SCHOOL

My first week at work was an induction week, where I observed classes and then taught a few myself under observation.I am teaching at one of the Little Fox Language schools, which is a private 'Hagwon' school.The kids go to regular school in the morning, and then those parents who can afford to send their kids to private school in the afternoon/evening for extra lessons in subjects like English and Math. So the earliest I start teaching is 2.30pm, but most days it is 3.20pm and not until 4.10pm on a Monday!The latest that I teach until is 8.20pm, but I work until 10pm Monday -Thursday and until 9.10pm on a Friday, as we do telephone interviews after teaching our classes.Basically we have to call all of our students at least once a week to have a brief conversation with them, and ask them some questions about what we have been doing in class.Parents push the kids so hard here to do well, that they often stay up studying til the early hours of the morning!

There are 4 foreign teachers including me, and about 10 Korean English teachers.The lessons are all based on the Little Fox story books, so there's not too much planning to do, as the books give you everything.In the foreign teacher's English classes the students are not allowed to talk in Korean, so we are basically furthering their conversation skills by forcing them to have to speak English.My smallest class has only one student, and my largest class has 13, and the lessons are 45 minutes long.The Korean teachers set all the homework and tests, so I don't have to take any marking home which is great.I'm sure after a while I'm going to get really fed up with reading the same stories over and over again, and watching the accompanying movies and songs, but for the moment they are all new to me, so it's all good, but some of them are really cheesy!

A few things that I find strange are: firstly, all teachers have to wear a lab coat!This is going to be really annoying in summer when it's boiling hot, plus they only have Korean style, squat toilets at school, so the coats kind of get in the way!Secondly, there are cameras and microphones everywhere - in all of the class rooms, so you can be observed without knowing it, as they all link back to the headmaster's office.There's also a camera in reception, which is where the foreign teacher's desks are.I think we are there to make a good first impression when people come into the school! Thirdly, they still have corporal punishment here, so even though I can't hit the students, the Korean teachers can and I have to let them know when a student has been naughty.Fourthly, all the kids have been given English names.This makes it a lot easier for me, but I find it odd that they have a kind of new identity!And some of the names are quite strange, as the previous English teachers have named some of them after characters, so there is a Pikachu, and an Anakin!I might get to name some students in the future - any suggestions will be gratefully received!The kids also don't take off their jackets in class.Apparently they are told to keep their jackets on all day by their parents, so even when it's hot (which it is in most of the classrooms, as they really feel the cold) they still sit there in their jackets!

Last Thursday was a test day, as it is near to the end of the month.So all the students have tests with the Korean teachers, whilst the foreign teachers check the tests for next month to make sure they are correct and up to date.There was so much to remember, as the computers are obviously in Korean, so I had to remember which icons were what, but it was good to see this process so soon and get to haveago at adjusting some tests ready for next month.It also gave me more time to get to know the other foreign teachers better, as we sat near each other to do this task.

So, it's been an interesting week, getting to know the staff, the students and the system, and I think I'm going to like it.I got to teach 7 classes myself, so that was great practice for when I start on Wednesday (they have given me Monday off, as it is the end of the month and the new timetable starts at the beginning of the month, and Tuesday is a national holiday).I think the kids range from about 6 to 13/14 years old, but it's really difficult to tell, as they look much younger than British kids.They find my accent funny, as I am the only English teacher, the others are from USA, Canada and Australia, and they are used to US spellings, which me and the Australian teacher refuse to teach!It is great how the kids adapt though, when I explain that this is how something is spelt in the UK, and they repeat words after me in a British accent.They find my name hilarious though, as apparently Maggie is the name of a fish with a big mouth in Korean!They are also very interested in England due to football, and the fact that a lot of Korean people want to go to work in England.I did find it difficult to answer the question 'Why do many Koreans want to go to England - What is so good about England?'I guess the grass is always greener…… but it was difficult to try and explain this to the kids!It is amazing what they understand though.Their English is so good.

My only problem this week has been my medical test.To teach at the school I had to go to the hospital for a medical.I did this on Tuesday, when I was still suffering jet lag, and still had the cold I developed on the plane here.So, I had taken paracetamol and Lemsip, and consequently failed my medical drug test!This was really annoying, as I had shown the doctor what I had taken, but the test was not specific, just a pass or fail, no matter what drug it was that they found.So, I had to go back the next day, and give another sample which they will test more specifically and give me the results back in a week's time.Oh yes, and trying to give a sample in a squat toilet is not that easy!

So, I've brought home the books I need to teach on Wednesday so that I can prepare, and as it's raining cats and dogs today, that's what I'm going to do now.

Maggie x