My co-teacher called me on Saturday to remind me that I had to return to work on Monday for the first week of Winter Camp. I confirmed 9:00AM as the start time, hung up, and went on with my day.
I actually had NO idea what I was supposed to teach for Winter Camp, since the textbooks for the camp hadn't arrived before we all left for Winter Break. I just pulled together a few topics such as Animals, Holidays, Months of the Year, Countries, etc., in case I was expected to teach completely cold.
This morning, I woke up, very bitterly I might add, while it was still dark, found something suitable for arctic weather to wear, browsed some lessons, made a quick lunch, and headed out into the freezer that is the streets of Ulsan. I unlocked the office, and went over some PPT, activities, and practice sheets I might have to use instead of the workbook that was supposedly on its way.
Around 8:55, I walked upstairs to the English room, activities in hand, ready to teach solo---Still no co-teachers in sight. 9:05 rolled around, no students. 9:10-no students. I walked downstairs, back to my office, hoping someone could tell me exactly what I was doing at the school at 9:00AM this morning. No one was there. I sat back down, plugged in my phone, and browsed the web. "This is not real," I thought. Surely there's some mistake. Otherwise, why would I have to be here so early? I'm being PUNKED! Well, at any rate, I was getting paid, so I prepared to settle in for a long day of desk-warming.
Just as I was getting comfortable, and really indulging in some high quality BuzzFeed articles, another English teacher showed up, and said, "Oh! you don't have class?"
I said, "There were no students," and gave her a confused look. "The classes are in the English room right?"
"Oh, No! They're over here," she said, carry a large stack of books.
I entered a room full of 2nd graders with and opened the workbook. I was supposed to teach Birthdays. And so it began---Winter Camp.
I just made something up, since I hadn't been briefed. It's nearly impossible to teach anything but simple words and phrases to grade 2s, and since I have NO idea how to translate any of it to Korean, I'm just going with it! Anyway, I taught two classes this AM from 9:00-11:00, and four in the afternoon 1-4pm.
The morning groups are 1st and 2nd grades, while the afternoon group is grades 3, 4, and 5. Honestly, I feel terrible about today's lessons. They were so off the cuff, and NOT fun at all. I have a little time tonight and before school tomorrow to at least print up some activities/crafts. I still had a blast. It was really relaxing to just hang out with the students and chat without added pressure to complete a super serious lesson. End of story!!!!
SWITCHING TO UNPROFESSIONAL VOICE:
: Apparently, Korea doesn't believe in Google, which I totally understand, but, Like, can my Google Drive PLEASE work with your outdated , virus-riddled Internet Explorer? Please, I beg of you, stop forcing me to work out of the Microsoft SkyDrive!
x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x
~Jo
I actually had NO idea what I was supposed to teach for Winter Camp, since the textbooks for the camp hadn't arrived before we all left for Winter Break. I just pulled together a few topics such as Animals, Holidays, Months of the Year, Countries, etc., in case I was expected to teach completely cold.
This morning, I woke up, very bitterly I might add, while it was still dark, found something suitable for arctic weather to wear, browsed some lessons, made a quick lunch, and headed out into the freezer that is the streets of Ulsan. I unlocked the office, and went over some PPT, activities, and practice sheets I might have to use instead of the workbook that was supposedly on its way.
Around 8:55, I walked upstairs to the English room, activities in hand, ready to teach solo---Still no co-teachers in sight. 9:05 rolled around, no students. 9:10-no students. I walked downstairs, back to my office, hoping someone could tell me exactly what I was doing at the school at 9:00AM this morning. No one was there. I sat back down, plugged in my phone, and browsed the web. "This is not real," I thought. Surely there's some mistake. Otherwise, why would I have to be here so early? I'm being PUNKED! Well, at any rate, I was getting paid, so I prepared to settle in for a long day of desk-warming.
Just as I was getting comfortable, and really indulging in some high quality BuzzFeed articles, another English teacher showed up, and said, "Oh! you don't have class?"
I said, "There were no students," and gave her a confused look. "The classes are in the English room right?"
"Oh, No! They're over here," she said, carry a large stack of books.
I entered a room full of 2nd graders with and opened the workbook. I was supposed to teach Birthdays. And so it began---Winter Camp.
I just made something up, since I hadn't been briefed. It's nearly impossible to teach anything but simple words and phrases to grade 2s, and since I have NO idea how to translate any of it to Korean, I'm just going with it! Anyway, I taught two classes this AM from 9:00-11:00, and four in the afternoon 1-4pm.
The morning groups are 1st and 2nd grades, while the afternoon group is grades 3, 4, and 5. Honestly, I feel terrible about today's lessons. They were so off the cuff, and NOT fun at all. I have a little time tonight and before school tomorrow to at least print up some activities/crafts. I still had a blast. It was really relaxing to just hang out with the students and chat without added pressure to complete a super serious lesson. End of story!!!!
SWITCHING TO UNPROFESSIONAL VOICE:
: Apparently, Korea doesn't believe in Google, which I totally understand, but, Like, can my Google Drive PLEASE work with your outdated , virus-riddled Internet Explorer? Please, I beg of you, stop forcing me to work out of the Microsoft SkyDrive!
x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x
~Jo