I am living in Cangchok, but am teaching in Yuchon, a neighboring town. My first few weeks of teaching were mainly spent getting to know my colleagues and students, as well as setting the foundation for a healthy classroom climate. I focused mainly on getting used to my schedule, and also on figuring out the most effective and efficient strategies for approaching lesson planning and implementation. In short, the past few weeks consisted of me getting adjusted to the school, and the school - it's staff and students - getting adjusted to me.
Yuchon is terrific. With the exception of a few teachers, the majority of the staff at Yuchon Elementary School speak little to no English. This has made for many awkward conversations, things getting lost in translation, etc. I never know whether my bows are appropriate or whether I am bowing too much, or whether I am supposed to say something, or say nothing at all. However, they have accepted me with open arms, and the kindness that I've received overshadows the difficulties in communication. Still, I will strive to learn Korean so that I am able to further develop my relationship with the school staff and students.
The structure of the Korean workplace is very different than that of America's. While both are largely hierarchically based, positions and titles in Korea are of much more importance in a uniquely different way. For example, in the mornings as I step inside the Gyomushil - a "teacher's office" of sorts - I must "insa"(bow and greet) the staff in the following order: the Vice Principal, Teacher department head, the Office Assistant...etc. The higher in power one is, the greater the level of respect they demand. If this ritual were to be incorrectly staged, it would be offensive and detrimental to one's relationship with that person.
At Yuchon Elementary School I teach grades 1-6, adding to a total of 78 students. The students have been a true pleasure to teach so far. The town I work in is largely agricultural, and therefore many of my students come from a farming background. In conducting a diagnostic to measure the students' English ability level, one of the questions was, "What does your mother do?". The top responses were: Farmer, Teacher, and Business Woman. My students bring such a high energy-level and excitement to learn into the classroom, which has largely added to the wonderful experience I've had here so far.
Yuchon is terrific. With the exception of a few teachers, the majority of the staff at Yuchon Elementary School speak little to no English. This has made for many awkward conversations, things getting lost in translation, etc. I never know whether my bows are appropriate or whether I am bowing too much, or whether I am supposed to say something, or say nothing at all. However, they have accepted me with open arms, and the kindness that I've received overshadows the difficulties in communication. Still, I will strive to learn Korean so that I am able to further develop my relationship with the school staff and students.
The structure of the Korean workplace is very different than that of America's. While both are largely hierarchically based, positions and titles in Korea are of much more importance in a uniquely different way. For example, in the mornings as I step inside the Gyomushil - a "teacher's office" of sorts - I must "insa"(bow and greet) the staff in the following order: the Vice Principal, Teacher department head, the Office Assistant...etc. The higher in power one is, the greater the level of respect they demand. If this ritual were to be incorrectly staged, it would be offensive and detrimental to one's relationship with that person.
At Yuchon Elementary School I teach grades 1-6, adding to a total of 78 students. The students have been a true pleasure to teach so far. The town I work in is largely agricultural, and therefore many of my students come from a farming background. In conducting a diagnostic to measure the students' English ability level, one of the questions was, "What does your mother do?". The top responses were: Farmer, Teacher, and Business Woman. My students bring such a high energy-level and excitement to learn into the classroom, which has largely added to the wonderful experience I've had here so far.
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