Elissa Teacher!

Well I made it through my first week of teaching in Korea and know for a fact that I made the right to decision to come. My students are great (for the most part), I'm in love with my hours because I can sleep in, and my co-teachers and the other native teachers are all wonderful at helping me get acclimated. I couldn't ask for anything more.

Most of my students are in middle school with the exception of two elementary classes on Tuesdays. The about 13 to 15 years old in Korean, which makes the 12 to 14 years old back home. My levels of classes range from lower levels of English to higher. Some students have no problem writing a paragraph and holding a conversation, while others struggle with basics. It's quite the task teaching some of these kids when they don't necessarily understand what you are saying to them. I have to speak with very basic vocabulary and short/choppy sentences. Perhaps the most frustrating part is the book I have to use to teach from. The vocabulary words in the book are ridiculous. They are not words that I would normally use in a conversation and some of the words, I have never heard of. For example, mawkish. How am I expected to teach these words when I myself don't necessarily know what they mean? On the bright side, I did luck out. Many of my kids will talk in class and read for me. A lot of times, the students are very shy and quiet at the age I have them. Elementary kids are easier to have speak. They willing volunteer to read their answers out loud.  Whereas middle schoolers are much more hesitant. For the most part, my classes are very talkative. One slight problem, if you will call it that, is that I teach 28 classes a week. I never have the same class twice. So times 28 by however many students per class. I teach anywhere from 150 to 300 students a week. That is a lot of faces to remember and a lot of names.

When I introduced myself to my classes as the new teacher this week, I told them they could ask me any questions that they wanted. However, the questions were slightly different that what I might expect back home. Almost always the questions came in the same order in every class. How old are you? Do you have a boyfriend? What is your name? Where are you from? By the end of the week I could predict what questions I would get. One student even asked me if I was from Mexico... Figure that one out! Another odd question I was asked was what is my blood type. When I responded "I don't know", all of the students gave me a dazed look. Apparently, your blood type is equivalent to your horoscope back home. It can tell a lot about a person. The rest of the questions were more on the lines of what I expected. How long have you been in Korea? Do you speak Korea? How long will you stay in Korea? etc... 

My co-teachers are all amazing. I work with 6 Korean co-teachers throughout the week and they are each very different from one another, but all in good ways! My co-teachers and the other native teachers have made my transition to Korea and teaching a smooth one. The only downside... I am the ONLY person in the building that cannot speak Korea. I know hello. Thank you. And the directions to tell my cab to get me to school.  Hopefully soon enough I will be able to venture out on my own without getting lost in translation! Pictures coming soon! Stay tuned...

Peace & Love,
Elissa Rae