Monday 31 August 2009

First Impressions – Andeok Middle and High School

Shock. Surprise. Giddiness.


A 6-minute stroll down a path through sweet-smelling apple orchards, red chilies, green snap-peas and chocolaty-brown cows, eventually brings me to my main school…


Andeok Middle and High School stands magnificently on a dusty solid area of earth, with an insanely large soccer field, tennis court and separate gymnasium. Divided into two floors, this school definitely trumps my high school back in Canada. With a massive student population of one hundred and fifteen, there are eighteen hard-working teachers with enough composure to keep the school’s students in line.


The English resources at my disposal seem to be more useful for me than for the students. The ‘English Labs’ are decked-out with tons of recent American DVDs, novels in plain ol’ English, numerous English textbooks, and Korean-English dictionaries (although I doubt that most of these materials have been used more than once). I will have to carefully take those DVDs out of their sealed packaging and take them for a spin :).  


You hear about native English teachers being suckered into doing loads more than their contract states. However, I didn’t expect to be teaching both middle and high school. I had heard from a friend during the EPIK Orientation that she was to teach in THREE schools. At that time, I could only imagine the horror of traveling back and forth between them, hastily scurrying like a mouse to get from one to the other.


That was the LAST situation I wanted to be in for my one year of teaching.


***


This is the breakdown I received on my first day from Young-Hee (my Andeok co-teacher):


Andeok Middle and High School




  • Middle School Grades 1-3

  • High School Grades 1-2

  • 3 Teachers’ Classes


Hyeonseo Middle and High School




  • Middle School Grades 1-3

  • High School Grades 1-2

  • 3 Teachers’ Classes


Hyeondong Middle School (Hagwon)




  • Middle School Grades 1-3

  • Supplementary Class

  • Teacher’s Class


***


When I first looked at my schedule, I think I went brain-dead for a split-second. Thank-goodness I recovered, because I managed to save myself from embarrassment by pulling up a smile with what little spark I had left in my brain. Actually, after observing my first class of students in their natural habitat I couldn’t be happier. I say natural habitat, because apparently, the only thing these students do, is STUDY. Now I could crack the whip onto ALL of my students. Muahhahaha… The more little kiddies, the merrier.


I heard through the grapevine that Korean students, especially the older ones, were notorious for keeping quiet in class. They were afraid of giving the wrong answer to a question and making mistakes. Well, that depiction was blown to pieces when I asked the first question to my second grade high school students, receiving in return about a million guestimates as answers.


That afternoon, as I was sitting in the teacher’s lounge and creating my lesson plans, I heard a sudden whisper from the female teachers as one of them entered the room. I felt a tinge of worry as one of them walked straight up to my desk and handed me something…a pink origami heart? I was a little confused, but to say the least, I thought it was a kind gesture of friendship from the teacher. She slowly spoke, “Me, no English. Not good. Mrs. Na! Here.”


She spoke to Mrs. Na at a quick pace, and I smiled as I managed to pick up everything she said. A boy in third grade high school had made me a pink origami heart to seal his crush on me, and Mrs. Na confirmed it. Oh boy.


***


My second day at this school was again, quite lovely. After comfortably meeting the school’s principal the day before, I was informed that he had left, and that there was a new principal taking his place (apparently they are obliged to rotate schools every few years).


There was a large assembly in the gymnasium for the schools new leader – my new boss. As I entered, I quickly received plenty of smiles, double-glances, and stares, which were then followed by a faint blanket of whispering. The students were standing in perfectly straight rows (one for each grade), and the male teachers stood silent while the female teachers quietly gossiped near the back wall. The head teacher introduced the principal and then introduced me. Being Korean-Canadian, Mrs. Na thought it would be best to speak in English when introducing myself to everyone. As I got up on the stage, I felt like the gymnasium’s flood lights were going to make me sweat. “Hello teacher!” I heard from the pool of students. I quickly introduced myself: my name, my age (23 – which made the students gasp…and giggle), what country I was from, and the fact that I was a Korean-Canadian (that one elevated their whisper to a chatter). As the principle silenced them (already shining in his new position), I told the students how excited I was to teach them English. I finished by asking them if they liked games, and walked off the stage to the exclamations “Games? Games!”


***


I think I’m rather lucky to have my home school be as wonderful as it is. Again, through the EPIK Orientation, I heard that there are unlucky native English teachers who have the misfortune of unhelpful co-teachers. It’s hard to imagine being able to speak barely any Korean and trying to make it on your own - especially without receiving help from a Korean co-teacher who knows at least some English. I’m thankful and relieved to have such a selfless and English-literate co-teacher like Young-hee (who has helped Ken and I with everything, from figuring out our transforming washing machine to ordering gas at night for our stove…not to mention answering all of my bajillion questions without a hint of annoyance). I’m grateful to have such gracious teachers who always manage to keep snacks on my desk at all times (and I MUST eat every little crumb, every little grape, every sweet slice of apple, and every piece of sticky ddeok – just to be polite). Saying ‘No-thank-you’ is difficult for me when it comes to food. I always try to graciously refuse my students’ chocolate bars and other lunch snacks, but they insist I take them and force them upon me :).


***


I love this school. The students really are enchanting. And it is always nice to hear, “Beautiful girl! Beautiful girl!” from the same boy, in the same window, every morning and afternoon, as I walk by the school :).


- Jess

2 comments:

  1. Sounds wonderful! The anticipation of the unknown is now over and you can enjoy your classes. You truly are a "Beautiful girl!"

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  2. Christine(Jess's mom)7 October 2009 at 11:25

    Kyung-A, I just read how you're doing both of you in Korea(because of being away to London UK) Very happy and proud of you guys! Jessica, that was the similar environment when I was a teacher in Seoul. Now, my daughter is standing on the same ground in Korea. How possibly I could imagine this happen~

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