed....except one student who was standing in the back, pointing to another student. When I asked his name and called him out....he ran away.
I went back later to find them desperately trying to retrieve the ball.
First, they tried to climb the tree. Fail.
Second, they tried to throw brooms up to knock it out. Fail. And loss of several brooms.
Third, they tried to throw another, miniature soccer ball (mine as well) up in the tree. Fail. I took it away.
The day ended and the ball was still there. It was still there when I came to school this morning. Looks like I left my mark on this school.
Until the next big storm anyways.
Scooters
I've always wanted to ride in those scooters old people use. They look really comfortable and easy...if a little slow.
I've seen a limited number of them around Korea. But last week I saw one being used by people I did not expect.
I was walking down the street into town. The after school classes at my school had just been let out and there were a large number of students walking around. I waved and nodded and smiled to the ones to saw me and said hi but kept walking.
Then I heard someone call my name.
I turned around expecting to see a student riding a bike, or walking....or something.
Nope. Two students, one, admittedly, with a broken leg or something, were riding an old persons scooter, trucking their way through traffic on their way home.
I've seen a limited number of them around Korea. But last week I saw one being used by people I did not expect.
I was walking down the street into town. The after school classes at my school had just been let out and there were a large number of students walking around. I waved and nodded and smiled to the ones to saw me and said hi but kept walking.
Then I heard someone call my name.
I turned around expecting to see a student riding a bike, or walking....or something.
Nope. Two students, one, admittedly, with a broken leg or something, were riding an old persons scooter, trucking their way through traffic on their way home.
Affection
The boys at my school are very...physically affectionate. When I first arrived it was....a little shocking. By now I've gotten used to it...at least I thought I was.
Just the other day there was more...loving behaviour.
A particularly earnest student was sitting in the front of the class. His friend, a not to earnest student, walked in late and promptly sat at the back of the class. The earnest one decided he preferred to sit with his friend than in the front desk by himself. He moved back quickly and before long they were chatting together as they usually do when they sit together. I figured I would put a stop to it right away. I went to their desks and asked the more earnest student, let's call him Kim, to move away from his friend, Choi, and come back to the front.
Kim's reaction to leaving his friend? Kissing him on the cheek, looking him in the eye, and saying goodbye as if they'd never see each other again.
Just the other day there was more...loving behaviour.
A particularly earnest student was sitting in the front of the class. His friend, a not to earnest student, walked in late and promptly sat at the back of the class. The earnest one decided he preferred to sit with his friend than in the front desk by himself. He moved back quickly and before long they were chatting together as they usually do when they sit together. I figured I would put a stop to it right away. I went to their desks and asked the more earnest student, let's call him Kim, to move away from his friend, Choi, and come back to the front.
Kim's reaction to leaving his friend? Kissing him on the cheek, looking him in the eye, and saying goodbye as if they'd never see each other again.
Chivalry
The Korean male types I have had contact with in this country have not been the most chivalrous of people...particularly my students. But, on occasion, they will have a lapse in their usual rudeness....for example...
A student and I were trying to go into the same office door at the same time. Not wanting to get in the way of his cleaning duties (he was looking for a garbage bag....not important) I was prepared to step back and let him go first. To my surprise he not only opened the door and stepped back for me to go through...he said, in a very mannerly tone, "Ladies first."
I was so taken aback I could do no more than stutter a thank you and wander, dazed, back to my desk, where I sat speechless for some time.
A student and I were trying to go into the same office door at the same time. Not wanting to get in the way of his cleaning duties (he was looking for a garbage bag....not important) I was prepared to step back and let him go first. To my surprise he not only opened the door and stepped back for me to go through...he said, in a very mannerly tone, "Ladies first."
I was so taken aback I could do no more than stutter a thank you and wander, dazed, back to my desk, where I sat speechless for some time.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Desk warming...
Camp is officially over and I am confined to 3 days of desk warming. I suppose the term is more appropriate now than it was in the winter as it's still really really really really warm outside. Did I mention it was warm out?
After having 3 straight weeks of camp I don't particularly mind getting the chance to just relax for a couple of days. Only problem is dragging myself out of bed in the morning...and that it's so warm outside. But, as much as it's unfortunate that I have to leave my air conditioned apartment, getting up on time at least makes me more productive...even if I still haven't cleaned my apartment like I've been meaning to for the last week or so.
Being the only non Korean speaker definitely makes things interesting though. One slightly scary teacher came up to me yesterday and said, "Lebecca, let's go." I didn't have the guts to say no. We all got in his car and we drove....and drove and drove and drove. We ended up in the middle or no where...in fact I'm pretty sure it was North Korea. After lunch of cold noodles and 만두 we drove and drove and drove back again. fun times.
Today I braved the only bathroom available...drinking three cups of coffee really isn't a good idea when the one women's bathroom is under construction and the only one open is on the third floor, where it's a million degrees, and there are still students running about. I managed it...and returned once more to my desk only a little traumatized.
And that is my VERY interesting life. Happily it will become more interesting next week as Maryam and will head to Jeju next Friday. Now THAT will be an epic trip.
After having 3 straight weeks of camp I don't particularly mind getting the chance to just relax for a couple of days. Only problem is dragging myself out of bed in the morning...and that it's so warm outside. But, as much as it's unfortunate that I have to leave my air conditioned apartment, getting up on time at least makes me more productive...even if I still haven't cleaned my apartment like I've been meaning to for the last week or so.
Being the only non Korean speaker definitely makes things interesting though. One slightly scary teacher came up to me yesterday and said, "Lebecca, let's go." I didn't have the guts to say no. We all got in his car and we drove....and drove and drove and drove. We ended up in the middle or no where...in fact I'm pretty sure it was North Korea. After lunch of cold noodles and 만두 we drove and drove and drove back again. fun times.
Today I braved the only bathroom available...drinking three cups of coffee really isn't a good idea when the one women's bathroom is under construction and the only one open is on the third floor, where it's a million degrees, and there are still students running about. I managed it...and returned once more to my desk only a little traumatized.
And that is my VERY interesting life. Happily it will become more interesting next week as Maryam and will head to Jeju next Friday. Now THAT will be an epic trip.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
A Level
The unfortunate thing about teaching A level students is that most of them have the English ability to argue about...well just about anything. None of my classes are so bad as my 3-1 class. The smartest of the 3rd grade students are in this class and they NEVER let up.
A couple of weeks ago they had to prove that Canada was NOT the second largest country in the world. Today told me that my french numbers were wrong and that the price of a wii was not 200,000\ but 300,000\ to the point that they wanted to look it up on the internet just to prove me wrong.
These kids in particular will argue until they're blue in the face.
I'm glad I was never like that....
A couple of weeks ago they had to prove that Canada was NOT the second largest country in the world. Today told me that my french numbers were wrong and that the price of a wii was not 200,000\ but 300,000\ to the point that they wanted to look it up on the internet just to prove me wrong.
These kids in particular will argue until they're blue in the face.
I'm glad I was never like that....
Physical Education
I stopped today to notice a PE class in action. This is what I saw:
Most of what looked like 70 kids were playing soccer...sort of. A few were playing basketball, a few more were playing baseball. Some were wandering around aimlessly from group to group and still others were chicken fighting, trying to knock each other down into a puddle. The rest of the students were sitting at the sidelines of the soccer field just having a jolly good time and doing their own thing.
While all this chaos was happening the PE teacher (the drill sergeant man from yesterday) was biking around the track, over and over and over again.
At least they were all having a good time.
Most of what looked like 70 kids were playing soccer...sort of. A few were playing basketball, a few more were playing baseball. Some were wandering around aimlessly from group to group and still others were chicken fighting, trying to knock each other down into a puddle. The rest of the students were sitting at the sidelines of the soccer field just having a jolly good time and doing their own thing.
While all this chaos was happening the PE teacher (the drill sergeant man from yesterday) was biking around the track, over and over and over again.
At least they were all having a good time.
Scategories
I played Scategories with my 2nd grade middle schoolers today.
One of the first letters was R. One of the categories was snack. A group listed "rice drink". When I stopped the students said, "it's a traditional Korean drink." So I allowed it.
The next letter was T and one of the categories was colour. Along with 'titanium blue' (which I allowed) one of the teams had chosen 'tree colour'.
When I saw it I asked, "what kind of colour is tree colour?"
Student: "Teacher, it is a Korean tradition colour."
Smartass.
One of the first letters was R. One of the categories was snack. A group listed "rice drink". When I stopped the students said, "it's a traditional Korean drink." So I allowed it.
The next letter was T and one of the categories was colour. Along with 'titanium blue' (which I allowed) one of the teams had chosen 'tree colour'.
When I saw it I asked, "what kind of colour is tree colour?"
Student: "Teacher, it is a Korean tradition colour."
Smartass.
Friends and Spoons
At school I usually eat lunch in the cafeteria. When selecting that just perfect place to sit I usually opt for somewhere as close as I can get to another English teacher/speaker. Today I turned from the lunch line to see my co-teacher sit at the end of the table, with the nurse lady beside her and a PE teacher across from the nurse. I stood for a minute, perplexed. The PE teacher is a little scary, very intimidating, and resembles some sort of military officer...maybe the boot camp kind that yells at people all the time.
Seeing my confusion, he looked at me, glared, whacked table on the spot beside him, and said, "Sit."
I sat.
He said, "My friend", pointing at me.
I nodded.
Later in the afternoon I stole upstairs to the music room for a bit of peace and quiet. It was still lunch time but the students were in their classrooms watching a movie so I figured I wouldn't be disturbed.
I was wrong. A student wandered in, a third grader who is not my student, but seems nice enough. I stopped briefly to chat with him. This was his story:
Me: How are you?
Hwang Gyu: Very bad.
Me: Why?
HG: Head, hurt.
Me: Do you have a headache?
HG: No.
Me: Well what happened?
HG: Teacher, hit. Father.
Me: Your father hit you? Why?
HG: Teacher, father and me, fight. Hit head with spoon. Whack! (claps hands together and makes appropriate noises)
He promptly showed me the spot where he was hit and wandered off again. When I saw him later and asked if he had had lunch he said, " No. Head hurt."
Seeing my confusion, he looked at me, glared, whacked table on the spot beside him, and said, "Sit."
I sat.
He said, "My friend", pointing at me.
I nodded.
Later in the afternoon I stole upstairs to the music room for a bit of peace and quiet. It was still lunch time but the students were in their classrooms watching a movie so I figured I wouldn't be disturbed.
I was wrong. A student wandered in, a third grader who is not my student, but seems nice enough. I stopped briefly to chat with him. This was his story:
Me: How are you?
Hwang Gyu: Very bad.
Me: Why?
HG: Head, hurt.
Me: Do you have a headache?
HG: No.
Me: Well what happened?
HG: Teacher, hit. Father.
Me: Your father hit you? Why?
HG: Teacher, father and me, fight. Hit head with spoon. Whack! (claps hands together and makes appropriate noises)
He promptly showed me the spot where he was hit and wandered off again. When I saw him later and asked if he had had lunch he said, " No. Head hurt."
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Juice Boxes
For lunch today my school served juice boxes as a bit of a treat.
Somehow seeing the principal and vice principal sipping on juice boxes renders them just a little bit less scary....
Somehow seeing the principal and vice principal sipping on juice boxes renders them just a little bit less scary....
Monday, June 27, 2011
Backup
Since the weather has become significantly warmer it has become necessary to have the windows beside my desk open. They only open to the hallway but, with all the windows open, a nice breeze comes through the building.
Unfortunately, more often than not, there are delinquent students sitting outside in the hallway writing lines or sitting with their hands in the air or doing push ups or standing with their hands on their heads...all sorts of fun punishments.
Even more unfortunate is that these delinquent students have discovered that I can't say no when they ask for candy....
Also, today, the exam papers are being sorted and divided and put away into a very unsecure cabinet. Students were forbidden from coming into my office and at least half of the teachers in my school were on the other side of my desk helping out with the sorting.
So, when I student leaned in through the window to ask for candy and didn't leave right away when I said now (because they were stealing it and I had none left) at least 10 teachers yelled at him to 가! or GO!
They probably didn't realise they were helping me, and if they had known they probably wouldn't have done it, but man, these teachers make good backup.
Unfortunately, more often than not, there are delinquent students sitting outside in the hallway writing lines or sitting with their hands in the air or doing push ups or standing with their hands on their heads...all sorts of fun punishments.
Even more unfortunate is that these delinquent students have discovered that I can't say no when they ask for candy....
Also, today, the exam papers are being sorted and divided and put away into a very unsecure cabinet. Students were forbidden from coming into my office and at least half of the teachers in my school were on the other side of my desk helping out with the sorting.
So, when I student leaned in through the window to ask for candy and didn't leave right away when I said now (because they were stealing it and I had none left) at least 10 teachers yelled at him to 가! or GO!
They probably didn't realise they were helping me, and if they had known they probably wouldn't have done it, but man, these teachers make good backup.
Borrowing and Lending
In my position as English Teacher at Jochiwon Boys Middle School I somehow managed to inherit a rather beat up soccer ball. A few weeks ago my students discovered the existence of this ball and gained the courage to ask me for it. At first they would ask by just saying "teacher, ball please" and I would let them go but, the last few days, students have come up to my desk, a little nervous, and tried to say more than 3 words to me (potentially on the command of my CT)....these are some of their attempts:
S:"Teacher, I need your help."
Me (not yet understanding what was happening at this point): Really? With what?
S: "Teacher, we want to play soccer but we don't have a soccer ball. Please lend a ball please."
...
S: "Teacher, I want to play baseball"
Me: "...oh?"
S: "Teacher, I need your soccer ball to play baseball"
...
S: "Excuse me sir, I need your help"
Me: "Ok" (staunchly ignoring the 'sir' part)
S: "I need to play soccer. I need to lend you a ball."
...
S: "Please teacher, can I lend a ball?"
Me (trying, fruitlessly, to help them): "Can I BORROW a ball."
S (already taking the ball and walking away): "Yes, ok teacher. Thank you"
S:"Teacher, I need your help."
Me (not yet understanding what was happening at this point): Really? With what?
S: "Teacher, we want to play soccer but we don't have a soccer ball. Please lend a ball please."
...
S: "Teacher, I want to play baseball"
Me: "...oh?"
S: "Teacher, I need your soccer ball to play baseball"
...
S: "Excuse me sir, I need your help"
Me: "Ok" (staunchly ignoring the 'sir' part)
S: "I need to play soccer. I need to lend you a ball."
...
S: "Please teacher, can I lend a ball?"
Me (trying, fruitlessly, to help them): "Can I BORROW a ball."
S (already taking the ball and walking away): "Yes, ok teacher. Thank you"
A Rich Man's World
One downside about Korea is the lack of higher denominations in bills. They have 1000, 5000, 10,000, and 50,000 won bills but no higher. The 50,000 won bills are only distributed are very specific ATMs and are difficult to get rid of because many stores will refuse to take them...not that I blame them.
At the bank today I withdrew a certain amount of money to pay my bills (give the bill and the money to the bank people and voila! bill paid). Unfortunately my hands were full and...let's face it, I'm a klutz, and I dropped all the money in my hands, including the change in my wallet which also fell, on the floor....
Amazingly, even with 3 people helping me pick up my money, every last cent was returned to me.
Makes me wonder if that would happen if this happened anywhere else....
At the bank today I withdrew a certain amount of money to pay my bills (give the bill and the money to the bank people and voila! bill paid). Unfortunately my hands were full and...let's face it, I'm a klutz, and I dropped all the money in my hands, including the change in my wallet which also fell, on the floor....
Amazingly, even with 3 people helping me pick up my money, every last cent was returned to me.
Makes me wonder if that would happen if this happened anywhere else....
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