First Weekend...First Week

First Saturday in Korea: My new Korean friend Woo Seok picked up me and his brother (who speaks more English!) and took us to sushami (no rice sushi.) While it is Japanese, they still like to eat it. The fish (flounder aka CRAZY fish according to Woo Seok) was literally served raw on the plate. It was delicious! I also tried a raw clam! My face was not of enjoyed while chewing and swallowing haha. I got some great pictures (see below.) After sushi, we got ice cream and went to KARAOKE! soooo fun! It's totally different then in the States. I walked in looking for the stage and singer but i could only hear music from a distance...wtf!? The boys paid the equivalent to $20 and we were taken to a private room where you only sing in front of the people you are with! AAAhhh now I get it. There is a big screen, two mics, a semi-circle booth to fit 10+ people, books with song lists, a huge remote to control the system, and a DISCO ball! haha! I loved it! They had a lot of English songs so I really had a great time showing them some of my favorite songs - a lot were outdated so I didn't know the lyrics (like New Kids.) The system scores you, plays continuous songs, automatically adds time, and the place is open all night! I could definitely see some DZ girls singing the night away in a place like that! 3:45am - sleep time.

Sunday: Off of quarantine - Everybody cheer! WHOOO! So of course I visited Seoul for the first time! Sooo busy and so many people! Ga Yeong came all the way to my apt and took me on the subways so I could learn the system. A taxi ride is about $30 to get to where we were going (1.5 hours into Seoul.) We went to lunch at a traditional Korean restaurant (some what yummy, some what different.) I went to go get my hair cut and she helped me explain what I wanted. It's super cute (short) and was only $15! Yes I love this place! Ga Yeong found out she got an awesome internship (Congratulations Ga Yeong!) and had to go to orientation that night. I knew that she would have responsibilities that day so I came into the city knowing I'd spend time alone. I tried shopping but didn't know where to go. Too expensive or didn't fit. I trekked back to the subways to head home and make sure I could do it...and I did! No problems getting home! I was pretty pleased.

I started learning the Hangul (Korean) alphabet so that I can translate the characters that look like line-line-circle-slant-line into sounds in my head. Still doesn't mean that I'll know what it's saying - just the sounds.

Monday: Observation at PLUS Academy Gireum Branch. I loved being out of my apartment and getting a chance to see the students and other teachers for the first time. I sat in on 4 classes of different levels so that I could get a good idea of the variety. I learned that each teacher has their own style and it important to find your own that will give the students "edutainment" or entertaining education. When I walked in the classroom, the students look at me confused and said "change teacher?!" It made me laugh. They also asked how tall I was because I seem tall for a woman to them. It was a long night but a great way to transition into my first day of teaching. I got a better idea of how reserved/relax to be with the students and some great pointers on controlling and engaging a classroom of rowdy children. :)

Tuesday - September 1st - PLUS Academy in Uijeongbu opened.
My FIRST day of teaching! I wore my grey skirt with a black shirt with a satin ribbon with a creamy gold cardigan - the ideal teacher outfit right?! I came to the school really early so I could prepare my lesson plans and class materials. I made myself detailed plans and felt pretty confident going into the classes. I had 3 classes my first day: Basic3 (8/9 year olds), Junior5 (15-17 year olds), and Basic6 (12/13 year olds.) The number of students in the classes are low right now because its a new school but our enrollment has increased from 60 last Thursday to 96 students this Thursday. SUPPOSEDLY, if we get 100 students by Saturday, we all get a paid trip to a popular Island on the southern point of Korea!! If we get 200 students within the first two months, then we get a bonus! I hope it happens!! My first two classes were a little jumbles as far as the class flow and getting responses. The students are SOO cute! They are great kids and I hope they enjoy my classes. In my first class, one of my boy students gave me oragami paper and an American flag card. Haha it was really cute. Apparently, later he told his mom that his foreign teacher was beautiful! :) Of course I loved hearing that! I would say that the Junior5 class is going to be difficult because the book is probably not challenging enough and they know more formal grammar than I do - it's the highest level class before adults. At the end of my day, I prepared some lesson plans for Wednesday.

Wednesday: New classes with more new students.
This day I had Basic1 (7 year olds that have never taken English!), Basic2 (8 year olds), Basic6 again, BISP (advanced students), and Basic7 (13/14 year olds.) The Basic1 class is of course adorable! The B2s are going to be a major handful with their energy...I can tell already. Just gotta lay down the law! The other classes went well and I felt more and more like the student were learning from my class. It's a great feeling. Wednesday was also the boss man's birthday so he took us all out for chicken, beer, and cake! It was great to finally talk to the staff at my school and get to know them personally. We had a great time and they are all so nice. I look forward to our next dinner!

Thursday: 2nd class for same students.
I enjoyed coming back this day because I could tell the students were settling in to the school and being more comfortable with me. They came into my office to say "hi" and were shy but excited to see me which was cute. My classes went well again. I am getting more confident in what I'm doing and teaching. I am really trying to bring fun into the classroom while being entertaining. I played games at the end of some classes and brought American candy for everyone. They really enjoyed the candy with English writing (got that tip from Tiffany, a Korean waitress I met in the USA!) I also found out that I will be observed on Friday which is a bit scary. Luckily, the students in the two classes being observed are hard workers and participate. I'll let you know how that goes.


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Today I saw a dragonfly. In Korea, it is the symbol of the coming fall season. The temperature is dropping and I can imagine that the next few months will be beautiful.

I plan to shop this Saturday and go hiking in the nearby mountains on Sunday with my manager. Not quite sure what else will come my way this weekend but I'd love to go Karaoke again!

Until next time: Share a chocolate moment with someone you love. Dove chocolates! Yummy!