Week 2 Teaching

Honestly, I thought I would be working a lot harder!  I feel rather abashed, but this is somewhat easy, at least in terms of time.  I'm still getting a feel for exactly what to do in class, because there are different stages for each book, and there are numerous books.  I'm still trying to learn everyone's name.  And once I decreased the difficulty of the lesson, lesson planning was simplified.  I spent maybe 2-3 hours this weekend (if that) creating my lesson plans for 3 science classes, and and one conversation class.  The prep work doesn't feel like "work", because I'm using my creativity when producing the lessons, so it's fun for me!! Yay!
     My "long" day is Monday: 12-8pm.  I arrive at 12noon to help clean the classrooms, prep for the day's activities, and review each lesson plan for the week with Director Jeong.  Classes begin at 1:30 and my30 minute dinner break is at 6:30.  I'm finished by 8pm on the dot!
     The remainder of the week I work from 1pm-8pm, with a 30 minute break at 6pm.
When I'm not teaching science classes (I have 3 each day), or conversation/phonics classes ( these started this week, and I think I have 4 total), I am working with students on spelling and grammar, speaking and writing, that sort of thing.  The kids switch between phonics and conversation all day, with classes changing every 30 minutes in my room.  I am simply walking around and checking and/or correcting students' work.  They are listening to English conversations via cassette or CD: listening, writing, rewinding, listening, repeating, etc.  As Jeong likes to say, we are "English police", not teaching so much here, but checking and correcting.
     These kids are amazing!  They go to school all day, then go to an academy to further their education (it could be English, or special subject tutoring, music, etc.).  The kids in Korea work and study hard!  They are in school ALL DAY!  It's pretty impressive!
     I'm pretty lucky, as usual!  I'm really enjoying the work and the hours are not bad at all!  I have 4-5 hours  free each morning (with which I will eventually be productive!) and a few hours at the end of the day to do whatever!


Life is good!

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