Week #2

Today we had a birthday party at school for the kindergarten students that had March birthdays.  Apparently these birthday parties each month are a big deal.  All of the students brought a gift for each of the birthday kids.  The birthday kids each went home with a big bag of presents.  There was also a ton of food.  Good food.  Strawberries, apples, bananas, grapes, candy, gimbop (Korean sushi) and of course chocolate cake.

We are really enjoying Korea.  Although it took some adjustment we are starting to settle in and feel at “home.”  The school we are working for, SLP Gwangjin, has been working out great for us so far.  It is definitely a different environment than home but once we figured it out we really enjoy it.  Once the kindergarteners leave, we teach 40 minute classes of elementary students.  I’m still surprised at how teacher directed the instruction is for the elementary kids in the afternoon.  The teacher teaches the lesson during which the kids answer questions so that they are practicing their speaking and then it is all about the worksheets and homework.  Parents will complain if their kids do not have homework nearly every night.  This week we both tried supplementing the curriculum with things like crossword puzzles and word searches using vocabulary words.  The kids loved it.  Some of the parents did not.  Eric has a class with parents that did not appreciate the vocabulary word search their kids spent time doing and they made sure the school knew about it, just to make sure it doesn't happen again.  I guess instead of making fun games that reinforce what is being taught we need to make worksheets instead.  Very opposite of the current push in the U.S. to have lots of hands on games and activities for kids to do to support their learning in the classroom!  

Even with the cultural difference in education, we are really enjoying our school.  The director of our school is an interesting lady.  If you are on her good side, we have been told, she will give you just about whatever you want.  If you are not on her good side, she will not give you anything.  She does not speak English so she does not like trying to talk to the foreign teachers.   However, we were told from the very beginning she really likes it when the foreign teachers at least say hello and good bye to her.  So everyday we both make sure we do.  She always gets a very big smile on her face when we do, even though that is all we say.  Today we were surprised to learn she was giving us some more stuff for our apartment.  While we were at work a microwave, toaster, dining room table and chairs, another twin bed (though we really don’t need or have room for 3!) and some cleaning supplies were delivered to our apartment.  None of the stuff was new, it was all hand me downs but the fact she went out of her way to make sure we were the ones to get it and have it delivered to our apartment makes us think we must be doing something right.

I finally got some pictures of my kindergarteners that you can see below, as well as some pictures from the birthday party and time at the gym today.  We are glad to be just about done with another week and have a few possible sightseeing ideas for this weekend.  Stay tuned for pictures and info of where we end up!

 Elizabeth hard at work on a puzzle

 Matthew likes to pretend he is an angry monster

 Tommy prefers to run around the classroom and the entire 4th floor for most of the morning

 Emily showing off her coloring

 Tommy also enjoys sleeping under the table when he gets tired of running around

 Elizabeth likes to read under the table... we are still working on the concept of sitting at a table

 Elizabeth and Sophie reading The Three Little Pigs

 Birthday Party time!

 Present time!

 Every Thursday we walk down the street to Leader Gym for P.E. time

 Laura playing at the gym