First Day of Teaching... OMGosh

Probably felt more today than every day combined that I have been here. HOLY CANOLY!!!!!!!!!! Teaching is the best thing EVER EVER EVER. EVER. Soooo, I woke up at 6am and was able to talk to my mom, my sister (Tonya), and my niece Katie. Magic. Then I got to school at 8:20. My first class began for me at 8:50... I got to class early and nervous. I set up and got organized and then walked back to my office to meet my co-teacher. We walked together to class and spoke. She said I had the floor and could get up and start teaching because this was my class.

So the bell rang, which is more of a jingle, than a bell ringing and then I began. I introduced myself and then I had all of the students fill out 3X5 cards with info about them, like their names so that I can memorize them and take roll and participation. I had them bring up to me their finished cards and took their photo to help me memorize and to put on the 3X5 card. They thought this was embarassing, so I had to tell them that it was for my eyes only.

Then I told them about my "English Please" policy, which is that they can use Korean and English with their fellow students, but in class they must speak English to me and visa versa...

We began our first activity: "How well do you 'know' the teacher?" So I had the students write down five questions each using their group to come up with ideas, but I could see that they were struggling still so, I paired them up to brainstorm and compare. While they did that I used the index cards to write their names down on the board. I called the first student whose name was on the board up to the front of the class, then I said, "This is now Megan Teacher. Please raise your hands and ask her the questions you just wrote down. Each of you will come up and answer four questions using your best guess." They were a little confused so my co-teacher raised her hand and the student at the front of the class called onher and she said, "What was your major?" I was standing at the front of the class next to the student, so I said, "Best guess." She said, "Biology?" And I smiled at her and acted like I was going to say yes, and then put a big "X" on the board next to her name and said "NOOOooo!" The class laughed. Then another student raised her hand and said, "Who is your favorite musician?" She said, "The Beatles?" and I nodded and gave her a big "l" point! I was so enthusiastic! It was suuuuuch a great game! The students asked some crazy questions, like "What did you get on you SATs?" Luckily I didn't have to answer!!!The students seemed to love it and laughed the whole class. We even ran out of time, so we are going to play again next class!!! :)

Then I had two hours of after school classes from 7:20-9:10pm... I have work regularly from 9-5, but I stayed today because it made more sense than biking home and back between 5 and 7. So I had dinner in the cafeteria with my co-teachers. Then I met, Paul, an English professor at Yeongnam University. He is teaching the same 2 hour time slots on Tues/Thurs... We teach groups A, B, C, and D, which are comprised of mainly 2nd years to give them a little more practice in English. It is like a Hogwan (private school) for parents who want their kids to have more access to English. Soooo, I had an hour with 2nd years and an hour with first years. The kids were incredible. I got to be just a facilitator and assist when needed for both classes. In the first class we talked about interviewing for college and the second class, for first years was more about just getting the students comfortable speaking. We played 2 truths and a lie. The kids were so analytical. They were drawing on info they had heard about students through the grapevine, go figure at a science high school ;) The first class we worked on past tense... It was awesome... Both. Differently.

I'm soooo happy right now. And tired. And happy. OMG. Tomorrow I head to E-Mart once again with my coie. Our goal is a kitchen table, and a light for the bike, amoung other things : ) Holler... Much peace n love.

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