Today I had a lesson with some of my younger students about opposites. We were writing sentences with words that had inverse meanings, like black and white, hot and cold, etc.
One of my students, Mike, is such a sweet little kid. He's very studious and always wants to get the right answer and find the correct way of doing things. He's extremely well-behaved and just an all-around awesome kid.
During our lesson today, Mike was trying to figure out what to write for the words "young" and "old". He said, "Erika, you are old and I am young." Then he got a big smile on his face and started laughing. I started laughing too and said, "Hey! But, yeah, you are right, that would work for a sentence."
Then after class he was the last one to leave the classroom, he turned to me, smiled and said, "Erika, you are not old." And then he continued walking out the door.
Aaawww! These kids are awesome sometimes.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
"Shush!!"
I have a middle school class every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The class has 3 boys and 3 girls. The girls are sweet, shy, quiet and smart. The boys are loud, uninterested, funny and incredibly annoying.
There is one student in particular, Jerry, who is always getting in trouble for talking in class. I know that sounds crazy being an English class and all, but he's rarely on task and almost never talking about the subject the rest of us are discussing. I'm constantly saying, "Jerry, be quiet." "Jerry, shuuussh!" "Jerry, seriously, shut up." Yes, I've told my students to shut up. You can't do that in the States. At least not that I remember.
Today my students were asking me what kind of job I had before I came to Korea. I told them I used to be a journalist. They said, "Oh, like a reporter?"
"Yes," I replied. "Like a reporter."
Then they asked me if I'd ever written a book. I told them I hadn't yet, but I wanted to someday.
Jerry then pipes up: "I think your best seller is called 'Shush.'
I think he's on to something...
There is one student in particular, Jerry, who is always getting in trouble for talking in class. I know that sounds crazy being an English class and all, but he's rarely on task and almost never talking about the subject the rest of us are discussing. I'm constantly saying, "Jerry, be quiet." "Jerry, shuuussh!" "Jerry, seriously, shut up." Yes, I've told my students to shut up. You can't do that in the States. At least not that I remember.
Today my students were asking me what kind of job I had before I came to Korea. I told them I used to be a journalist. They said, "Oh, like a reporter?"
"Yes," I replied. "Like a reporter."
Then they asked me if I'd ever written a book. I told them I hadn't yet, but I wanted to someday.
Jerry then pipes up: "I think your best seller is called 'Shush.'
I think he's on to something...
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Rules of Korea
This was posted to my Facebook account by one of my friends in Dangjin. He's getting ready to go home after a year in South Korea. It's all frighteningly true.
Things foreigners should have been told on arrival:
1) Despite popular belief... you are NOT handsome.
2) Kimchi will cure cancer.
3) Don't climb a mountain unless you check the current fashion trends.
4) Kimchi will cure AIDS.
5) Old women do have super powers, the older, the more powerful.
6) Ice cream will solve any dispute, even in the middle of winter.
7) He can understand you, but he is just seeing how many ways you can say the correct word.
8) Taxi drivers do promote whiplash and inconsistent pedal pushing.
9) Don't ask what it is till you have eaten half of it.
10) Watching TV while driving is much safer than driving and speaking on a cellphone.
11) Your body hair is fascinating.
12) No they don't sweat, its just you.
13) "Boobi Boobi" is allowed in clubs, just don't touch boobi while doing it.
14) Its fine to talk in the subway, just don't smile.
15) Your jeans will never be tight enough.
Things foreigners should have been told on arrival:
1) Despite popular belief... you are NOT handsome.
2) Kimchi will cure cancer.
3) Don't climb a mountain unless you check the current fashion trends.
4) Kimchi will cure AIDS.
5) Old women do have super powers, the older, the more powerful.
6) Ice cream will solve any dispute, even in the middle of winter.
7) He can understand you, but he is just seeing how many ways you can say the correct word.
8) Taxi drivers do promote whiplash and inconsistent pedal pushing.
9) Don't ask what it is till you have eaten half of it.
10) Watching TV while driving is much safer than driving and speaking on a cellphone.
11) Your body hair is fascinating.
12) No they don't sweat, its just you.
13) "Boobi Boobi" is allowed in clubs, just don't touch boobi while doing it.
14) Its fine to talk in the subway, just don't smile.
15) Your jeans will never be tight enough.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Ugg
Partying until 7 a.m. is never a good idea, no matter how old or young you think you are. I thought I was passed that crap. Uggg.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Canine Consumption
Talking about eating dog has become a topic of frequent conversation lately between my students and myself.
It starts off innocently enough. We begin talking about food and I ask the students what they're favorite kind of food is and we discuss differences between Korean and American food.
A 16-year-old student in one of my advanced classes started talking about food and somehow veered toward the subject of eating dog.
"Absolutely not!" I retorted. "I will never eat dog! That's the one thing I won't try."
"You should, it's delicious," she said in a sinister half-whisper as the corners of her mouth turned upward in a little smile.
I just sat there blinking at her. Did I just see her smile when she said dog was delicious?! I whipped out my camera and showed her a picture of my black lab, Bohdi.
"I can't eat that!" I exclaimed. And we both started laughing. "He's so cute, he's my baby!"
Then just the other night, during my middle school class, I was asking my students what was in bulgogi and one of them piped up saying that it was made of dog.
I said, "What?!" eyes wide and terrified. I've eaten bulgogi and was under the impression it was beef. If I had inadvertently eaten dog I would have cried and likely vomited.
Luckily one of the other students said bulgogi wasn't dog, it was beef. But, she said, dog is very healthy and much more tender. Then all the students went on and on and on about how delicious dog is.
I told them I'm willing to try anything, but I refuse to try dog. I absolutely won't eat a dog.
"I have a dog," I said.
Then they asked what kind of dog he was and if I had him here with me. I told them my dog was safe at home with my parents in the U.S.
One of the students asked, "Your dog is with your parents?"
"Yes," I answered.
"Will your parents eat your dog?" he asked with a serious face.
I laughed.
"Umm, no. My parents most definitely will not be eating my dog."
I'll try anything twice. Except bacon martinis, that I will only do once! And dog -- I will never, ever, EVER eat dog.
It starts off innocently enough. We begin talking about food and I ask the students what they're favorite kind of food is and we discuss differences between Korean and American food.
A 16-year-old student in one of my advanced classes started talking about food and somehow veered toward the subject of eating dog.
"Absolutely not!" I retorted. "I will never eat dog! That's the one thing I won't try."
"You should, it's delicious," she said in a sinister half-whisper as the corners of her mouth turned upward in a little smile.
I just sat there blinking at her. Did I just see her smile when she said dog was delicious?! I whipped out my camera and showed her a picture of my black lab, Bohdi.
"I can't eat that!" I exclaimed. And we both started laughing. "He's so cute, he's my baby!"
Then just the other night, during my middle school class, I was asking my students what was in bulgogi and one of them piped up saying that it was made of dog.
I said, "What?!" eyes wide and terrified. I've eaten bulgogi and was under the impression it was beef. If I had inadvertently eaten dog I would have cried and likely vomited.
Luckily one of the other students said bulgogi wasn't dog, it was beef. But, she said, dog is very healthy and much more tender. Then all the students went on and on and on about how delicious dog is.
I told them I'm willing to try anything, but I refuse to try dog. I absolutely won't eat a dog.
"I have a dog," I said.
Then they asked what kind of dog he was and if I had him here with me. I told them my dog was safe at home with my parents in the U.S.
One of the students asked, "Your dog is with your parents?"
"Yes," I answered.
"Will your parents eat your dog?" he asked with a serious face.
I laughed.
"Umm, no. My parents most definitely will not be eating my dog."
I'll try anything twice. Except bacon martinis, that I will only do once! And dog -- I will never, ever, EVER eat dog.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Lessons in Cultural Differences, Chapter 4,398
Agnes asked me to meet with her yesterday at noon because she had to talk with me.
The meeting started off boringly enough, she was discussing the next month's lesson. We're starting a new book next month, books from which I must teach all the kids and books which Agnes hasn't ordered me yet. She said she won't be ordering the books for me until Monday. I'm supposed to start teaching the lesson on Monday -- bookless it seems. Which is right up to par for Agnes. At least she's consistent in that respect.
Then she got on the subject of what I do in my free time and who I'm friends with. The night before, my Korean friend, Skanky, had dropped something off for me at Talking Club. It was about 10 p.m. and I was sending some emails. Skanky actually chose that name for himself. I can't actually remember his Korean name. He chose "Skanky" because, well, he is. He gets around. Skanky owns a private music academy in Dangjin.
Anyway, he and I were talking in the Talking Club front room and Agnes comes walking in to Talking Club. She was at a funeral earlier that night, but apparently the funeral was over. Skanky and Agnes knew each other and I knew that. A couple weeks ago, I was out having drinks with Skanky and my friend, Bennie, and I was discussing Agnes. Skanky said he knew her and she was quite a pain in the ass.
Ya don't say?
So last night, the three of us (Skanky, Agnes and I) are standing in the front room of Talking Club, Agnes and Skanky are speaking rapid-fire Korean and I'm just standing there feeling the tension and feeling quite awkward.
After Skanky left, I asked Agnes is she knew him. And she fires back. "Yes! I know him!" She's clearly very pissed off. Then she leaves.
Fast forward to yesterday and she said I can do whatever I want during my free time and be friends with whomever I want (gee, thanks). Then she brings up drug use and I'm like, "What the?" I told her, "I can assure you I'm not taking drugs." But what the hell does that have to do with anything? And she said, "Oh I know that, I know." She then said that it was unacceptable to have a man alone with me at Talking Club while we were unsupervised. I literally had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. She said she was worried what people would think of her and her business if they saw a man going into Talking Club at night, after hours.
That did not even occur to me. She said she was also concerned that he would look around and see how the school was run. Right, like she has "trade secrets." He owns a music academy and she poorly runs an English academy. I don't see how that's related.
I laughed, told her obviously our cultures are vastly different and explained to her that he was just dropping something off for me and that was it. She asked if next time I need a male friend to come to Talking Club for any reason and it's at night or I'm alone, if he could just stay outside the building or she would need to be there. Otherwise, I would need to give her my key to Talking Club. You bet, Agnes.
It didn't make me mad, it just made me laugh. It has been SUCH a learning experience living in South Korea.
The meeting started off boringly enough, she was discussing the next month's lesson. We're starting a new book next month, books from which I must teach all the kids and books which Agnes hasn't ordered me yet. She said she won't be ordering the books for me until Monday. I'm supposed to start teaching the lesson on Monday -- bookless it seems. Which is right up to par for Agnes. At least she's consistent in that respect.
Then she got on the subject of what I do in my free time and who I'm friends with. The night before, my Korean friend, Skanky, had dropped something off for me at Talking Club. It was about 10 p.m. and I was sending some emails. Skanky actually chose that name for himself. I can't actually remember his Korean name. He chose "Skanky" because, well, he is. He gets around. Skanky owns a private music academy in Dangjin.
Anyway, he and I were talking in the Talking Club front room and Agnes comes walking in to Talking Club. She was at a funeral earlier that night, but apparently the funeral was over. Skanky and Agnes knew each other and I knew that. A couple weeks ago, I was out having drinks with Skanky and my friend, Bennie, and I was discussing Agnes. Skanky said he knew her and she was quite a pain in the ass.
Ya don't say?
So last night, the three of us (Skanky, Agnes and I) are standing in the front room of Talking Club, Agnes and Skanky are speaking rapid-fire Korean and I'm just standing there feeling the tension and feeling quite awkward.
After Skanky left, I asked Agnes is she knew him. And she fires back. "Yes! I know him!" She's clearly very pissed off. Then she leaves.
Fast forward to yesterday and she said I can do whatever I want during my free time and be friends with whomever I want (gee, thanks). Then she brings up drug use and I'm like, "What the?" I told her, "I can assure you I'm not taking drugs." But what the hell does that have to do with anything? And she said, "Oh I know that, I know." She then said that it was unacceptable to have a man alone with me at Talking Club while we were unsupervised. I literally had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. She said she was worried what people would think of her and her business if they saw a man going into Talking Club at night, after hours.
That did not even occur to me. She said she was also concerned that he would look around and see how the school was run. Right, like she has "trade secrets." He owns a music academy and she poorly runs an English academy. I don't see how that's related.
I laughed, told her obviously our cultures are vastly different and explained to her that he was just dropping something off for me and that was it. She asked if next time I need a male friend to come to Talking Club for any reason and it's at night or I'm alone, if he could just stay outside the building or she would need to be there. Otherwise, I would need to give her my key to Talking Club. You bet, Agnes.
It didn't make me mad, it just made me laugh. It has been SUCH a learning experience living in South Korea.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Stepford-ville
I really love one of my adult students, Misoo. She is 45 years old and married to a German man. She's originally from Korea, but has lived and traveled all over the world. She speaks her mind, which is very rare for a Korean, and constantly asks me questions about my experiences in the U.S. and in Korea.
When she's in class, we almost never open the book we're supposed to be studying from. She and I usually just end up chatting. Tonight we had a very long discussion about the culture of Korean education. The class also has two other students, both female high school students. The girls are usually mute during class, even though they speak near-perfect English, but for the last couple weeks they've been offering more and more opinions about things.
Korean students are frequently in school for more than 12 hours a day. They must wear uniforms and they must choose from only two variations of only two hairstyles. They can either have long, non-layered, shoulder-length hair with bangs; long, non-layered, shoulder-length hair without bangs; bobbed, non-layered hair with bangs; or bobbed, non-layered hair without bangs. Make-up is not allowed. No variations of the school uniform colors are allowed. Everyone looks exactly the same. The girls said it was because the school administrators think a homogenous look helps students focus on studies more.
Misoo said there are certain looks throughout the different ages, as well. Once a woman graduates from school and hits her 20s, there is a certain hairstyle. Once she hits her 30s, another hairstyle is chosen that all the other women in their 30s also have and this continues throughout the increasing decades.
The conversation that started it all was Misoo discussing the tendency for Koreans to never have ideas of their own. She explained that when a popular person in a school setting decides they don't like someone, then the popular person will tell everyone else not to like that person until the entire school hates this one person because the popular person told them to. Eventually it leads to the suicide of the one hated person. The high school girls in my class agreed this is very common. Misoo went on to inform me that this idea carries over to adult life, as well. There are phenomenally high rates of suicide and alcoholism in Korea.
Koreans, Misoo explained, are very dependent people very early on in their lives so they become very easily swayed and malleable. Disagreeing with the pack is just not done. One is not allowed to have a differing opinion and if they do they keep their mouth shut. Korean people are deathly afraid of being lonely, so rather than risking being lonely, they will go along with whatever everybody else is saying or doing.
Appearances and everyone else's opinions are very important in the Korean culture. Misoo explained that she was actually very jealous of the Western culture, because we just don't care about anybody else, as she put it. Korean culture is very concerned about "the way things have always been done" and about tradition. Personalities and true selves are quashed very early on. Misoo said that she feels bitter for the way Korean culture has made the people and she must watch herself when she's in public because one must act in the Korean way at all times. She explained that she was upset because she feels that her lack of creativity was a result of the society she was raised in.
She's traveled extensively and lived abroad and now knows the world is a vast place full of opportunity and vitality. She fears for the girls growing up in Korea.
When she's in class, we almost never open the book we're supposed to be studying from. She and I usually just end up chatting. Tonight we had a very long discussion about the culture of Korean education. The class also has two other students, both female high school students. The girls are usually mute during class, even though they speak near-perfect English, but for the last couple weeks they've been offering more and more opinions about things.
Korean students are frequently in school for more than 12 hours a day. They must wear uniforms and they must choose from only two variations of only two hairstyles. They can either have long, non-layered, shoulder-length hair with bangs; long, non-layered, shoulder-length hair without bangs; bobbed, non-layered hair with bangs; or bobbed, non-layered hair without bangs. Make-up is not allowed. No variations of the school uniform colors are allowed. Everyone looks exactly the same. The girls said it was because the school administrators think a homogenous look helps students focus on studies more.
Misoo said there are certain looks throughout the different ages, as well. Once a woman graduates from school and hits her 20s, there is a certain hairstyle. Once she hits her 30s, another hairstyle is chosen that all the other women in their 30s also have and this continues throughout the increasing decades.
The conversation that started it all was Misoo discussing the tendency for Koreans to never have ideas of their own. She explained that when a popular person in a school setting decides they don't like someone, then the popular person will tell everyone else not to like that person until the entire school hates this one person because the popular person told them to. Eventually it leads to the suicide of the one hated person. The high school girls in my class agreed this is very common. Misoo went on to inform me that this idea carries over to adult life, as well. There are phenomenally high rates of suicide and alcoholism in Korea.
Koreans, Misoo explained, are very dependent people very early on in their lives so they become very easily swayed and malleable. Disagreeing with the pack is just not done. One is not allowed to have a differing opinion and if they do they keep their mouth shut. Korean people are deathly afraid of being lonely, so rather than risking being lonely, they will go along with whatever everybody else is saying or doing.
Appearances and everyone else's opinions are very important in the Korean culture. Misoo explained that she was actually very jealous of the Western culture, because we just don't care about anybody else, as she put it. Korean culture is very concerned about "the way things have always been done" and about tradition. Personalities and true selves are quashed very early on. Misoo said that she feels bitter for the way Korean culture has made the people and she must watch herself when she's in public because one must act in the Korean way at all times. She explained that she was upset because she feels that her lack of creativity was a result of the society she was raised in.
She's traveled extensively and lived abroad and now knows the world is a vast place full of opportunity and vitality. She fears for the girls growing up in Korea.
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