Hi folks.
Yup, I've just been working away. Even though it is pretty relentless sometimes, I'm totally into my stride. I can stroll into any of my classrooms now to the cries of "NevTeacher!" and teach the hell out of them. Or, quite often, play frivolous games and pretend to myself I'm somehow entertaining them.
Christ almighty, someone in this PC Bang has farted and My Good God it stinks. Sweet Lord, that is foul. It's like a dog has died and defecated at the same time. I'm not going to stop writing about it until it goes away and it doesn't appear to be moving fast. The thing is, next to me are two girls, and I cannot believe any girl is capable of something quite that foul.
Hmm. It seems to have mostly abated now.
Ok, here's a little detail of my day today, and the kids in each class, off the top of my head.
9.50 to 10.30. Forest class.
These kids can only be about 5 years old at the most, but seem to understand my English pretty well. They're a good natured class and not too much work considering their age.
There's Mikey, an amiable but dopey boy, not gifted but gets there. There's Joey and Eric who I get confused, but I think Joey's the one who colours in well. Both are happy, friendly kids. There's Kate, a bit lazy and easily distracted, but behaves well. Then Sarah, who's very bright and always eager to answer, and a fast worker. And Fiona, a clever enough and happy girl. She vomitted all over her work today. I was glad it was in the last 2 minutes of class because it smelt utterly foul. And finally Bonnie, a feisty little girl, who's very bright and enthusiastic, although often distracted and needs to be reigned it somewhat.
Next class is Cosmos. Hmm. I can't remember them so well, off-hand. Oh yes, I do, but I can't be bothered writing about them.
Or anything else, for that matter.
Bye!
Wednesday, 14 January 2004
Monday, 12 January 2004
Bye Rodger
Damn, been meaning to update but, well, haven't. Basically, no major news though numerous bits and pieces, but everything is fine.
I might be a bit of trouble though. M7 were getting particularly irritating, so I took one of them (Rodger is - was - his name) out the class and when no-one was looking, stabbed him in the neck and he bled to death. Now, don't worry, no-one saw me and I stuffed his body behind the couch in the entrance, but I was COVERED in blood.
Hopefully the director won't find out. I was going to ask her to cover the costs of cleaning my clothes but he might suspect.
Other than that though, not much
I might be a bit of trouble though. M7 were getting particularly irritating, so I took one of them (Rodger is - was - his name) out the class and when no-one was looking, stabbed him in the neck and he bled to death. Now, don't worry, no-one saw me and I stuffed his body behind the couch in the entrance, but I was COVERED in blood.
Hopefully the director won't find out. I was going to ask her to cover the costs of cleaning my clothes but he might suspect.
Other than that though, not much
Thursday, 8 January 2004
School Dissent
Although I'm getting on ok with my teaching so far, and think I'm an alright teacher, there are bigger problems which threaten to destablise the whole things.
Basically, there appears to be massive dissent in the ranks. Not the students, but the teachers. And the Korean teachers as well as the English.
The director, although on a personal level has always been friendly to me, is a poor manager, and from what I gather the school is in financial trouble. Which is the main reason, I suspect, that she informed the paedo teacher David yesterday that his contract won't be renewed in March.
He wasn't too surprised, but was still disappointed. He's got many years teaching experience and I think is probably a very good teacher, so the decision was purely a financial one. But it's got me and John worried.
I'm not afraid of losing my job, but we're both afraid it might become very difficult to work here. I'm already teaching 42 classes a week. That's quite demanding and, unlike most schools, 40 or 50 minutes is just 40 or 50 minutes, and not an hour. When David goes, what becomes of his classes? If every day becomes as relentless as my Monday or Wednesday, life would become very exhausting. And it's hardly going to improve the kids' education.
I'm contracted for 30 hours a week, which is 45 classes maximum. 45 classes would be very demanding. John is talking very seriously on abandoning ship. I'm not thinking strongly along these lines yet. It's important to see what happens. But if I was to find a school with better working conditions (preferrably in Daegu) and I was able to keep my working visa, then why not?
The Korean teachers are thinking likewise. Term ends at the end of February, and some have said they are leaving. I gather that a lot of the good teachers have been driven away. The director just doesn't know how to manage. She keeps making sudden decisions without asking our opinions.
I'm going to make a few discreet enquiries. As to schools needing teachers and about how my visa will be affected. I'm enjoying teaching and Korea but if this school is so wrapped in uncertainty then I need to keep my options open.
Basically, there appears to be massive dissent in the ranks. Not the students, but the teachers. And the Korean teachers as well as the English.
The director, although on a personal level has always been friendly to me, is a poor manager, and from what I gather the school is in financial trouble. Which is the main reason, I suspect, that she informed the paedo teacher David yesterday that his contract won't be renewed in March.
He wasn't too surprised, but was still disappointed. He's got many years teaching experience and I think is probably a very good teacher, so the decision was purely a financial one. But it's got me and John worried.
I'm not afraid of losing my job, but we're both afraid it might become very difficult to work here. I'm already teaching 42 classes a week. That's quite demanding and, unlike most schools, 40 or 50 minutes is just 40 or 50 minutes, and not an hour. When David goes, what becomes of his classes? If every day becomes as relentless as my Monday or Wednesday, life would become very exhausting. And it's hardly going to improve the kids' education.
I'm contracted for 30 hours a week, which is 45 classes maximum. 45 classes would be very demanding. John is talking very seriously on abandoning ship. I'm not thinking strongly along these lines yet. It's important to see what happens. But if I was to find a school with better working conditions (preferrably in Daegu) and I was able to keep my working visa, then why not?
The Korean teachers are thinking likewise. Term ends at the end of February, and some have said they are leaving. I gather that a lot of the good teachers have been driven away. The director just doesn't know how to manage. She keeps making sudden decisions without asking our opinions.
I'm going to make a few discreet enquiries. As to schools needing teachers and about how my visa will be affected. I'm enjoying teaching and Korea but if this school is so wrapped in uncertainty then I need to keep my options open.
Tuesday, 6 January 2004
A Child Cries
I got my first kid crying today. I've had kids crying in my classes before, but just during gym as the result of a collision or minor injury usually. But this kid I made cry all by myself. He wasn't paying attention and was talking, and consistently so. So as a threat, and one I find very effective, I write OUT on the board, and wrote his name underneath. And he was devastated, and sat in miserable silence with tears well in his eyes.
How did it feel, to make a young child cry?
It felt good.
How did it feel, to make a young child cry?
It felt good.
Monday, 5 January 2004
Teaching Breakthrough
It might be a bit too early to call still, but today felt quite like a breakthrough day.
Monday is a brutal day of work. It begins 9.50 and finishes (after telephone teaching) about 7pm. I get half an hour lunch break and another 40 minutes free period.
That might not sound especially vicious but it's quite harsh when it's a relentless succession of classes at totally different levels, and you're always on display, always having to put in a performance. You don't really get a breather. I'm not complaining about this, it was what I went in for, but I can quite understand how it can wear some people down.
But I had a good day today, with almost every class.
The morning three classes were easy. The toddlers are great, the other young kids are also fine and the third class was just a gym class.
But it was the afternoon classes that I felt real progress was made.
I don't want to slate the teacher prior to me, but from my position right now it looks like he really dumped me in it. Three classes use the same books and they would have been given these books at the same time. I learnt today that the books are supposed to last 3 months; in 3 weeks he'd virtually finished them all. Not actually teaching the kids anything, but just skimming through too fast. Leaving me with three classes all at different stages in the same book with no comprehension of what's going on except they think they've almost finished the book.
I ignored the book today and gave the kids a kind of writing test, so I can see what level they're at. Already I've seen that two classes are going to have to start the book again.
But realising that was a great relief to me, as before I felt I was wading through uncharted territory. Now I know where the kids are at and how to go from here.
The big breakthroughs came with my three problem classes. One class isn't especially a problem but it's just a pain. Four kids about 13, all fairly silent and surly. But today I got them laughing, and they seemed reasonably diverted by my teaching, rather than the usual "Who the hell is this prick" vibe they would emanate.
The "ABC game" class I also made good headway. They were a nightmare. Using a dreadful book, I'm certain that the teacher I succeeded ignored it and just played games with the class. Because they know nothing. And they expect games. But I cracked down today and got them all onto the same page and got them chanting and - I think - understanding concepts.
It was a hugely successful class, especially as my previous lessons with them had been shambolic. Even better, a Korean teacher sat in with the class, because they were known to be very poor at English. If she'd sat in on the previous two fiascos it would have been embarrassing, instead she got to see my most successful teaching moment yet.
And the dreaded M7 to finish. I still don't like them but I've identified the two troublemakers. There's another three boisterous kids spurred on by them and another weird, silent kid who seems deeply depressed, but they're manageable. I had to crack down on some of the misbehaving but considering it was after half 5 and they didn't want to be there, I did well. I had them writing the whole time. They stopped being cheeky and did some work. I've established that they're not as clever as they think they are and with luck I can start teaching them at an appropriate level.
So, sorry about all this teaching talk but I had to tell someone. The other English teachers in my school are quite cold fish and wouldn't have cared about my "breakthrough".
But today I actually felt like a good teacher. Considering I've been dumped in it, with poor teaching materials and classes all gone to hell by the previous teacher, I think I've done well. It feels good when you leave every class believing the children have learnt something.
Of course, tomorrow will probably be an almighty nightmare.
I think a big step is that I've now met all my classes and struggled through the confusing early stages, and now I've started to relax. I'm gaining confidence in the classroom and learning to deal with different situations. I think I've potential to be a good teacher.
In fact, I think it's very possible I could turn out to be the best damned teacher ever.
Ok, that's all the teaching talk for now. I get a phone tomorrow (maybe) so I expect tons of phonecalls.
Would you trust this man with your young child?
Monday is a brutal day of work. It begins 9.50 and finishes (after telephone teaching) about 7pm. I get half an hour lunch break and another 40 minutes free period.
That might not sound especially vicious but it's quite harsh when it's a relentless succession of classes at totally different levels, and you're always on display, always having to put in a performance. You don't really get a breather. I'm not complaining about this, it was what I went in for, but I can quite understand how it can wear some people down.
But I had a good day today, with almost every class.
The morning three classes were easy. The toddlers are great, the other young kids are also fine and the third class was just a gym class.
But it was the afternoon classes that I felt real progress was made.
I don't want to slate the teacher prior to me, but from my position right now it looks like he really dumped me in it. Three classes use the same books and they would have been given these books at the same time. I learnt today that the books are supposed to last 3 months; in 3 weeks he'd virtually finished them all. Not actually teaching the kids anything, but just skimming through too fast. Leaving me with three classes all at different stages in the same book with no comprehension of what's going on except they think they've almost finished the book.
I ignored the book today and gave the kids a kind of writing test, so I can see what level they're at. Already I've seen that two classes are going to have to start the book again.
But realising that was a great relief to me, as before I felt I was wading through uncharted territory. Now I know where the kids are at and how to go from here.
The big breakthroughs came with my three problem classes. One class isn't especially a problem but it's just a pain. Four kids about 13, all fairly silent and surly. But today I got them laughing, and they seemed reasonably diverted by my teaching, rather than the usual "Who the hell is this prick" vibe they would emanate.
The "ABC game" class I also made good headway. They were a nightmare. Using a dreadful book, I'm certain that the teacher I succeeded ignored it and just played games with the class. Because they know nothing. And they expect games. But I cracked down today and got them all onto the same page and got them chanting and - I think - understanding concepts.
It was a hugely successful class, especially as my previous lessons with them had been shambolic. Even better, a Korean teacher sat in with the class, because they were known to be very poor at English. If she'd sat in on the previous two fiascos it would have been embarrassing, instead she got to see my most successful teaching moment yet.
And the dreaded M7 to finish. I still don't like them but I've identified the two troublemakers. There's another three boisterous kids spurred on by them and another weird, silent kid who seems deeply depressed, but they're manageable. I had to crack down on some of the misbehaving but considering it was after half 5 and they didn't want to be there, I did well. I had them writing the whole time. They stopped being cheeky and did some work. I've established that they're not as clever as they think they are and with luck I can start teaching them at an appropriate level.
So, sorry about all this teaching talk but I had to tell someone. The other English teachers in my school are quite cold fish and wouldn't have cared about my "breakthrough".
But today I actually felt like a good teacher. Considering I've been dumped in it, with poor teaching materials and classes all gone to hell by the previous teacher, I think I've done well. It feels good when you leave every class believing the children have learnt something.
Of course, tomorrow will probably be an almighty nightmare.
I think a big step is that I've now met all my classes and struggled through the confusing early stages, and now I've started to relax. I'm gaining confidence in the classroom and learning to deal with different situations. I think I've potential to be a good teacher.
In fact, I think it's very possible I could turn out to be the best damned teacher ever.
Ok, that's all the teaching talk for now. I get a phone tomorrow (maybe) so I expect tons of phonecalls.
Would you trust this man with your young child?
Sunday, 4 January 2004
Poaching Friends
I decided to poach John's friends today.
On Wednesday afternoon I went downtown with John, and to a little coffeeshop he recently discovered. Daegu has its fair share of coffeeshops, but this one really is a good discovery. It's very very peaceful and does great teas and coffees. The specialities are the tea lattes and the green tea lattes, they really are terrific.
Anyway, on Friday John was saying that the woman who runs the coffeeshop had invited him out for dinner with her family, and knowing Korean custom, they would insist upon paying for him.
And so today I went downtown by myself, and to the coffeeshop, and the woman owner was there and enthusiastically introduced herself, her son and his girlfriend. She gave me a free tea latte and we chatted a while before she went to church. I promised that I'd be there again next week and she said something about a meal.
I need some Korean friends I reckon. I've got my Korean name now, after all. You see, Korean friends are good because they pay for your stuff. Ok, now that's a very cynical and manipulative reason for making a friendship, but hey, that's me. A helpless combination of genetics and upbringing.
At least I'm not as bad as the deviant H. He said he would make a new Korean friend every couple of months and they'd stay friends until they eventually got tired of having to subsidise him everywhere.
I need a Korean to help me with the language too. As well as "thank-you" and "cheers" I now have "hello" and I think I know the word for "stupid" but I still struggle in conversations.
Back teaching again tomorrow. I'm feeling ok about it. I've got two problem classes, as I've said, but I think I know how to deal with them. One class is basically good but the book they're using is bollocks. But I've analysed it and think I can get something out of it, if I can prize them away from their beloved alphabet game.
The other class needs discipline, that's all. So bring on the Cane of Almighty Punishment.
On Wednesday afternoon I went downtown with John, and to a little coffeeshop he recently discovered. Daegu has its fair share of coffeeshops, but this one really is a good discovery. It's very very peaceful and does great teas and coffees. The specialities are the tea lattes and the green tea lattes, they really are terrific.
Anyway, on Friday John was saying that the woman who runs the coffeeshop had invited him out for dinner with her family, and knowing Korean custom, they would insist upon paying for him.
And so today I went downtown by myself, and to the coffeeshop, and the woman owner was there and enthusiastically introduced herself, her son and his girlfriend. She gave me a free tea latte and we chatted a while before she went to church. I promised that I'd be there again next week and she said something about a meal.
I need some Korean friends I reckon. I've got my Korean name now, after all. You see, Korean friends are good because they pay for your stuff. Ok, now that's a very cynical and manipulative reason for making a friendship, but hey, that's me. A helpless combination of genetics and upbringing.
At least I'm not as bad as the deviant H. He said he would make a new Korean friend every couple of months and they'd stay friends until they eventually got tired of having to subsidise him everywhere.
I need a Korean to help me with the language too. As well as "thank-you" and "cheers" I now have "hello" and I think I know the word for "stupid" but I still struggle in conversations.
Back teaching again tomorrow. I'm feeling ok about it. I've got two problem classes, as I've said, but I think I know how to deal with them. One class is basically good but the book they're using is bollocks. But I've analysed it and think I can get something out of it, if I can prize them away from their beloved alphabet game.
The other class needs discipline, that's all. So bring on the Cane of Almighty Punishment.
Friday, 2 January 2004
New Year and My First Week of Teaching
Happy New Year everybody. Or as they say in Korea... um, Happy New Year. I don't have a clue what the Korean is, they all use the English.
So, my first week of teaching is over, although an easy week to break me in as I only worked Monday, Tuesday and today. And although I think it dubious I'll be picking up the "Outstanding English teacher in Korea of the Year award 2004", it's gone mostly ok.
New Year was a low-key affair intentionally. I was very tempted to just stay in for the evening, but I ended up going out for a few hours with my fellow Scottish teacher John, and weird American paedo David. I must stop calling him a paedo actually, it's really unfair. I don't think he is at all, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that he really is very boring. He has nothing to say about anything, and no real sense of humour. John isn't really on my humour wavelength either. Maybe I've just worked in kitchens too long, where the humour is bleak and brutal, but when just mild jokes about international terrorism seems to silence them then I know that if they ever heard me talk about whores or running over babies in my car then they probably wouldn't laugh.
Going out with these two was a surefire quiet night because they both don't drink, or John only in moderation. We went to some park in the centre of town where a giant bell was, and loads and loads of people. At midnight the giant bell was rung with a huge wooden stick/beam/ram thing and tons of little but noisy fireworks exploded all around us for ages.
A drink in a quiet jazz bar then back home for about 2am.
New Years day was unremarkable. There'd been a vague plan to go out with this English guy Mik and some others for a meal, but I couldn't go due to him living in some very obscure location, and my finances being in dire straits. I've actually got about 30,000 Won left (#15) but that's only because I found an extra 10,000 in my pocket about an hour ago. That's got to last me till February. So January is going to have to be an extremely tightly budgeted month. I'm going to spend money on eating, but little else. No luxuries for Nev.
I'm due to meet up with Mik on Tuesday instead now. He even said that he'll treat me to a meal. Now, that's the sort of friends I want. I bet I could even joke about stabbing children to him.
There are a couple of children I'd happily stab and then watch as their bodies crumpled to the ground and the tears mixed with blood as they gasped their last. That may be a little harsh but my M7 class is a bad one. I've got about 12 different classes and the 11 others all seem like nice kids. Even if they're easily distracted they still listen and make some effort. But M7 have got a few boys, about 11 years old, who are lazy and cheeky. I know they're saying stuff about me in Korean. It doesn't help that the book they are all on is too easy for them, and that they find it stupid and patronising (which reflects on me as I'm teaching them it), but I also get them 3 times a week at about 5.30pm, and by that time both them and me are tired from a day of school. So I don't blame them for not being bothered, but their attitude is bad.
Corporal punishment IS allowed in Korea. Bring on The Nev Beating Stick. And maybe The Little Box of Pain.
Any other brutal physical punishments welcome. Actually, off the top of my head I think I can probably list quite a few.
The Toaster
The Flammable Balaclava
The Meat Hooks of Horror
The ScissorFight Challenge Bonanza (involves 2 children)
The Jabbing Rod
The 20 Year Waking Coma of Agony
and many, many others.
I wonder what the director of my school would think if she saw my list of how to injure children? Is this a sackable offence?
At least I'n not looking up porn on the school computers. One of the teachers is, and you don't have to guess three times to whom I think it is...
So, my first week of teaching is over, although an easy week to break me in as I only worked Monday, Tuesday and today. And although I think it dubious I'll be picking up the "Outstanding English teacher in Korea of the Year award 2004", it's gone mostly ok.
New Year was a low-key affair intentionally. I was very tempted to just stay in for the evening, but I ended up going out for a few hours with my fellow Scottish teacher John, and weird American paedo David. I must stop calling him a paedo actually, it's really unfair. I don't think he is at all, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that he really is very boring. He has nothing to say about anything, and no real sense of humour. John isn't really on my humour wavelength either. Maybe I've just worked in kitchens too long, where the humour is bleak and brutal, but when just mild jokes about international terrorism seems to silence them then I know that if they ever heard me talk about whores or running over babies in my car then they probably wouldn't laugh.
Going out with these two was a surefire quiet night because they both don't drink, or John only in moderation. We went to some park in the centre of town where a giant bell was, and loads and loads of people. At midnight the giant bell was rung with a huge wooden stick/beam/ram thing and tons of little but noisy fireworks exploded all around us for ages.
A drink in a quiet jazz bar then back home for about 2am.
New Years day was unremarkable. There'd been a vague plan to go out with this English guy Mik and some others for a meal, but I couldn't go due to him living in some very obscure location, and my finances being in dire straits. I've actually got about 30,000 Won left (#15) but that's only because I found an extra 10,000 in my pocket about an hour ago. That's got to last me till February. So January is going to have to be an extremely tightly budgeted month. I'm going to spend money on eating, but little else. No luxuries for Nev.
I'm due to meet up with Mik on Tuesday instead now. He even said that he'll treat me to a meal. Now, that's the sort of friends I want. I bet I could even joke about stabbing children to him.
There are a couple of children I'd happily stab and then watch as their bodies crumpled to the ground and the tears mixed with blood as they gasped their last. That may be a little harsh but my M7 class is a bad one. I've got about 12 different classes and the 11 others all seem like nice kids. Even if they're easily distracted they still listen and make some effort. But M7 have got a few boys, about 11 years old, who are lazy and cheeky. I know they're saying stuff about me in Korean. It doesn't help that the book they are all on is too easy for them, and that they find it stupid and patronising (which reflects on me as I'm teaching them it), but I also get them 3 times a week at about 5.30pm, and by that time both them and me are tired from a day of school. So I don't blame them for not being bothered, but their attitude is bad.
Corporal punishment IS allowed in Korea. Bring on The Nev Beating Stick. And maybe The Little Box of Pain.
Any other brutal physical punishments welcome. Actually, off the top of my head I think I can probably list quite a few.
The Toaster
The Flammable Balaclava
The Meat Hooks of Horror
The ScissorFight Challenge Bonanza (involves 2 children)
The Jabbing Rod
The 20 Year Waking Coma of Agony
and many, many others.
I wonder what the director of my school would think if she saw my list of how to injure children? Is this a sackable offence?
At least I'n not looking up porn on the school computers. One of the teachers is, and you don't have to guess three times to whom I think it is...
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