Working in the public schools (EPIK) versus the hagwons (private language schools), the major difference is that we have to have co-teachers. It's illegal for us to teach in a classroom on our own, so we must have a Korean certified teacher. It can be a great and helpful thing or a terrible thing. Some get 1, some get 15; some get passive ones, some get aggressive ones. Number 1 thing we learned at orientation: your co-teachers will make or break your year.
In terms of showing respect, age is a very very big deal--it's very common to ask how old someone is upon meeting them. Knowing this, and the fact that most of my peers at orientation were college grads or mid-twenty-somethings (though of course, there were older folks too), being 31 I asked, "what if we are older than our co-teacher?"
This is coming from a place where I'm empathetic with their plight--foreign teacher, probably gets paid just as much, for much much less work (some teachers have to stay at school until 11pm). Add me and my needs into the mix, and I'd be a little annoyed, too. Have me be older than her too? Ugh...I didn't want it; and, with Koreans graduating a bit younger than westerners, fresh teachers were absolutely a possibility.
"Obviously, you won't have to worry about that, really," he said, more than slightly dismissive and moved on to the next question.
A few days later at our lunch meet-n-greet, I met my main co-teacher, JinSook Yang--she is one of 5. As with everything in Korea, she's cute--soft spoken, nice, helpful, and easy going. After 5 minutes of "what we should do today" stuff, she politely commented, "We were born in the same year. Actually, your birthday is before mine, a couple months." We both smiled and proceeded eating through the awkwardness.
Twenty-seven hours into our relationship--met the English department, the principal, my office and classroom, house fully stocked with gas, water and goodies from E-mart, internet--she's still smiling. My to-do list was a mile long, all of which of course needed communicative help, but I did (and still doing) my part to not overwhelm her. I would only tell her 2 things at a time, and they always came with a disclaimer, "Just point me in the right direction, and I'll try. I don't want you to go out of your way, just tell me what to do."
Sitting for a few moments, "Thank you. I really appreciate that." The next day she helped me get my medical exam and ARC card. The next, a gym membership. My address in English, next (which was tricky knowing where to actually send the package on campus). Then, she sent an email confronting the other co-teachers about classroom management (esp for the boys' teachers). Yesterday, she helped me with alphabet on my Korean homework. Tomorrow, online banking. AND, she gives me oranges. Everyday.
I covered the phrase "to go out of one's way" in class this week.
SCORE: Hagwon-0 vs EPIK-10
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Come On Over
The housing situation for English teachers can range, but this we are promised at EPIK (Hagwon is similar arrangement)--single (or married) housing, furnished with bed, desk, and dresser, laundry, all within walking distance of our schools.
I teach at CNU's High School, so I was given campus housing. My building has at least a dozen foreign professors, and University Language Center teachers. I got lucky. We're promised single housing, so I got a double housing set up for just me.
While during the application process, we listed our top 5 destination cities, and chose preferences for rural or urban. Many people are far from their ideal.
EPIK also distinguished between Seoul applicants and everywhere else. I wanted less of that big city, super intense, experience--I wanted Busan (water and weather), but I think everyone else does too; and it's first come first serve. My reluctance with the initial "what if" questions held me back. I didn't get Busan, but I got exactly what I needed--something like Chicago's "everything a big city has to offer, with more of a neighborhood vibe."
This is the bathroom that almost ended me in the shower last night. I noticed one of the tiles popping out, and of course, I had to push on in, resulting in an onslaught of tiles falling to the ceramic floor and shattering at my feet. I had a full on nightmare that I was going to have to run across the hall, or drag myself, all soaked. "Hi neighbor, nice to meet you for the very first time. You think you could call an ambulance?" Maintenance is coming tomorrow.
My favorite part is that I have an office. I get to come in, take my coat off, open the window, and read, write, and work, while looking a a wall full of people, who mean the world to me. The cards, the posters, the finger-puppets, the baby-unicorn book with all the inscriptions I got when I left...well, they reminds me how lucky I am.
And...the view. You can see the mountains clearer usually...
And this is it kids, we are in the future. And it's ridiculous; I have to not only put in a 4-digit code, but also, my finger print. Bam.
I teach at CNU's High School, so I was given campus housing. My building has at least a dozen foreign professors, and University Language Center teachers. I got lucky. We're promised single housing, so I got a double housing set up for just me.
While during the application process, we listed our top 5 destination cities, and chose preferences for rural or urban. Many people are far from their ideal.
EPIK also distinguished between Seoul applicants and everywhere else. I wanted less of that big city, super intense, experience--I wanted Busan (water and weather), but I think everyone else does too; and it's first come first serve. My reluctance with the initial "what if" questions held me back. I didn't get Busan, but I got exactly what I needed--something like Chicago's "everything a big city has to offer, with more of a neighborhood vibe."
This is the bathroom that almost ended me in the shower last night. I noticed one of the tiles popping out, and of course, I had to push on in, resulting in an onslaught of tiles falling to the ceramic floor and shattering at my feet. I had a full on nightmare that I was going to have to run across the hall, or drag myself, all soaked. "Hi neighbor, nice to meet you for the very first time. You think you could call an ambulance?" Maintenance is coming tomorrow.
My favorite part is that I have an office. I get to come in, take my coat off, open the window, and read, write, and work, while looking a a wall full of people, who mean the world to me. The cards, the posters, the finger-puppets, the baby-unicorn book with all the inscriptions I got when I left...well, they reminds me how lucky I am.
And...the view. You can see the mountains clearer usually...
And this is it kids, we are in the future. And it's ridiculous; I have to not only put in a 4-digit code, but also, my finger print. Bam.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Pictures and The Pixies
I live on Chonnam National University's campus. It's one of 3 major universities in the City, so it has a lot of conveniences and is very lively! I'm surrounded immediately by scenery and other familiar sounds and sights of academia, so I feel very comforted by that. And safe.
Running is great because it's a little hilly, pushing the glutes a little harder. Hee Hee.
I love seeing the mountains. They're not huge, but still beautiful. I was surprised to find out how mountainous South Korea is.
It's fun to walk by the fields--people are constantly on the fields, walking the track, shooting hoops...
or playing tennis--even when I'm walking home at midnight...
There's a sweet little pond next to the museum:
...and sometimes I catch a couple older gentlemen playing guitar and singing quietly. It's a fantastically quiet place surrounded by really intense energy and light and sound. Kind of like my new Shire.
I've never win on things like lotto tickets (truly, my mom considers herself an eternal optimist for continuing to put them in my stocking, each Christmas). In this case, I definitely feel like I won something.
Running is great because it's a little hilly, pushing the glutes a little harder. Hee Hee.
I love seeing the mountains. They're not huge, but still beautiful. I was surprised to find out how mountainous South Korea is.
It's fun to walk by the fields--people are constantly on the fields, walking the track, shooting hoops...
or playing tennis--even when I'm walking home at midnight...
There's a sweet little pond next to the museum:
...and sometimes I catch a couple older gentlemen playing guitar and singing quietly. It's a fantastically quiet place surrounded by really intense energy and light and sound. Kind of like my new Shire.
I've never win on things like lotto tickets (truly, my mom considers herself an eternal optimist for continuing to put them in my stocking, each Christmas). In this case, I definitely feel like I won something.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Chopsticks and Spoons
In terms of fitting in, having spent 5 weeks in China, one thing I thought I was totally covered with was my use of chopsticks. I will be fine without forks, I'd laugh.
When I got to my first lunch (rice, fried chicken patty, kimchi, soup, and strawberries) because it included soup, of course I grabbed what was offered for utensils--chopsticks and a spoon. The next day, same thing. And the next (even when I went to E-mart to finally buy household things, the cheap packs were for 2 sets of chopsticks and 2 spoons, the expensive pack held 1 knife, 1, spoon, and 1 fork). But, soup or no soup, spoons were included. No one who tries to fit in does something uncommon, so I would take one and leave it unused. It just seemed like the odd guy out.
Finally, yesterday several teachers were eating around me began commenting to Jin-sook (main co-T). Used to this, I wait for them to stop and watched for her 1 of 2 faces: the quizzical(they have a question)look, or her extra large smile (they've paid me a nice compliment). "They say, you use chopsticks, ah veddy good. Better than us," she says smiling.
As I watched, it became clear that the chopsticks were mostly like a (well-mannered) person in the US would use a knife to aid the fork--they pushed things onto the spoon.
So, I either look like a poor-mannered migook, or the spinster who's eaten too much Chinese take-out. Of course, no one showed a snazzy prezi on that.
When I got to my first lunch (rice, fried chicken patty, kimchi, soup, and strawberries) because it included soup, of course I grabbed what was offered for utensils--chopsticks and a spoon. The next day, same thing. And the next (even when I went to E-mart to finally buy household things, the cheap packs were for 2 sets of chopsticks and 2 spoons, the expensive pack held 1 knife, 1, spoon, and 1 fork). But, soup or no soup, spoons were included. No one who tries to fit in does something uncommon, so I would take one and leave it unused. It just seemed like the odd guy out.
Finally, yesterday several teachers were eating around me began commenting to Jin-sook (main co-T). Used to this, I wait for them to stop and watched for her 1 of 2 faces: the quizzical(they have a question)look, or her extra large smile (they've paid me a nice compliment). "They say, you use chopsticks, ah veddy good. Better than us," she says smiling.
As I watched, it became clear that the chopsticks were mostly like a (well-mannered) person in the US would use a knife to aid the fork--they pushed things onto the spoon.
So, I either look like a poor-mannered migook, or the spinster who's eaten too much Chinese take-out. Of course, no one showed a snazzy prezi on that.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Ahhh, Lunch
I'm allowed to leave campus for lunch--some walk around--but, because I've become partial to staying in my classroom instead of the office on my off hours, I've decided I would commit to eating lunch with the teachers everyday, even though my apt is 5 minutes away and I mostly feel like I'm their new science experiment.
I figure it's likely I'll either get skinny because I like my kimchi warm, not cold, or I'll get fat (gained 12lbs in 5 weeks in China) from eating rice to overcompensate for cold kimchi. Either way, I think it's respectful (even though, I'm sure at some times, my co-teacher will like to NOT have to make conversation) and at least I can try to bond a little with these fellow teachers, because ultimately, We're all intimidated by each other. That is obvious.
The cafeteria feels a little bit like when I was eating in my old elementary school when I was substitute teaching--familiar, but unfamiliar; the boys on one side, girls on the other, and teachers in a corner and everyone has their "usual" people they eat with. Also, every table has at least a few minutes of conversation at my expense, though to their credit, always take turns smiling and nodding. I smile back, but I'm thinking, Yep, I'm the new, foreign girl who looks a bit like I should know what to say, but you're puzzled because you couldn't understand a word I said in the meeting when they introduced me yesterday. Except "an nyoung hae sayo", of course. Because I practice that 50 times a day, so it's got verve. And I said "ne hao" when the Chinese teacher introduced himself, but couldn't remember "thank you". Yep, that's me, the migook.
I "usually" eat with 2 of my co-teachers (also English teachers) and the Ethics teacher (raise your hand if Ethics was taught in your HS, what?). Because we all share an office. Ethics-T is pretty quiet and doesn't speak any English (9 days, no words), so usually after class, I wait for the others to walk down through the sea of orange blazers and into the cafeteria. But suddenly, yesterday he got up from his desk, very smiley and animated, and waved toward the lunch room. Having just come from a "SURPRISE-you-have-a-class-right-now-SORRY" hour of 1st grade (HS) boys, I admit, I was startled. "Ok, sure...??"
The language barrier on this walk up 1 flight of stairs, around a corner, and through to another wing of the school, isn't so much uncomfortable as it is humorous--2 adults, no articulation; both on the verge of laughing (this is not totally unlike the 3 week fling in Spain where we both spoke like 1st graders to one another. you know how mid-twenty-somethings hate inarticulate). I was thinking, there has to be something...
"I'm REALLY hungry," I say patting my stomach.
"ME aaah too." Communication badge, EARNED! Turns out, Ethics-T's wife is an English teacher and she told him this is a perfect opportunity to learn English.
I always leave the office saying, "Have a good day." Today he said, "Thank you beddy much."
Fongie loves it.
I figure it's likely I'll either get skinny because I like my kimchi warm, not cold, or I'll get fat (gained 12lbs in 5 weeks in China) from eating rice to overcompensate for cold kimchi. Either way, I think it's respectful (even though, I'm sure at some times, my co-teacher will like to NOT have to make conversation) and at least I can try to bond a little with these fellow teachers, because ultimately, We're all intimidated by each other. That is obvious.
The cafeteria feels a little bit like when I was eating in my old elementary school when I was substitute teaching--familiar, but unfamiliar; the boys on one side, girls on the other, and teachers in a corner and everyone has their "usual" people they eat with. Also, every table has at least a few minutes of conversation at my expense, though to their credit, always take turns smiling and nodding. I smile back, but I'm thinking, Yep, I'm the new, foreign girl who looks a bit like I should know what to say, but you're puzzled because you couldn't understand a word I said in the meeting when they introduced me yesterday. Except "an nyoung hae sayo", of course. Because I practice that 50 times a day, so it's got verve. And I said "ne hao" when the Chinese teacher introduced himself, but couldn't remember "thank you". Yep, that's me, the migook.
I "usually" eat with 2 of my co-teachers (also English teachers) and the Ethics teacher (raise your hand if Ethics was taught in your HS, what?). Because we all share an office. Ethics-T is pretty quiet and doesn't speak any English (9 days, no words), so usually after class, I wait for the others to walk down through the sea of orange blazers and into the cafeteria. But suddenly, yesterday he got up from his desk, very smiley and animated, and waved toward the lunch room. Having just come from a "SURPRISE-you-have-a-class-right-now-SORRY" hour of 1st grade (HS) boys, I admit, I was startled. "Ok, sure...??"
The language barrier on this walk up 1 flight of stairs, around a corner, and through to another wing of the school, isn't so much uncomfortable as it is humorous--2 adults, no articulation; both on the verge of laughing (this is not totally unlike the 3 week fling in Spain where we both spoke like 1st graders to one another. you know how mid-twenty-somethings hate inarticulate). I was thinking, there has to be something...
"I'm REALLY hungry," I say patting my stomach.
"ME aaah too." Communication badge, EARNED! Turns out, Ethics-T's wife is an English teacher and she told him this is a perfect opportunity to learn English.
I always leave the office saying, "Have a good day." Today he said, "Thank you beddy much."
Fongie loves it.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Decisions.
So, this weekend a bunch of us gathered and traded stories of our first weeks at school. One guy hadn't even taught yet; he's going to have 12 students max, per class, 1 co-teacher, and endless resources. Another played sports all day. Another sat in the back of the room while their co-teacher took on the dictator role.
I was thrown in. Day 1, class one, "No no, I don't need to say nothing. You do what you think," said one of my 5 co-teachers sweetly. 4 classes on day 1: 3 of boys, 1 of girls. I called it Introduction Day--I show them images of Chicago, my life, my family, etc.; then, I have each of them go around the room (so I can see how well each can speak, so I can plan accordingly), saying 3 things:
1. My name is...
2. I am in second (this designates 2nd grade, high school) grade.
3. I like...(football, k-pop, dancing, computers, etc.).
This is a great exercise for the entire day, until I forget I'm dealing with puberty, hormones, and that teenage-male-need to humor his peers.
"My name isa Park Hiyeun Moon. I am insa secondeh gradeh. And, I like...a aYOU."
Does the class start laughing uncontrollably? Of course. Am I afraid to look at my co-teacher for fear she is forever going to think I can't handle my class? Yes. But I do anyway; we lock eyes for a minute, then suddenly, we are laughing out loud too.
"Well, thank you. Very nice to meet you too."
I was thrown in. Day 1, class one, "No no, I don't need to say nothing. You do what you think," said one of my 5 co-teachers sweetly. 4 classes on day 1: 3 of boys, 1 of girls. I called it Introduction Day--I show them images of Chicago, my life, my family, etc.; then, I have each of them go around the room (so I can see how well each can speak, so I can plan accordingly), saying 3 things:
1. My name is...
2. I am in second (this designates 2nd grade, high school) grade.
3. I like...(football, k-pop, dancing, computers, etc.).
This is a great exercise for the entire day, until I forget I'm dealing with puberty, hormones, and that teenage-male-need to humor his peers.
"My name isa Park Hiyeun Moon. I am insa secondeh gradeh. And, I like...a aYOU."
Does the class start laughing uncontrollably? Of course. Am I afraid to look at my co-teacher for fear she is forever going to think I can't handle my class? Yes. But I do anyway; we lock eyes for a minute, then suddenly, we are laughing out loud too.
"Well, thank you. Very nice to meet you too."
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Sal Sal Hae Yo
Orientation lasted a little over a week. A few hundred foreigners from South Africa, US, Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, and New Zealand gathered at a very intense, but very organized and beneficial orientation at the Jeonju University Campus, in Jeonju, a few hours southwest from Seoul (raise your hand if you think there are two categories in SK: Seoul, and everything else). We were organized into about a dozen different classes, determined by the region we were place into. This is CLASS 5--so we have all been placed within a couple hours of one another.
A few of us were lucky enough to be placed in the same city, which makes moving to a country where you know little to none, of the language (you'd be surprised to feel what it is like to be totally illiterate while trying to read street signs and shop), so much easier...being scared together is more exciting, so frustration doesn't so much get the best of you.
Many of us have stayed in touch from the orientation. We have all been placed in a wide range of accommodations and teaching situations, and are having a great time sharing stories. I have a feeling it's going to be a really great year of hosting each other's visits. So far, that has been the most amazing part--becoming a part of this brilliantly large community of ex-pats/teachers/adventurers. I will safely assume it is a big reason why "no one ever stays, just one year."
One week at orientation and you leave with friends, teaching resources, a bank card, everything you need for your ARC card...well, one hopes, a hate or appreciation for soju, and even mentors (a big thank you to Han and SoonHee!). Maybe you'll leave with a catch phrase such as "sal sal hae yo" (Easy Tiger) as one of the only 3 things you can say in Korean like I did.
But after 2 weeks here, the 1 piece of advice? Be patient. I'm definitely trying. To the point of personal growth? Ha...be patient!
A Simple Hello...
"An nyoung hae sayo"(which is "hello" in Korean), took me a week to be able to say properly--could have been a mix of the 1st-11hr flight, the 2nd-4hr flight, 3.5hr bus ride, exhaustion from the move, trouble with the visa, hangover from the going-away party, puffy eyes from saying a year's worth of "goodbye" to my nearest and dearest. Could have been any of that. I think it's more so that Korean culture, life, and mostly language is the perfect 180 to American, especially pronunciation.
In this introduction-to-my-blog, I'm not necessarily hoping to self-promote my writing, nor do I think that my words or experience is so special that it sets me apart from the loads of other people out there who are doing this very same thing, and also blogging about it. I merely would like to do mainly these few things:
*Share my experiences and photos with said nearest and dearest, or anyone who needs a little distraction from Facebook and/or work.
*Share my experience and provide helpful advice and useful resources--those who are researching because they are thinking about teaching English in South Korea--so someone may benefit from my trials and tribulations with the process, itself.
*To think out loud (and hopefully start discussions) about the Teaching World.
So, my posts will be varied, but feel free to ask questions or contact me, or simply suggest things, and so on. After all, contrary to popular belief, I hate being the only one talking.
So, on that note, let me introduce myself--I'm Jen. I just moved to Gwangju, South Korea to teach English as a second/foreign language through a program called EPIK. I recently quit teaching full-time at Rasmussen College (for-profit, private), at one of their campuses near Chicago. I was there for about 2.5 years teaching Composition and Intro to Literature mostly--residentially, and online.
A lot of different reasons have fueled my move, mainly debt; hopefully, if you're reading this, you'll stick around and find out about the rest--under the umbrella of personal and professional growth--and maybe you can laugh and cry with me a little.
**I'm having issues with my camera. Mainly, I bought a new computer that doesn't have a card reader, and packed away my usb cord. Kinks such as these will be ironed out in the next 2 weeks. Subsequently, I'll post several photos I've gotten from others until then. After that, there will be many more.
In this introduction-to-my-blog, I'm not necessarily hoping to self-promote my writing, nor do I think that my words or experience is so special that it sets me apart from the loads of other people out there who are doing this very same thing, and also blogging about it. I merely would like to do mainly these few things:
*Share my experiences and photos with said nearest and dearest, or anyone who needs a little distraction from Facebook and/or work.
*Share my experience and provide helpful advice and useful resources--those who are researching because they are thinking about teaching English in South Korea--so someone may benefit from my trials and tribulations with the process, itself.
*To think out loud (and hopefully start discussions) about the Teaching World.
So, my posts will be varied, but feel free to ask questions or contact me, or simply suggest things, and so on. After all, contrary to popular belief, I hate being the only one talking.
So, on that note, let me introduce myself--I'm Jen. I just moved to Gwangju, South Korea to teach English as a second/foreign language through a program called EPIK. I recently quit teaching full-time at Rasmussen College (for-profit, private), at one of their campuses near Chicago. I was there for about 2.5 years teaching Composition and Intro to Literature mostly--residentially, and online.
A lot of different reasons have fueled my move, mainly debt; hopefully, if you're reading this, you'll stick around and find out about the rest--under the umbrella of personal and professional growth--and maybe you can laugh and cry with me a little.
**I'm having issues with my camera. Mainly, I bought a new computer that doesn't have a card reader, and packed away my usb cord. Kinks such as these will be ironed out in the next 2 weeks. Subsequently, I'll post several photos I've gotten from others until then. After that, there will be many more.
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