Over a week since I first arrived, and I finally got some time in the classroom. My health report came back alright, and my school decided it was time to throw me out to the wolves that are my students. My introduction lesson involved a game and candy, which my students didn't seem to have a hard time enjoying. My first class was a group of 9th graders, and it went extremely well. My next class, 7th graders, was a nightmare. They comprehend similar amounts of English to the 9th graders, but have much more energy and a much shorter attention span. My co-teacher actually took a few students aside and gave them a tongue lashing. After class they stayed behind and cleaned the room. When they finished, they formally apologized to me and bowed. That's respect, baby. I took the ringleader aside after class and just about wanted to smack him. He made me realize what a bastard I must have been for my teachers, growing up.
Walking down my street, I randomly ran into another foreigner. Tom happens to be from Canada, and has been in Korea for 10 years. He did not mind showing me around, and networked me to a few of his Korean friends, Mr. Yoon and Mr. Kim. Mr. Yoon works as a private school English tutor and likes to drink. Mr. Kim is the owner of our neighborhood sushi restaurant, and allowed me to gorge on as much sushi that I could eat.
The 'English Lab' is split into two different classrooms. The one with desks and monitors is the classroom I've been using for teaching. I haven't used the 'Reading Room'yet,(the one with progressive circular windows).
I remember hearing from teachers at NJH that there's a huge difference between 7th and 9th graders. I guess you're learning that first hand! I think the analogy was that they enter jr high as animals and leave as human beings! Or maybe the enter as children and leave as young adults-the kinder, gentler version.
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