First Days of Teaching

So, I have started "teaching" this week. And the quotation marks are there because it's been mostly testing/orientation stuff. So I don't have a great routine yet, but I think it will come...


Yesterday, I thought my classes were testing, but it turns out they weren't, so I had to teach. I also made my syllabus using a workbook that they do not have, so I couldn't give them their syllabus, but told them I would have it for the next class. Apparently Korean mothers don't like it when you don't have a syllabus because the school got some calls about that...Anyway, I wasn't totally prepared to be honest and I wanted to get into some of the classes before deciding what I was going to do. So the first class was short and there was only one student...very easy. THEN...ugh...then...I walked into class and recognized a few of the students from observation...recognized as in trouble. The class was awful. They didn't listen to anything and talked the whole time, even after I yelled at them and was as strict as I could be without being totally horrible. So anyway, afterwards, I talked to their Korean homeroom teacher who told me they can be difficult. And today we talked about it and it's basically a class of disruptive students all put together. Fantastic. So I am really trying to come up with what to do when I see them again because this is going to be bad if I can't get them under control. We'll see...I'm sure I will mention it again...

Besides that, most of my other classes seem great. Some of these kids are so awesome and are going to be so much fun to teach. I only have one syllabus left, and it's pretty much been done by one of my co-workers so now I can focus on teaching :-)

I think I found a new favorite food at Kimbap Nara...Gogimandu...it has meat and soy sauce and it's a dumpling...who wouldnt like that?

I'm much more settled now. I have most necessities and it feels more like MY OWN apartment :-)

OK, I'm out of things to write for now...