Hwashin Middle School

Now for a post all about my job!  After all, this is what brought me to Korea right?  I’m working at Hwashin Middle School—grades 7, 8, and 9.   My school is about a 12 minute walk from my apartment—all depending on if I hit the crosswalks at the right time!  I work 8:30-4:30 Monday-Friday.  I’m only teaching grades 8 and 9 this semester, but I have every single student!  600 students.  Let me explain.

                               Hwashin Middle School

My school has six English teachers aside from me.  I’m considered the Guest English Teacher (GET).  They bring in native English speakers to co-teach with the English staff.  I only meet with each class once a week, which explains why I have time to have so many students.  The kids have English class outside of my class too, though, where they just meet with their Korean English teachers.  We are brought in mainly to help with their conversational skills, but of course every GET’s experience is going to be a little different.

Here’s my situation:  As I already mentioned, we have six other English teachers at my school, which means I have six co-teachers.  On average based on what I've heard, other GET’s have 2-3 co-teachers.  Yes, I’m a bit jealous.  It’s going to take time to get used to working so closely with each of them because they are all expecting different things from me.  They also are all very different from each other, so I’m still learning the best way to just approach each of them.  There have already been situations where that lack of communication I talked about has thrown the whole class off.

We’re supposed to be co-teaching right?  Yes, but not in my case.  This is part of the reason the first couple days were so rough.  They still hadn’t informed me that’s not how it works there.  I teach the whole class and my “co-teacher” is in the room to translate if it’s needed.  On one hand, I was like “what?!?!” Then on the other hand, I’m thinking this may be better, causing less miscommunication to worry about when it comes to planning.  We’ll see how that goes, though.

There is a listening, speaking, reading, and writing section in each chapter of the textbook.  My job is to teach listening one week and then speaking the next with Grade 8 and speaking one week and writing the next with Grade 9.  Simple enough to follow right?  It sure is for me.  For my co-teachers?  You’ll see below what happened in one of the classes.  Each grade is divided into different levels as well; there are high, middle, and low level classes.  I like this because then I can adjust the lessons to best fit their abilities.

How are the students?  They really make my day.  Everywhere I go, I hear “Hi teacher! Hi teacher!" Then a lot of them even bow.  Don’t think I’ll ever get used to that.  They are all pretty good in class as well—nothing too major to worry about at the moment.  A couple of my classes are actually too quiet!  I need more energy from those ones.  It can be quite lonely in the staff office without many people there that speak English or enough English to really talk to me, so I love all of the little visits from my students.

Speaking of the staff office, we have one room where every teacher has a desk.  Not my ideal situation.  I didn’t expect to have my own classroom, but I also didn’t expect this.  The teachers don’t have their own classrooms; they all travel to different rooms throughout the day.  Just like I do.  I’m getting used to the office, but I miss having a quiet space at some point during the day.  Basically the only time I’m ever alone is when I stop by the restroom.  I do have my own desk and computer, though, so I am thankful for my own space there.

                               My space.

I may not sound as excited explaining my job as I had hoped for, but I do believe there’s a reason I’m at this school.  I may not know what it is, but I trust that this is where I'm supposed to be.  Even though there are a lot of factors that are not my ideal situations, I am certainly learning from them and starting to get used to them.  If the kids continue to make me smile and they continue to learn more English, then that’s all that matters.  Week one was rough.  Week two was better.  Week three starts tomorrow!

Cubbies for the staff right inside the doors of the school.  This is where we change our shoes.  We need to wear slippers or shoes that we haven't worn outside before.

The English Cafe.  This is where I have a few of my classes.  Definitely the best classroom.

                                The front of the room.

                                The back of the room.

Miscellaneous!

1.  Number one question from all of my classes:  How tall are you?

2.  Student:  What is your favorite food in America?

     Me:  Hamburgers!  (I just want a hamburger!  I’ve been craving one ever
     since I got here.)

     The whole class:  Gasps all around! With their mouths wide open.

     Co-teacher #4:  Ohhhhh.  They are shocked because their parents don’t let them eat  

     hamburgers.  They are too fatty.  But you are so slim???

3.  The school buildings here are freezing cold!  When I walk through the hallways, my hands start to turn blue.  Some of my co-workers have the cutest coats and they have so many.  They never take them off!  We could re-wear the same clothes and no one would know because we wear our coats so often.

4.  Student:  Your eyes are bery big.  I lobe it!

5.  Co-Teacher #5:  You know we have our class today.  I’m so nervous to be teaching with   
     you.  I’m afraid you will talk too fast for them.

--> Ummm thank you?!  Can you give me a chance first?

6.  All of the staff members eat the school lunch, so I eat the school lunch too.  I really try not to think about the fact that I don’t know what I’m eating half the time…

More about lunch, though.  I don’t like kimchi.  And they eat kimchi with everything here.  Even breakfast.  Kimchi is basically spicy fermented cabbage and other vegetables.  What was the menu last Wednesday you wonder?  One side of kimchi, another side of kimchi, kimchi fried rice, mystery soup, and another side dish (I did enjoy that one at least, even thought I'm not quite sure what to call it!).  Kimchi fried rice?  That came as a surprise to me.  We have white rice every day.  I know I can always count on my white rice!  Wondering if Thursday’s menu was better?  One side of kimchi, kimchi pancakes, and mystery soup.  Not as bad.  I actually didn’t mind the kimchi pancakes.  AND the white rice was back!  I do eat pretty well at lunch.  It was just a kimchi overload two days in a row.  I actually pass on eating the sides of kimchi, though.  I hope they don’t judge me for that.

7.  This past week I taught the listening lesson to the eighth graders.  I had two grade 8 high level classes with this co-teacher on Friday.  The first class was great.  Here’s what happen in the second class once I was started the same lesson:

Co-teacher #5:  They already did the listening part with me.

Me: Oh they did??

Co-teacher #5:  Yes.  Speaking part!  (That was her telling me to just move on to the  

speaking lesson.)

Me:  I just have the listening lesson.

Co-teacher #5:  Oh, you’re not prepared?!

Me:  I am prepared.  This week is listening for all of Grade 8.  Next week is speaking.    

(Remember my easy to follow schedule I mentioned earlier?!)

Then my co-teacher didn’t respond but continued to stare.  So I managed to save the class with some last-minute-thought-of-on-the-spot activities.  Thank goodness it was Friday!

Communication Barriers and Joy from a Simple Hello

As I’m trying to settle in to life here in Korea, I’ve hit some of the obstacles that I expected would come along with speaking another language—everything from trying so hard to understand my co-teacher’s English to searching up and down Lotte Mart for some butter!  Before I get into those stories, let me go back to the day all of us EPIK teachers were “adopted.”

Our last morning at Jeonju University, we all boarded our busses and headed off to the city or province we were placed in.  All of us here in Busan were taken to a middle school where our co-teachers were coming to pick us up.  We all lined the front of the school dressed to impress with our luggage scattered all over the place. We all joked that it was like we were being adopted—standing there with all of our belongings having no idea where we were about to go or what we were getting ourselves into.  Our names were called as our cars arrived. Two guys then ran over to grab our luggage, usher us into the car as quickly as possible, and then we waved to our new friends as we drove away.  It was quite funny, yet sad and nerve-wracking at the same time as we were anxious to finally see what it was we would be doing for the next year.

                                            Waiting to be "adopted!"

                                            Sad to leave my roomie!

Two of my co-teachers came to pick me up.  They took me straight to my apartment and then to Lotte Mart, which is sort of like Wal-Mart but much bigger.  We all get a $300 allowance from our schools when we arrive to buy things that we may need in our apartments.  Our apartments come furnished, but in my case, the kitchen was cleared out.  I didn’t have one plate or one pot or one spoon or anything. After shopping, we had an appointment to get internet set up in my apartment.   The guy was here for an hour but couldn’t do anything until I had a bank account here.  Thankfully all of that was taken care of the next day, along with finally stopping at my school for all of five minutes in the middle of running a bunch of errands with one of my co-teachers.  She has been an incredible help to me, but it’s been very hard for me to understand her English.  It’s almost tiring from concentrating so much while listening to her—barrier number one.  So thankful for her help, though!

My grocery shopping experience brings about barrier number two.  Not only did it take me FOREVER to shop for groceries from not being able to read labels that were all in Korean or wondering how the heck to cook something since I don’t have an oven, but I also could not find butter anywhere!  I searched the store three times for some butter.  I even tried asking two workers for some help.  They just looked confused but continued to speak to me in Korean.  I then motioned that it was okay and said “Gamsahamnida,” meaning thank you.  I was missing that butter tonight when I had bread with my spaghetti.  Who knew wanting to buy some butter would be so difficult. 

I bought so much at the store that there was no way I could carry it all to my apartment.  I somehow managed to take a taxi back.  Taxis are sitting there in front of Lotte Mart, so that was helpful at least!  I just pointed to my address on a piece of paper I had with me.  I made it back and then kicked the box of groceries onto the elevator (the taxi driver at least carried it to the elevator for me!) and I kicked it to my door as I carried a bag full of other groceries and my bag from work.  I was exhausted all from grocery shopping and just not being able to communicate.

Then today I went to my third day of work.  I’m working at Hwashin M.S.  I learned from subbing this year that I really love middle school, so I was very happy about my placement.  I wish that I could fast-forward a month, though, so that I may actually have a clue about what’s going on at work.  I didn’t have any classes on Monday or Tuesday this week.  I thought this would be the time I’d get all the details about my job and meet with my co-teachers.  Nope.  I didn’t get my schedule until Tuesday afternoon (with classes starting today).  This meant that I also didn’t know who all of my co-teachers were.  And in my case, I have six of them.  Holy crap it is going to take time to get into the swing of things with that.  I learned very quickly today that they are all going to expect different things from me, even though I’ll be teaching the same lessons within each grade.  I had to prepare a PowerPoint that I would use today to introduce myself to the students.  One co-teacher needed time in class to give announcements and whatnot, while the next wanted me to fill the entire 45 minutes, which I was not aware of beforehand.  Following that, another co-teacher spoke with her students only in Korean!  This is English class!  And I have no idea what you’re saying in Korean.  Not only are we working with two languages, but I realized very quickly that I’ll be working with a lack of communication—barrier number three.  I was warned about this and about things happening very last minute before I came, but I really just wanted to cry.  I am brand new to this school and to this country.  Do they expect me to walk in and automatically know how everything works there?

Little communication (from simple lack of communication and everyone speaking in Korean, obviously) can also make work lonely.  I need someone to talk to! This is why I love the little visits from my students.  We have one giant staff room at the school where every teacher has a desk.  The students have been coming by to say “Hello” and “Hi teacher” in English. They then start giggling and walk away.  It’s really cute.  Then I had a group of girls come by yesterday and say, “Ooohhh beautiful.  Ooohhh big eyes.  Big eyes.  Ooohhh beautiful.  Where are you from?” “The U.S.,” I replied.  “Ooohhh migook, migook!” Migook means American.  It made me smile.  I think these kids are going to help me get through any frustrations I have at work.  I keep reminding myself that they are why I’m here.  So thankful for their simple hellos that bring a smile to my face right when I need it.

Hi from Korea!

This is the first chance I have had to sit and write on my blog.  I’ve been in Korea for just about two weeks now and haven’t stopped.  There’s so much to share!  Let me rewind to the night before I left.  Remember how calm I was about leaving?  That came to an abrupt stop around midnight as I was still throwing last minute items into my suitcases wherever they happened to fit.  Side note--you all asked me how to pack for a year?  I still don’t know.  It’s impossible!  I became terrified out of nowhere, though, and believe I was so close to a panic attack.  What in the world was I about to do?  The words “I do not want to go anymore” were on the very tip of my tongue, but I knew if I said that out loud my mom wouldn’t know what to do with me.  I mean we were leaving for the airport in just over five hours!  I managed to keep that thought inside.  Instead I sent emergency texts to some friends for some emergency prayers.  I really felt like I couldn’t breathe, but I knew actually leaving home would be the hardest part.  I managed to calm down and I only got about 2 ½ hours of sleep that night.  We were off to the airport around 5:30 a.m.  My dad, mom, brother, sister, and sister-in-law came to the airport, along with our dog joining us on the ride there.  I would not have been able to leave my house if Logan had stayed there—I believe many of you know he is sick.  I just didn’t want to leave my puppy. :( 

                                          With Logan the night before I left!

When I checked in with American Airlines, the worker asked me if everyone was there to say goodbye or to make sure I would actually get on the plane.  “Both!” was my response.  Along with my family, one of my very best friends, Ellie, came to the airport too.  Saying goodbye to everyone was awful.  I was a crying mess and everyone else had tears too.

                                My family!

                                Best friend!

Ellie brought me the best gift I could have been given at the airport.  An envelope full of letters from some family and friends.  Made me cry even more, but this was absolutely perfect.

I knew that once I got to my gate I would meet another EPIKer on my flight.  There were actually three of us on the flight to Chicago.  It was so good to just know I wasn’t alone.  Once we got to our gate at the Chicago airport, there were even more of us there—perfect!  I was doing much better at this point, but I had several moments on the flight to Korea where I was telling myself that it would be okay and I’d just get on another plane and go back home.  I was freaking out.  I mean who just moves to another country for an entire year without having been there before and without anyone you really know?  I guess I do!  So many of you at home told me that I am so brave and have so much courage.  It wasn’t until I was on my way that I realized how brave you need to be to do this.

My flight to Korea was 14 hours long, but it went by much quicker than I expected.  I was able to sleep quite a bit and I watched two movies.  Once we made it to Korea, we checked in with the EPIK desk and then watched as Arnold Schwarzenegger was escorted through the airport!  Then we finally boarded a bus for a three hour ride to Jeonju University where we had orientation.

Orientation was very tiring but was also very good in many ways.  We had a hectic schedule without much down time at all.  The first and last days were a bit different with an opening and closing ceremony and a farewell dinner, but the other days consisted of two lectures in the morning, lunch with very little time to stop back in our dorm rooms, two lectures in the afternoon, dinner and a little break, and then our Survival Korean Lessons class at 7:20 until 8:30.  All the other lectures were 1 ½ hours long and covered topics from Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Classroom Management, Co-Teaching, PowerPoint Use, EPIK Life and Etiquette, Taekwondo, Hidden Wonders of Korea, and so on!  The majority of the lecturers made it very interesting and entertaining, so I was thankful for that!  The days were long and jet lag was not helping, so our Survival Korean Lessons class in the evenings did not do much for me.  I was exhausted.  I can say Hello, Nice to meet you, My name is Kelsy, I am an American, and Thank you.  That’s about it, but I guess that’s a good start.  I really need to work on reading Hangul.  My goal was to learn that before I left home, but that definitely didn’t happen.

                                Roommates during orientation!

                                Typical lecture.

                                Lesson planning for our group lesson demonstration.

                                Taekwondo time!

                                Wearing a Hanbok during the Hidden Wonders of Korea lecture!

Aside from the lectures, we did have one day where we went to a traditional Korean village in Jeonju, Hanok Village.  We walked around and looked at the shops, walked through the Gyeonggi Shrine, learned some traditional Korean dances, made a Korean pencil case, and learned the proper way to have tea with company.   It was a good day and very cool to experience part of Korean culture.

                                Loved this!

                                Orientation Class 3!

                                Traditional dance time.

                                Making our pencil cases.

I am now in Busan and settling into my apartment.  Can't wait to really have some down time.  Stay tuned for a post about my new neighborhood, apartment, and school.  Work starts on Monday!