Catch the fever

Teaching ESL (English as a second language) here in Korea has been amazing. This is a special 4-week summer program for University students who want to improve their score on a special government test (the TOEIC) that helps them get a better job if they have good reading and listening comprehension in English.

Each of us from MSU are responsible for 3 of our own classes, each 1 hour long: Project English I, Project English II, and Tutorial. Each of our Project English classes has a theme, mine being poetry, and we do projects with the class according to our theme. These are their "fun" classes because their other courses (they go to class 5 days of the week from 9 am to 8 pm, with 1 hour for lunch and 1 hour for dinner) are very difficult and regimented.

I have been teaching them haiku, which they love because it has a specific number of syllables. In our project, we find a photograph and then write a haiku about it. We practiced this as a class during our Project English class. Then for tutorial, which is basically like study hall or homeroom for them, instead of doing their homework, they wanted to get to know me. So they take turns asking me questions about myself, what I like to do, and where I'm from, which is a good way for them to practice their English.

They asked me where I have traveled, so I told them some places, and then they asked if I have any pictures to show them. I showed them a picture of Laura, Erin, and me in Ireland last summer, and they gasped because they say we are so pretty! Then I showed them a scenic picture I had taken, and they asked if they could write a haiku for me about it. So we composed this in English, then they also wrote it in Korean for me, signed their names, and wrote "Thank you, Teacher." And this was on the first day of class. So there is an amazing amount of eagerness and gratitude from the students that I've never experienced before from a whole class.

I'm still incredibly nervous when teaching, but it is so much fun. I am nervous because I want them to learn from me, but no matter what we do in class, they are so appreciative. There is lots of spontaneous clapping, and everyone says thank you as they leave the room at the end of class. Having spent a few days with them now, they are such individual personalities! They are starting to remind me of people back home.

Other questions that I was asked on the first day of tutorial:
"Do you have a boyfriend?" (I get asked this very often, they are quite curious and usually very blunt). When I say no, they all gasp.
Next question: "How do you like Korean men?" To which I say, "They are very polite."
And then: "Would you marry a Korean man?" So I said, "I have only been here for 5 days. That is a lot to think about." And again they gasp (a common reaction) because they think I am doing very well for only having been here 5 days.

Students are also exceptionally impressed when I know any Korean phrases, so I've been working to practice new ones on them so I can get the collective gasp and "How did you know that?" I know jing-jing-day-joo-mah, which means "Stop complaining," but I don't think I will ever have to use that on them.

The language barrier is very difficult. Always 5 or 6 students come up to me after class and try to ask a question, and sometimes we just stare at each other until someone comes up with a phrase the other will understand. I've also had to learn to talk slower and more clearly, especially without using too many figures of speech and the like that don't translate well. When they speak English, often their accents are hard for me to understand, so I will have to go to the board and have them talk me through spelling it. It's a challenging thing, for sure, but very exciting. The camaraderie among the students and teachers is wonderful. Their faces just light up when they say hello and can carry on a little conversation with you. I'm excited for Monday when we switch student groups and I will be able to get to know another 20 of the 60 students in the program.

And let me say, these are the cutest, most put together, well dressed college girls I've ever seen. I think I could take a lesson from them. Very stylish. Modest though. Tanktops are not okay, but lots of jewelry is good. I'm glad I brought mine or I would feel very plain next to them.

I'm very glad to be here for this. All I can say is it's like a wonderful disease, this contagious thing we all share in class.