Right now it is winter vacation for the students. Normally they go to school and then come to the academy after school. This means our hours are usually 1:30- 9:30. But because they dont go to their public schools they come earlier and we offer extra intensive courses. So here is what my day is like Monday through Friday.
7:30- Wake up and head to the gym. I joined the community gym in my neighborhood and it’s about a 3 minute walk from my apt. I usually run on the treadmill and watch CNN (one of the few English channels). Knowing that I get to watch TV gets me there. I don't have cable, so it’s a real treat =)
9:00- Get home from the gym. Shower and get ready for work. I usually have a slice of toast with cheese and an egg for breakfast before running out the door to get to work on time.
9:50- leave for work- I’m so lucky to live a 5 minute walk away.
10:00- Clock in using fingerprint. High-tech, I know =)
10:00- 10:45- Prep books for the day- maybe have a short meeting with the foreign teachers.
10:45-11:35- First class- Intermediate speaking level 3rd graders. 7 crazy boys and 1 sweet girl. I love them- we always laugh a lot in this class.
11:40-12:30- Second class- Beginner speaking level 2nd & 3rd graders. 12 crazy boys and 4 so smart girls. This is a hard class. It’s my biggest, there are some students with ADD and they just LOVE to talk...in Korean, because their English is not very good. But I love them and they are so cute.
12:35- 1:10- I have the same students from my second class for book club. We are reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory right now. This book is really hard for them. They are third graders and very low level- I think American 3rd graders would have a hard time with this book, but we read the book in class and watch clips from the movie. They really love the movie part =).
1:15- Lunch break- usually a few of us will go downstairs and grab lunch together. Normally I get
Bibimbop
Sushi
only 40 cents a piece- so good =)
Kimbop
Spicy Octopus
Mondu (dumplings)
The food here is good =) really good =)
2:30-3:30 Diary of a Wimpy Kid class. This is a special additional class I created for winter intensives. We read the book, watch movie clips, do activities, and the kids make their own journal. These kids don't get a lot of chances to do creative writing- so it been really fun for them to write their own stories.
3:45- 4:55 Last Class. This is a GA level class- Which is the second highest level at my school. These kids amaze me with how smart they are. Some of them have lived in the US or Canada, so I can talk to them like I would a native speaker. It’s a nice change of pace. Monday and Friday We do reading and writing and Wednesday we do Times For Kids. I really love reading through Time For Kids with them. These kids can school me on current events any day. They have opinions and can express them. They think about the world problems and we talk about what changes need to be made. Pretty impressive for 4th and 5th graders speaking their second language.
I have a break for the last hour. I get on the computer and put their grades and attendance into the system. Some times I run to the store if I need to pick up stuff for dinner. I sometimes just sit at my desk and read or catch up on blogs.
I clock out around 6:15 and head home. Sometimes the other teacher’s and I will go out for dinner. Every Friday we all go for Chicken BBQ- it’s so good, and I love that it’s our little tradition. When I get home I usually read, drink tea, watch movies, call home, have skype dates, and just relax.
I have a really wonderful life here. I miss home like crazy, but I’m so thankful that I’ve been given this opportunity to live here and teach these kids.
