Got any tips?
I wish I could actually write a post about that. Maybe I'll have some idea come July, but for now teaching English will be more of a learning experience than anything else. Thankfully, that's not really my job. Perhaps I should tell you what I actually do, hm?
To the untrained eye, it might sometimes look like teaching English. I have a little classroom, with tables and chairs and a whiteboard. I have students, divided into 3 groups by age. I take roll, but that's just to learn their names. Sometimes the older kids raise their hands to answer a question. At the end of our time, I give out stickers for good performance (read: paying attention).
That's about where the school comparison ends. We spend our time playing games like hangman and pictionary, or even simpler games like shout-the-number/letter (really, what 6-year-old doesn't like shouting?). I have about half an hour with each group, and sometimes I only have one group a day. Kids in Korea have a lot going on, starting as early as elementary school. The youngest kids arrive at 3, but some don't get out of school until just before dinner time. When they get to the center, they have all kinds of options to keep them busy.
One thing I love about my center is that most of the activities are actually optional. Not all the kids attend science class; some don't take music theory; not everyone plays in the orchestra. There's a rotating schedule of available teachers, and they (we?) maintain the balance of work and play. The kids all get homework help as needed, and the teachers keep things running quite well. I don't know how they do it, but they always seem to know what everyone is supposed to do at any given time.
The teachers' efficiency is an excellent reminder that Beopdong would be absolutely fine without me. They have an excellent system, and I have a lot of respect for the teachers and especially the director, Rev. Kim (a.k.a. "the Chief"). They have welcomed me into their family, and their patience with me has been such a blessing. I spend a lot of time awkwardly wondering how I can help, and I'm sure a lot of things (rice scooping, cleaning, etc.) would go a lot faster without my "assistance."
That being the case, I'm especially looking forward to getting to know the students. They, too, have been incredibly patient. Most of them speak better English than I speak Korean, and I'm sincerely grateful for their help when I try to communicate. More than that, though, the kids have been just as open and welcoming as the teachers. I always have someone to sit with at dinner (yes, that's still a concern even after college) and they haven't given up talking to me even though it's not exactly a conversation.
All in all, I'm anxious to improve but I'm also humbled by my welcome at work. The theme of helplessness continues, and every day of work is a reminder of what it means to be a YAV. I'm still learning to teach English, of course, but allowing myself to be helped is a learning experience I'm only starting to appreciate. I'm just grateful to be learning that lesson from this awesome group of people ^^
I wish I could actually write a post about that. Maybe I'll have some idea come July, but for now teaching English will be more of a learning experience than anything else. Thankfully, that's not really my job. Perhaps I should tell you what I actually do, hm?
To the untrained eye, it might sometimes look like teaching English. I have a little classroom, with tables and chairs and a whiteboard. I have students, divided into 3 groups by age. I take roll, but that's just to learn their names. Sometimes the older kids raise their hands to answer a question. At the end of our time, I give out stickers for good performance (read: paying attention).
 |
| They respond especially well to bribery. I mean, Angry Birds. |
That's about where the school comparison ends. We spend our time playing games like hangman and pictionary, or even simpler games like shout-the-number/letter (really, what 6-year-old doesn't like shouting?). I have about half an hour with each group, and sometimes I only have one group a day. Kids in Korea have a lot going on, starting as early as elementary school. The youngest kids arrive at 3, but some don't get out of school until just before dinner time. When they get to the center, they have all kinds of options to keep them busy.
 |
| Ocarina lessons. I kid you not. |
One thing I love about my center is that most of the activities are actually optional. Not all the kids attend science class; some don't take music theory; not everyone plays in the orchestra. There's a rotating schedule of available teachers, and they (we?) maintain the balance of work and play. The kids all get homework help as needed, and the teachers keep things running quite well. I don't know how they do it, but they always seem to know what everyone is supposed to do at any given time.
The teachers' efficiency is an excellent reminder that Beopdong would be absolutely fine without me. They have an excellent system, and I have a lot of respect for the teachers and especially the director, Rev. Kim (a.k.a. "the Chief"). They have welcomed me into their family, and their patience with me has been such a blessing. I spend a lot of time awkwardly wondering how I can help, and I'm sure a lot of things (rice scooping, cleaning, etc.) would go a lot faster without my "assistance."
 |
| Making dinner? They've got that covered. They *did* let me help, though ^^ |
That being the case, I'm especially looking forward to getting to know the students. They, too, have been incredibly patient. Most of them speak better English than I speak Korean, and I'm sincerely grateful for their help when I try to communicate. More than that, though, the kids have been just as open and welcoming as the teachers. I always have someone to sit with at dinner (yes, that's still a concern even after college) and they haven't given up talking to me even though it's not exactly a conversation.
 |
| "RT @ANNA - Nice to meet you!" Communication has many forms. |
All in all, I'm anxious to improve but I'm also humbled by my welcome at work. The theme of helplessness continues, and every day of work is a reminder of what it means to be a YAV. I'm still learning to teach English, of course, but allowing myself to be helped is a learning experience I'm only starting to appreciate. I'm just grateful to be learning that lesson from this awesome group of people ^^
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| People like these. Say kimchi! |
OCARINA LESSONS!?!?!?!!?!?!? SO JEALOUS
ReplyDeleteWhat a great description of YAV-ness! Feeling a little lost sometimes, but having such great (and unexpected) teachers!Thanks for sharing these experiences and pictures.
ReplyDelete