And I’m back! Chuseok holiday - part 1 :)

Back and blogging that is. Gracious, it’s been awhile! Now that I’ve tackled a cold and a [almost] conquered a determined flu bug, here’s some awesome new stuff from Korea :) OH! And Jacob (Jen’s boyfriend) has also arrived since the last post :) Welcome to Korea my friend!Ok. Here in Korea they celebrate a holiday known as ‘Chuseok’. I’ve been told that it’s kinda like Korean Thanksgiving… Being that we’re in Asia though, it’s actually nothing like either Canadian nor American Thanksgiving in terms of appareance. It’s something entirely new and special. The above picture features about half of the GDA morning kindergarten kids wearing their special outfits – Hanboks.

Let us zoom in on my children for a second… Please note that not a single one of them is looking to their left, where the camera was, and where they were directed to look. It was a long day. I had no voice at all, and watching over the eight kids in a public park was quite a task :) They are cute though eh?

The school celebrated the holiday with great passion, renting Hanboks for even us foreigners. Huge in dimension, the dress poofed enough to make any prom dress blush and allowed me a bit of insight into what prom may have been like… For all the guys out there wondering “but what would I get to wear at Chuseok?” – don’t worry! Here is a photo featuring Jacob, who in combination with Jen got to sport the lovely ‘couple's Hanboks’.

The kids all brought their own outfits :) Here are my lovely ladies!

Here are the handsome gentlemen. I’m not sure how Harry P and Alan managed to make themselves looked conjoined, but Will and Harry L look as sweet as they normally do :)

And just because I love my kids and think they looked so beautiful/handsome in their outfits, here are some more pictures from their proud teacher :)

Michelle and Sue :)  Kelly, Will, Harry L, and Miss Rachel :)

Harry L, Rachel (the heartbreaker ;), and Will (the ladies man) :)

Traditional Korean dancing? :) Cooking up traditional Korean Chuseok treats (rice and sugar balls…)My beautiful Michelle with one of the Korean teachers :) I love her smile :)

Rachel preparing to throw her ‘spear’ in a traditional Korean game :)

And finally, since my old core and support classes have been combined, I now have a new support class featuring these lovely young (5 year old) ladies:

Jessica the little cutie. She speaks almost no English and only knows how to say “Hi, my name is Jeshhica” and then she’ll beam at you :)

 

Sarah the little punk :) But a cute punk. She’s the “no!” kid. You know the type. The one who has learned the word and is determined to use it anytime she wants ;) But, she likes to dance. So we just dance and she will eventually start listening!

Rachel (background) – the super sweet perfect student with the crazy mother, and Kate (foreground) the attention-loving, attitude giving princess with a charming little smile :)

and finally, my little ray of sunshine:

This is Miss Amy. I love this kid so much. She just beams with happiness, listens perfectly, and has a nice mother. She’s the kid that runs to give you a hug when you’re a bit grumpy on a Monday morning, or who smiles and says “teacher, Octopus dance?” when we’re trying to learn the Letter “O”. Indeed, the Octopus dance was a smash hit and teacher and students left the class mutually happy that day. What a beautiful child. I’m sure from now on the name Amy will bring happy memories of this kid into my heart.

Now that I’ve gushed about Amy for a bit, I also feel inclined to point out Harry L in this picture. Bahahaa. What a kid.

Ok. That’s about it for now. This is part 1 of probably about 4 blog entries that I will be posting in the next few days :) Check back later to read more about my lovely vacation featuring the purchase of two essential kitchen items (oh the suspense!), and the second trip to the Aquarium (sans enfants). :) Woooooo!

Here’s wishing you all a HAPPY CHUSEOK!
~Katie

Here they are: The Kiddies :)

Well, I’ve had a CRAZY few weeks! Since my last real post: the internet was lost and then regained a week and some later, I’ve been through exams, report cards and lesson plan making for the kids, I’ve created my portion of a unit test, corrected countless homework pages, made a multitude of paper caterpillars, flowers, bumble bees and trees, and have been had one of my fave afternoon classes canceled… and replaced with 7 new kindergarteners teaching the most intro of English courses availible. Oh, and I’ve lost two kids from my IK support class. But I’ll talk more about that later :) For now, here they are~ My Intensive Kindergarten ‘homeroom’:

(Left to right: Sue, Alan, Michelle, Me, Harry P. and Harry L. is the kid doing the peace sign :)

For our August fieldtrip we went to the Coex Aquarium in Seoul. I’m convinced that I didn’t even look at a single fish – with five kids to keep track of and the inconvienent truth that all Asian children look alike from behind, I prayed constantly I wouldn’t lose one of them in the mass that was *seven* kindergarten schools combined into one fish museum. Yes, it seemed to be national fieldtrip day… and it didn’t help that most of the schools seemed to have the white and blue uniforms in abundance. We made it out alive, with the kids enjoying themselves and the teachers trying not to panic.

These are the typical looks of Harry L. and Harry P. Their characters are accurately reflected in this shot. Harry L. is the serious, contemplative thinker of the group. He is going through the lovely “why?!” phase, and uses this favourite word at least 10034 times per class. Harry P. loves attention and spends his time trying to look cute. When he’s not looking cute and being brilliant he’s usually crying because someone wants him to share 2 of his 23 blocks. These boys weren’t getting along on this day, and it’s awesome that they calmed down enough for this picture… thank goodness for the girls:

Sue and Michelle. Just wonderful kids. Sue wants to be a doctor when she grows up and spends class time being the mother for everyone else. Getting the boys tissues when they cry (Harry P. and Harry L. are both still growing into their manhood), and patching up Alan after his latest collision with ____insert any object that’s sharp here____. Michelle wants to be an artist. She is a true perfectionist when it comes to arts and crafts, spending a record hour and twenty minutes making one paper bumblebee. Sue made three bees in less than half the time. They welcome me each day with smiles and “KATIE TEACHER!!!!” enthusiasm :) Looooove them.

The next shot was taken between “teeeaaachhhheeer. we’re hunnnnnngrrrryy / I doooonnn’t waaaannntt toooo waiiiiiiit” whines. As much as I sympathized with the little dudes, I found their looks of total dispair to be at least slightly amusing, and proceeded to photograph them. In all their anxiety, Harry L. at least managed to pull himself together enough to form his traditional “peace” sign. Classy.

And then there was Alan. He rarely complains. He’s a huge cuddler and is always asking for/giving hugs. In the midst of his classmates whining, he took the opportunity to poke me and say “teacher, picture.” What a good kid. This was his chosen pose:

Once I got them all fed and watered, the boys calmed down and my entire class was willing to offer me happy smiles :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well… except for Harry P. He was trying so hard not to grin it was great :)

Then, in the midst of all the complaining children, and exhausted teachers, you have moments where the kids just win your heart:

and there is no place in the world you would rather be than sitting next to them and smiling so much your cheeks hurt for hours afterwards :)

 

Next to my homeroom kids (who are called my ‘core’ class), there is another homeroom class (Anthony’s) who serves as my ‘support’ class. While I teach both my kids and Anthony’s kids Language arts five times a week, Anthony will teach his class and my class a combination of Math, Science and Social studies. Essentially, I see these kids quite a bit as well:

The tallest guy is obviously Anthony. He’s a great partner teacher :) The smiling boy next to him is Justin. He’s a brilliant, hyper kid. Then we have Draco. He was my star student, acing anything that was thrown at him in record time. Below Draco is Will. Will is insane. He’s fully capable of mass manipulation and he’s a true leader in every sense of the word. Luckily, Anthony and I seem to have gotten on his good side (another teacher alegedly got on his bad side and ended up quitting after a month due to stress). and in general he’s managable. Then we have Rachel sporting the stylish glasses and hair bow and Kelly. 

  For complicated reasons Justin and Draco ended up dropping out of GDA and heading off to another place. They will be missed!

The only good thing about their departure is that Will will now have two less hyper children to lead in his classroom domination. He also no longer has to compete for the girls attention. Recently he decided that he’s Rachel’s man though… he wrote all about this decision in his journal for me. Poor Kelly is losing her Draco. It’s a tragic world really.

Finally, in honor of my ‘co-blogger’ (that’s right Jen, you’re getting the half quotes – this is my challenge for you to actually make a post ;) we have her lovely class of 10 – that’s right, TEN – 5 year olds. If you count them, there appears to only be nine children in this picture. I can assure you there are 10. Asian kids are just amazingly brilliant at camouflage. Aren’t they happy looking? :) So cute though!

   
Well, that’s all for now! I hope I’ve satisfied the requests for pictures of the kids :) I wish everybody a wonderful last week of summer, and a happy “back to school” for all!

~Katie

Segment #3..... of First Impressions

So.....the kids and classes here at GDA....

I have a weird schedule which consists of me working mainly afternoons-early evenings while most other teachers have a morning schedule (as well as some afternoon and evening classes). This schedule might be changing at some point so that I have a regular one as well, but for now I am enjoying three mornings a week of sleeping in (Thursdays and Mondays being the exceptions)...

For future reference there are a few types of classes (in which there are different levels):

• IK (Intensive Kindergarten--3 levels, I think)
• AK (Afternoon Kindergarten--not sure how many levels)
• Returnee (Kids who have been through some of our kindergarten programs and have returned for more!)
• Speedway (advanced kids, usually around the ages of 10-12)
• Tutoring (can be any age, usually just one-on-one)

So on Mondays I go to school for 9 like all the other teachers because there is supposedly a meeting for those teaching IK classes (which is everyone) because that is the main thing about GDA (their kindergarten program). This "meeting" is usually about 2 minutes long, if that. Then, because I technically have less teaching hours than the others and we get paid on salary, I am supposed to put in some administrative time from 9-12 (when my regular shift starts). However, they haven't needed me for admin yet so I have been using that time to prep for my classes and this morning I used it to start lesson planning for next month! (a whole other adventure!)...then from 12-1 I prep for my IK class. On Mondays I teach them math, Tuesdays is Science, Wednesdays is Social Studies, Thursdays is math again, and Fridays I work with them on a play as well as reviewing info and just having playtime or drawing time or story time....anyways, I have them until 2:20. There are eight kids in this class and they are SUPER smart but also SUPER energetic. They kinda get out of hand pretty easily, so I have already been working at laying down the law! Raising hands and silence when others are speaking is on the agenda for the next little while or else....no play time! haha....Anyways, then I have to make sure I pack up their things, put on their outdoor shoes, handout GDA stickers (their rewards system here) and take them upstairs where they are herded to buses by the Korean support teachers. Then I get a break till 2:40 when I start my Returnee class (one of the lower levels). On Mondays I teach them Reading Street (basically reading a story and Practice book activities) for two hours. Then at 4:40 I am off!
On Tuesdays I come in for 12, do my lesson prep and start my IK science class until 2:20. At 2:40 I have an AK class for an hour. I teach them listening and basic vocabulary. This is followed by another AK class who I also have for an hour. I teach them phonics. Then I have a break from 4:40-4:50. At 4:50 I have my Speedway class for an hour. I teach them Reading Street (like my Returnee class but at a higher level).
On Wednesdays, I show up at 12 and do the same thing as Monday and Tuesday (except I teach IKs Social Studies). At 2:40 I have my first Returnee class again but this time I teach them science and listening/dictation. At 4:40 I have a break again and then at 4:50 I teach my second returnee class. I teach them Grammar and Science on Wednesdays. I have them for 2 hours so I am done by 6:50.
Thursdays, I go in for 9:30 because I tutor a girl from 9:50-10:50. Basically I just sit and read through stories in a book with her and do the corresponding activities with her.
Then from 10:50-1 I do lesson prep and repeat the process of Tuesday. Except I teach the IK's math....Then, starting this week, I will be tutoring a 12 year old girl at 5:50 for an hour. I guess she is very much a beginner English speaker so it will be very basic vocabulary and such.
Then on Fridays I start at 12, once again and go through the same process as every other day. At 2:40 I have my Returnee class for Grammar for two hours. I get my break and then I have my second returnee class for Reading street (same level as my Speedway class). Then I am done for the weekend by 6:50!!!

Ok so the names and class sizes:

• IK kids: Gordon, Lu-Mi, Min-ki, Sally, Monica, Nathan, Brian and Emily
• AK 1-5 kids: Rosie, Rin, Hannah, Jay, James, Sige and Andy
• AK 1-10 kids: Angel, Yumin, Ray, Tony and Wina
• Speedway 2.2 kids: Chaemin, Alice and June
• Returnee 2.1 kids: Ellen, Sally, Maya, Richard, Gabriel, Hyeok-In, Gloria and Annie
• Returnee 2.2 kids: Jenny and Christy
• Tutoring--Thursday morning pupil: Stella (IK level)
• Tutoring--Thursday evening pupil: haven't met her yet!!

So, other than remembering which classroom to go to for all these classes, that's about it! :) I especially love my Speedway girls and my Returnee 2.2 girls...they're a bunch of sweethearts and we just kind of chat for part of the class (as long as they are practicing their English, it's all good!!) ....but don't get me wrong, I like all my other classes too...they are just a little harder to handle sometimes, that's all! :)

Ok, folks...this has been such a long one that I took a break in between to clean my apartment (much needed!) and rearrange my furniture to give it a homier feel....and create a list of things I need to make it feel even MORE like home....however I will probably wait till I have money at the end of the month and till Katie is here to go shopping with me (which is in THREE days!!!)

Love ya'll!

~Jenz~

Segment #2 of the Continuing Broadcast (wink, wink Katie)

Hello Everyone from little Bundang in Korea!
So the sad news is that I just wrote a nice long blog but my internet quit working so I lost the whole thing :S.... so this will be a shorter one.

So the school, GDA Junior, is eight storeys (yes, that's right, EIGHT storeys): Three are sub-levels (underground) including parking, swimming pool and something else (not sure). Then the ground floor is reception are and bus pick-up/drop-off. Floors 2-4 are classrooms and floor 5 is the teacher's lounge/staff area and gymnasium.

All of the classrooms are named after cities (Montreal, Seattle, Ottawa, etc) which is kind of confusing at first until you realize that they are arranged in alphabetical order. The classrooms are fairly small, given the fact that the cap for class size is 10 students. There is, thankfully, air conditioning in all the rooms ... much needed!!

The teacher's lounge area is pretty nice...everyone gets their own desk. Mine has a class cover on it so I put photos underneath it so now lovely and beloved faces look up at me all the time :) ...
There are two photocopiers, a printer, one wall of bookshelves filled with textbooks/lesson plan ideas/handouts/craft supplies and four computers.

Anyways, this is not a long one...I'm pretty wiped, as per usual....I hope this gives some idea of where I work and where Katie will be working in just under 2 weeks! :D

Peace and Loves!

Segment #2 of this Broadcast (wink, wink, Katie!) - The Deleted Edition :)

Hahahhaa, Jen, I found your previous post in our 'drafts' :) Here it is everyone:

Hello everyone, all the way from Little Bundang in Korea! As promised, here is the next installment of the Korea First Impressions series. :) Enjoy!

So the school, GDA Junior, is a 8 storey structure (yes, EIGHT storeys): 5 are above ground and 3 are sublevels (the lowest one is parking, then a swimming pool, and then something else--not sure). The first floor is the reception area and also where the kids get on the buses. Then floors 2-4 are classrooms and the fifth floor is the teacher's lounge/staff room and gymnasium. So yes, dear friends, that means five flights of stairs....or you could take the elevator ;) ....so far I have tried the stairs as often as I can but humidity and strenuous exercise and teaching rambunctious kids does not always make for the best mixture. Just take it from me...that and the fact that my apartment building has no elevator and I live on the 3rd floor....yeah. I get my exercise...haha!

So anyways, each of the classrooms is named after a city (Seattle, Montreal, Denver, etc)....which is kinda confusing until you realize they go according to alphabetical order. The kindergarten classrooms are kinda small but equipped with air conditioning! :) The other classrooms are a much better size...The staff room is quite large....all the teachers have their own desks and there are four computers for lesson planning, etc (plus, we are allowed using them to check email and such if we are not busy or no one needs them for school business), there are two photocopiers and a printer.....plus shelves full of lesson plan ideas/handouts/textbooks/craft supplies. I have to say I love having my own desk. It has a glass cover that I have slid some photos underneath so I have lovely and beloved faces looking up at me all the time....I also have a little shelving unit for my curriculum books...

Indeed!

We live an exciting life for sure. Yes, Jen, the pay is slightly less, but our workload is also smaller time-wise. With this in mind, however, we also must note that with LCI we were to be given lesson plans, while with GDA we are responsible for making them up ourselves. Now, though this task may be slightly more intimidating and admittedly shall be more work, it also allows us to have great opportunity for creativity and the chance to really make our classrooms our own. I’m kinda going into this adventure with plans to gain some real teaching experience, and the opportunity to really dig in and create a curriculum is actually appealing to me! Like Jen said, we’re getting good vibes from this school, and we’re even more excited about going to Korea than we were before!

Now, on the more nerdy side, I’m sitting in my last Hebrews class and have nothing to do. So, I’m going to give our faithful readers a tour of BUNDANG and GDA.

If you click HERE, it will take you to our school’s website. We shall be employed at the Bundang ‘campus’. Jen and I were both fascinated by the fact that they used all non-Asian children in their advertisements/web-site. It’s slightly sad that they want the kids to be seen as ‘English’ as possible, and we’ve made it our mission to love these little Asian children and try to learn more about their culture. Anyways, check out the pictures – it looks like a neat place! For those of us fascinated by the wikipedia site, click HERE to gain insight into the world of Bundang. Without ever having been there, I’ve noticed that there is a nice, nature-type focus, and parks seem to be popular. HERE is Bundang Central Park. I have also learned that Bundang is considered one of the richer areas in South Korea, and designer stores seem to be in close proximity. The Samsung Plaza, featured HERE, is a good example of this designer-marketing.

As Jen mentioned, she is going to be the brave soul who arrives first. I will follow a couple of weeks later. We’re determined to find a neat church in the area, and I really want to get connected with a Young Adult sort of group – it would be sweet to have a group of people to hike with/explore the nation with. Though I’ve heard that Bundang is the location of one of the world’s Mega Churches (think huge audiences), I’m not sure the HUGE church atmosphere is my style. HERE is the wikipedia information about the Global Mission Church, and HERE and HERE are the GMC’s websites (in Korean).

This should be exciting. We’ll keep you posted.