I'm Finally Back After Three Years

It has been three years since I last updated here. I rarely think of posting about my experiences in teaching but too lazy to post and sometimes forget when I come home. I have lots of good and bad experiences about teaching. As you know, it's not easy to teach in other land specially when you have different language. Eventhough I love kids and teaching is my passion, there are times that I feel upset, terrible and irritated. Of course most of the time, I have to carry my patience with me or else everyone will be in trouble.

It's alright to hit the students in Korea which surprised me when I first saw the teacher hitting a student on his head with a stick. It wasn't too hard that could break his head but still it was against the law in my country. After seeing several times of spanking the children from the teachers and boss, I got used to it. I realized that it needed to educate the Korean students because they don't listen or follow the teachers easily. There are lots of hard-headed students that some of them even say bad words to their teachers. Saying good words or giving some advise to them is useless. They should be taught some lessons through a stick or rod.

In my case, I never hit a student in my 12 years of teaching but sometimes feel like hitting them or throwing them out of the window if it's just possible. But I always keep my patience because I understand that students are also moody. There are times that they don't feel like studying specially when they have a problem at home or school. I can't deny that I sometimes get irritated but most of the time, I enjoy my day with kids.

My cute new student

Vacation is finished. Some students said they were happy because they met their school friends and some said they had terrible day because class started today. But my topic is not about their ended vacation but about my new student. She was supposed to be in our institute by 2p.m. I thought she wasn't coming. I thought her mom changed her mind to send her in the academy either because she's young or she moved to another institute. But yes! She appeared at 2:37. The class has to finish at 2:50 but I couldn't do it because of her. I had to finish at past 3. The reason is because she came very late, it's her first time and I tried my best to finish two pages. In fairness, she's cute and smart so I like her. hehe..

It's not easy to teach Korean students

I'm tired of teaching so I'm planning to quit my job but that's not going to be easy. It's not easy to quit when you know that you are teaching because you want to help. I think i'm helping my boss because I'm doing my best so his business will become successful. I also believe that I'm helping my students because I always do my best so that they can learn even when they are sometimes rude and naughty. I sometimes feel like losing my temper but want to throw them away out of the window but I just take a deep breath instead. Sometimes I feel like my head is going to explode because of stress and anger that I always keep deep within me.

Oh well, it's not always easy to teach Korean students.

Students who always complain

I hate my 6 o'clock class. They don't do anything but to complain. It's very stressful to teach them. I remember when I first taught them, they couldn't read or write even a single word like "she" or "they". It always took us 30 minutes to read and learn the spelling of ten of the sight words. And now I can say that they improved a lot. They can't only read fast but they can also write and explain even hard words. Of course that wasn't an easy job. I always argue with them everytime we meet. They always say that I always give them hard works. We have to learn words, explain what they have read, study the pronunciation and give homeworks. They said they haven't studied like that before. I know that's why they were stupid. Actually, I also taught them phonics on my first month of meeting them because they couldn't read or write. But until now it's hard to correct their pronunciation because whenever I teach them the correct pronunciation, they get angry easily so sometimes I'd rather ignore them because I get much stress.

Before we start the class, they always tell me to study a little and leave early. That's everyday that I always want to put earphone on my ears before I start the class. I don't hate them but I hate their bad attitudes with regards to studying. I always want them to learn but they are not interested enough. Do I get more salary if they learn a lot? Of course not! Would my salary decrease if they don't learn? Absolutely not! I just want to do my job so I'm trying my best so that they could learn. They should know that! Yes, they should!

Tell the whole earth

I was in the office while waiting for my next class. While waiting for them, I checked my cellphone if I got a missed call or text messages. There wasn't any. It's also my habit to check the pictures on my cellphone. I was alone in the office so I decided to take a picture of me. I was posing like a cute lady when two of my students came and saw me. They laughed at me and didn't stop teasing me until the class started. During our class, they wanted me to play but I didn't allow them. We had to finished the book for this month so it seems like we are running out of time to finish it next week. Then my students said they would tell my boss on what they saw in the office. I said I wasn't scared of it. Then they said they would tell the whole students about it. I said that was okay. Then they said they would tell all parents. They couldn't convinced me so they finally said that they would put on the internet. Are they saying that they would tell the whole earth about my picture taking? hahahaha....

They are so cute but not funny! hehehe...

Summer Vacation

School Summer Vacation has started last week. There are many students who missed the class for 2-3 days because they are going on vacation. Some of them visited other countries and others just inside the country but stayed in one place for many days. There are also students who quit because they went abroad to study.

Students are very proud to share about their vacation to their classmates. Students who have been on vacation were telling about their fun time when they were away and some of them are telling where they are going on their coming vacation. I noticed that one of my students was very quiet. Then someone asked her, she said she's not going anywhere because her parents are afraid of the swine flu. I think her parents have a point there. I told her that I'm not going anywhere either so she can come to my house during our vacation. She smiled and I hope my words made her feel more relieved and comfortable.

Reason for being absent

My student wasn't coming. He was already 20 minutes late so I called him at home. He answered the phone and said he was coming. After 10 minutes, he called again and said that he couldn't come because someone came and explained him about the church. He said he was trying to leave but the man didn't want to let him go. I don't know what kind of church it was and I'm not against the church but I was upset because they disturb people specially kids in their studies. There was no wrong if they were on time but to disturb a kid from studying is not right.

I told my student to leave that man and just come even when he was late for more than 30 minutes. It's okay to be absent for a day but if the reason is just because of that guy that he met in front of his apartment, then that unreasonable. I'm not angry with my students. I'm angry with that guy. I just hope that his intention is really to bring him to the church and not what I see on tv whose trying to get the heart of the kids and then just bring them somewhere and ask for money.