Ok, so I realize that I should have updated this blog A LOT sooner than I am doing right now, but most of the time I have so many things on the go that it's hard to just stop for a while and write about whats new with me. That being said, it is a little surprising to say that there isn't really that much that is different at work or home.
-Last weekend I went shopping with Yunjung to Forever21 and to Suwon Station. Most of the Bus stations in Suwon and Seoul have bus stops like we do in Canada, but they also have an underground area where there is a lot of market, discount street shopping types of stores. I bought some long t-shirts for 5000 won and they have ridiculous english language phrases but Yunjung said they were ok to wear to school. The Forever 21 in Myungdong Seoul is awesome - three floors of my favourite clothing brand. Let's just say I had a lot of fun there.
In one of the department stores we went to they have a brand like H&M, only in Korea its called H&T. I bought many shirts with FABULOUS on the front, and I thoroughly enjoy them.
-I finished another month of report cards on Thrusday night, and I have another set due on Monday by midnight. The company has decided to change the format of the report cards too, so that we have to record every day they had homework done or not, every grammar test and the date, all of the vocabulary quizzes, selection tests, and unit test scores and then add on another comment. Needless to say, I was feeling a little frazzled for the first half of this week. But I'm feeling so much better now that half of my reports are done. PLus the weather is getting warmer (although it has been raining almost every day) so that's a pro. :D
I was supposed to go to Everland today, but the teachers decided to take the Korean councillors we work with out for dinner and then we went to a noraebang (Kareoke singing room - and a really nice one too!) and I didn't get home until 2:30 this morning. You all know that I am no morning person, so I told Jen and Chris that I would go with them in two weekends. PLus the weather said that it was going to rain and I didn't feel like standing outside getting wet to go on a roller coaster. I guess the T-express will just have to wait for me!
My spring vacation is almost here - I have oy two more days of teaching before the break, so I'm looking forward to some extra time off. I still have no set plans to travel, but I will most likely be staying in the country. I have talked to some of my other Korean friends to see if they are available, but they might be busy during the week. Maybe I'll be able to go and see some more of the famous tourist sights around here. Annnnd bring my lovely camera too...
April 6th
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Hey
This is just a quick post before I head into work for the week. I finally managed to get myself an end table for my room, as well as some dishes (haha Tanya) and other things for my apartment. It's actually starting to look like someone really lives here, instead of just someone crashing here for a few days.
The weather here is getting a lot warmer - It's finally time to wear t-shirts to work!
This is just a quick post before I head into work for the week. I finally managed to get myself an end table for my room, as well as some dishes (haha Tanya) and other things for my apartment. It's actually starting to look like someone really lives here, instead of just someone crashing here for a few days.
The weather here is getting a lot warmer - It's finally time to wear t-shirts to work!
Pictures! (1)
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*As per request, I've taken down the pictures of my students. I hope you all had a chance to see them!
I figured out how to post pictures on this blog - took me a while didn't it.
These pictures are from my MWF classes. They're such great kids!
I figured out how to post pictures on this blog - took me a while didn't it.
These pictures are from my MWF classes. They're such great kids!
Whew!
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haha, I bet you're all wondering what happened to me for the last couple of weeks. well, I have been SWAMPED here with prepping for lessons making grammar tests, marking essays and then the joy of all joys in teaching - writing report cards.
BUT
The madness is almost all over - I have only 2 more classes to write report cards for and those aren't due until Monday at midnight. Booyah! I'll probably spend a good chunk of my weekend writing comments to get those out of the way. Plus we are about to start the second month of a 3 month term(?) her at yes Youngdo, so I want to get some outlines for the upcoming curriculum finished ahead of schedule. This last week I was working about 12-15 hours a day, so I'm feeling pretty tired from school stuff.
The weekend is almost upon us here in Korea, and I think I'm going to try to buy some more stuff for my apartment, so that it actually LOOKS like someone is living there. ;D
I'll write again (mostly likely tomorrow) about living in Korea and not just what my teaching schedule is like (although it feels like that is all I do - school stuff. I have no life XD).
OH, and I 'll have to find some time to post the pictures and videos I've taken so far. Uploading just takes such a darn long time!
BUT
The madness is almost all over - I have only 2 more classes to write report cards for and those aren't due until Monday at midnight. Booyah! I'll probably spend a good chunk of my weekend writing comments to get those out of the way. Plus we are about to start the second month of a 3 month term(?) her at yes Youngdo, so I want to get some outlines for the upcoming curriculum finished ahead of schedule. This last week I was working about 12-15 hours a day, so I'm feeling pretty tired from school stuff.
The weekend is almost upon us here in Korea, and I think I'm going to try to buy some more stuff for my apartment, so that it actually LOOKS like someone is living there. ;D
I'll write again (mostly likely tomorrow) about living in Korea and not just what my teaching schedule is like (although it feels like that is all I do - school stuff. I have no life XD).
OH, and I 'll have to find some time to post the pictures and videos I've taken so far. Uploading just takes such a darn long time!
March 12, 2009
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Once again, I have to say that my procrastination for planning my lessons is coming back to bite me in the behind. I have my 3 hr classes tonight (one of which is the evil one) and I have NO IDEA what I'm going to talk about with them for such a long time. The 4:00 class isn't too bad, because they are at the same level as one of my other classes, so I basically use the same lesson plan. But my middle school students, that's another story. These kids have to be "entertained" while learning in order for me to get them to focus.
This is the weekend I'm going to get ahead ;)
Thank you to everyone who has emailed me or called me on skype - it's so nice to come to work and read all about what's going on over on the other side of the world. Sarah, thank you so much for you video message and facebook posts - you have no idea how much I really needed that :D
I have a pretty bad head cold right now that I'm taking tons of medicine for - I hope that it will be gone by this weekend.
Anyways, back to my much needed planning...
This is the weekend I'm going to get ahead ;)
Thank you to everyone who has emailed me or called me on skype - it's so nice to come to work and read all about what's going on over on the other side of the world. Sarah, thank you so much for you video message and facebook posts - you have no idea how much I really needed that :D
I have a pretty bad head cold right now that I'm taking tons of medicine for - I hope that it will be gone by this weekend.
Anyways, back to my much needed planning...
March 9th
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Totally behind on my planning...
I had really set my mind on getting the lesson plans for ALL my classes this week finished on the weekend, but I forgot to bring the textbooks home with me. So I'm here 3 hours early (as usual) writing up what I'm going to talk about today.
I apologize to anyone who doesn't watch LOST, but I finally watched the most recent episode and I HAVE to comment about it.
Dad, Lauren; how freakin' excited were you when you saw "the statue" in the first ten minutes of the show?? I literally screamed when I watched it, I think my neighbours must have heard me yelling. It's a pity that it didn't really last for longer than a few minutes, and I hope that the producers will bring it back sometime soon.
I think I finally figured out the whole time travel thing and how Jin was in that DHARMA Initiative suit when he came across Jack, Kate and Hurley. If you have any insights, please share them with me :D
And Sawyer and Juliette?? Booyah, I totally like them better together than with Jack and Kate. Ahh I cannot wait to see what is going to happen next. What about when all the OCEANIC 6 are finally reunited with the other LOSTIES?
Ok, enough rambling.
I hope you are all enjoying the cold weather in Canada; it has gotten a lot warmer here over the last couple of days. Right now I'm just preparing myself for the "DUST STORMS" of April. Oh what fun that will be.
I had really set my mind on getting the lesson plans for ALL my classes this week finished on the weekend, but I forgot to bring the textbooks home with me. So I'm here 3 hours early (as usual) writing up what I'm going to talk about today.
I apologize to anyone who doesn't watch LOST, but I finally watched the most recent episode and I HAVE to comment about it.
Dad, Lauren; how freakin' excited were you when you saw "the statue" in the first ten minutes of the show?? I literally screamed when I watched it, I think my neighbours must have heard me yelling. It's a pity that it didn't really last for longer than a few minutes, and I hope that the producers will bring it back sometime soon.
I think I finally figured out the whole time travel thing and how Jin was in that DHARMA Initiative suit when he came across Jack, Kate and Hurley. If you have any insights, please share them with me :D
And Sawyer and Juliette?? Booyah, I totally like them better together than with Jack and Kate. Ahh I cannot wait to see what is going to happen next. What about when all the OCEANIC 6 are finally reunited with the other LOSTIES?
Ok, enough rambling.
I hope you are all enjoying the cold weather in Canada; it has gotten a lot warmer here over the last couple of days. Right now I'm just preparing myself for the "DUST STORMS" of April. Oh what fun that will be.
Weekly Overview
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I realize that this post is a late one - honestly it really sucks not having internet at home. I probably won't have an internet connection at my house until the end of NEXT week at the earliest, so my posts on this blog until that time will be few and far between. But I still like hearing from you and reading your comments, so make sure you keep writing!
I'm really enjoying my M/W/F classes, and my T/TH class at 4 oclock are really set too, but I have to say that my class of middle school students on Tuesday and Thursday night from 7-10 is giving me a hard time keeping them interested. I have some great students in that class, and if it wasn't for them I would probably have given up hehe. There are about 3 or 4 students that act like they are too cool for school or something. They constantly speak in Korean, which is against the rules of the school, even though I REPEATEDLY tell them not to, and when I give them punishments, like writing lines or going to see the Korean teachers in the office - most students are terrified of them because they will actually yell at the kids if they aren't doing they're work or misbehaving (it's a Korean culture thing I think) - they always say no or try to make up for what they did. but then 30 seconds later they're acting up again.
ERGG I will have to get creative, and a few teachers have given me some suggestions to try out. Ultimately, they've told me to teach to the kids that want to learn and that are doing the work, and when the parents of those misbehaving kids wonder why their kid doesn't know English, its their own fault. Aish the hormones of 13-14 year olds are sooooo frustrating....
YEsterday I went with some teachers to a Suwon Bluewings soccer game and took my camera along. The pictures I took may not have been the best, but I think they captured the feeling of being in an outside stadium watching a sports match. The fans on our side - we were cheering for Suwon too - were soooo loud and enthusiastic; I had to videotape some of their singing to show Mum. Afterwards we went out to a galbi restaurant for some good ol' beef grilled right in front of us.
mmmm lots of deliciousness.
Today, I'm pretty much taking it easy - althoguh tonight I want to organize and prepare my lesson plans for the whole week so I won't be as stressed as I was last week. I can't wait to get to the point where I can wing it most of the time.
I'll try to update again soon, and maybe even include some pictures :D
I'm really enjoying my M/W/F classes, and my T/TH class at 4 oclock are really set too, but I have to say that my class of middle school students on Tuesday and Thursday night from 7-10 is giving me a hard time keeping them interested. I have some great students in that class, and if it wasn't for them I would probably have given up hehe. There are about 3 or 4 students that act like they are too cool for school or something. They constantly speak in Korean, which is against the rules of the school, even though I REPEATEDLY tell them not to, and when I give them punishments, like writing lines or going to see the Korean teachers in the office - most students are terrified of them because they will actually yell at the kids if they aren't doing they're work or misbehaving (it's a Korean culture thing I think) - they always say no or try to make up for what they did. but then 30 seconds later they're acting up again.
ERGG I will have to get creative, and a few teachers have given me some suggestions to try out. Ultimately, they've told me to teach to the kids that want to learn and that are doing the work, and when the parents of those misbehaving kids wonder why their kid doesn't know English, its their own fault. Aish the hormones of 13-14 year olds are sooooo frustrating....
YEsterday I went with some teachers to a Suwon Bluewings soccer game and took my camera along. The pictures I took may not have been the best, but I think they captured the feeling of being in an outside stadium watching a sports match. The fans on our side - we were cheering for Suwon too - were soooo loud and enthusiastic; I had to videotape some of their singing to show Mum. Afterwards we went out to a galbi restaurant for some good ol' beef grilled right in front of us.
mmmm lots of deliciousness.
Today, I'm pretty much taking it easy - althoguh tonight I want to organize and prepare my lesson plans for the whole week so I won't be as stressed as I was last week. I can't wait to get to the point where I can wing it most of the time.
I'll try to update again soon, and maybe even include some pictures :D
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