I really need to stop planning my lessons the day of. It is semi-nerve wracking, but I suppose I have it down to a science. I work well under pressure and come up with some really awesome lesson plans this way.
Especially since I was locked out of my classroom today for 10 minutes of that oh so precious planning time. Luckily my classes start late on Mondays. We had the locks changed to the classroom yet again (they keep getting broken...not because someone is using a shovel to break down the English Village door, but because children stand and play with the spinning contraptions as they line up after classes). 2 weeks later...I still haven't been given a key. After today, I will have one. Believe me.
This week with the first grade, I'm letting them run around the classroom in partners asking each other "What's this?" and answer "It's a ___." Ok, so this isn't one of my better lesson plans, but I like it. I like it because it gives the children time to talk to each other and rely on each other for the answers versus me feeding them everything they are supposed to say. I still left the option for them to call on me with questions, but in general it was up to them.
I went to the orphanage today. I must mark this most amazing occasion. The taxi driver today knew the way to Seongaewon without me telling him a single direction! I have been going there for months and months now and never has a taxi driver known the way! I wanted to give him a round of applause but wasn't quite sure how to do this without him promptly kicking me out of his taxi for being...the weird foreigner.
The kids are cute. I have a lot of fun with them, but when it comes to game time...oy vey. I'm still working out a whole "Don't run all over the place, don't hit the dogs, don't throw rocks at your fellow human beings procedure." It's just recently that I've started taking them outside for games. It has, in the past, been too cold or too wet. We attempted to play Train Wreck...well it certainly lived up to its title. We'll try again next week. I have to remember that I can't expect miraculous understanding from 4 and 5 year olds (3 and 4 - American age). The older kids catch on quickly and try to help the younger ones, but sometimes there's just no way. In addition, I teach about 3 special needs students within the 15. It is difficult to teach special needs students in their own language let alone a foreign language, but I have been trying my best. My mom really is superwoman...she has taught special ed for about 30 years now. I'm impressed by her patience, especially within her school situation. South Bend schools...(I personally don't need to say more and those familiar with South Bend schools don't really need more said in order to understand what exactly being a South Bend teacher entails. Having said that, those of you who don't know South Bend schools, use your imaginations...be sure to include knives, guns, gang fights, all out disrespect of teachers, oh but throw some happiness in there too...don't want to scare you too much.)
I quickly ate dinner before yoga. Classes are starting back up this week. My host mom has a tendency to start making dinner 15-20 minutes before I have to leave, but I'm really grateful that she takes the time to make dinner early for me. Lately, I've actually been eating with the family more...just earlier than they are usually used to eating.
Yoga was intense for the first day back after a week break, but we also have a new teacher. I enjoy her teaching style; she pushes us and focuses on breathing and proper posture more than the gaggle of teachers we've had fly in and out since I started three months ago.
I'm still struggling through a new piece of music I was given on Friday in guitar lessons. It is a piece that I love, but I am unfortunately abusing the beautiful sounds of Simon and Garfunkle more than they would ever wish to know. It will all come together eventually...but perhaps not before this summer. Sorry, no concerts for my loyal fans. Actually I believe my 11 year old host sister is the only one who has expressed any sort of fan loyalty, but then again, she gets excited when I play a scale.^^
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