Growing like Fungi

Jenny

I've had these kids for just over a month and at first they had so many bad speaking habits. Not that I'm a great teacher and all my students speak perfect English. Don't get me wrong. Those are just some things I noticed at first. They are pretty young too. At an average age of 7 years old (8 in Korean age), they are learning a second language. They were quite a handful at first, actually just one student, who isn't in any of these pictures. Now, for the most part, are great to teach and have fun with.

Josh

Alice
Helen
Justin
Na hyung

Can you read this?

I am really glad this week is done, to say the least. It was very busy, maybe the busiest and most tired I have felt in a while,...well... since the Worldcup this past summer. First we had to take tests and grade them. Some students write so fast that by the time they're done it's like trying to read that up above, which is the language Korean people used before 'Hangul' was created. You can't really blame them though. In a 40 minute class you can only write so much. It is just more proof that what the students are studying is just too much for them. They are usually tired and anything that seems different than studying to them is "FUN"!

After the tests are all marked, we had to write reports which include some comments about their progress, if any. It's pretty hard to come up with something positive or different so I found myself repeating some things, trying to keep it as positive as possible.

Today was refreshing in a way, as I got to more or less hang out with them and communicate with them in a different way through some activities and games. To tell you the truth, it actually takes more out of you than just teaching the 'Korean style'.

It makes it all worthwhile though when a parent says "Thank you for teaching my kid, you are a good teacher"!