I will start with the beginning of the week, Monday I taught my first 2nd and 4th grade classes which went very well. Teaching in a foreign place brings challenges that I never thought of before, such as having to explain what being kind means or getting children to talk instead of just staring. I think my greatest challenge right now is communicating with all of the homeroom teachers. I know that they want to help, but translating for the children when I am trying to check their level of English understanding makes it very difficult to get a true feeling for what the students already know. I think I just need to be more direct with the teacher from the beginning, but I don't want them to think that I don't want their help. Anyway, I am teaching 2nd grade about shapes this week and they seem to enjoy my activities, but I found out very quickly that I needed to give more direction and direct guidance for my string shapes activity. Student had a hard time keeping the string on their desk and began wrapping the string around their heads, hands, and pretty much what ever they could. I asked some of the teachers in the English department for suggestions and so as the week has gone on I think my lessons have improved.
My 4th grade teaching experience went very well I taught one class on Monday and one on Tuesday. Both of the classes went extremely well. First I asked the students if they had any questions for me so I had them each write down one question and I answered them all before I started in on the lesson. We discussed 'seasons' the students seemed to love my activity of singing a rap song about the seasons. I found it on Youtube...it's called "If you need to know the seasons" if you listen to it, it will get stuck in your head. I had so much fun teaching them and can't wait to teach them again in two weeks.
Today was the BIG English festival at Soongin and I thought it went great! I got to sit in on one of the best classes I have ever seen...and it was taught in English. The class was one that I have taught and the teacher is very good at managing her classroom. It is a 3rd grade classroom and they are able to have fun with the teacher and while watching I could tell that they know their limits within the goofing around time. The teacher created games such as pictionary and catch to help students stay engaged in the learning. I was even able to video tape some of the class, but would like to get the teacher's permission before I put it up on my blog.
Also some of the 5th and 6th graders put on a play for all of the teachers that had come from other schools to see how Soongin taught English. It was called "The Ants and the Grasshopper". Philly was in charge of it so she was stressing out all day long, but everything went great and I think the principal was very pleased.
After school today, the principal took all of the teachers out to a nice BBQ place to thank them for all of their hard work.
 |
| The wonderful BBQ. |
 |
| Mingi teacher, she teaches English to 4-6th graders. |
 |
| Philly teacher, she teaches English to 1-3rd graders. |
 |
| Drinks with the Principal. |
I had so much fun getting to talk with some of the other teachers and offering the respectful gesture of doing shoots with the principal and vice principals. Everyone at Soongin is great and I am so glad that I am at this school, even if they don't know what to do with me. The people are great!
 |
| Drinks with the Vice Principal. |
No comments:
Post a Comment