I just got back from my first Korean wedding. My cousin Hee-jung tied the knot with her new husband on December 15, 2007 in Oryu-dong, which is located in Central Seoul.
A Korean wedding is very similar to an American wedding, with the usual nice tux and gowns goinng on, but the location was such a different thing for me to experience: a wedding hall.
Wedding halls are major centers of wedding ceremonies throughout Korea. They are like businesses that cater to major weddings and their receptions. Back in America, the locations vary where people want to get married: churches, country clubs, outdoors, or even more zany locales to tie the knot. For Koreans, wedding halls here are a more convenient for wedding parties to do their thing and keep the reception close at hand.
What surprised me the most was this: when we got there for the wedding, there was a wedding already going on. Another party was doing their wedding in the same hall that Hee-jung's wedding was going to be set in, so there were just loads of people from our party and theirs inter-mingling in the lobby of the floor. There was no quiet, it was like a market...hustle and bustle while this shot-gun wedding was proceeding (just kidding).
To me, it was sort of like a legitimized Vegas wedding hall, because one party got married, and the next came in! The same pastor, just him saying different names and giving different blessings.
So Hee-jung and her fiance come in, the Moskanim ("Pastor" in Korean) did his thing, said some blessings and prayers, and a couple sang a song. 5 minutes, a kiss, and they were already did their vows...wait, I didn't even hear vows. Interesting. I think those are implicit...maybe?
Well, it was essentially THE FASTEST wedding I have ever seen. I thought Koreans were really down with ceremonies and want to draw out each moment in Korean-esque, Joseon Dynasty traditional mo-jo, last Korean warrior plus Buddhism concentration, but nope. We were out of there as fast as New York Knicks fans when they watch their team at the Garden. What was cool about this ceremony was the groom and bride bow to each of their parents in respect. I think that's really high class.
The reception was similar to an American one. Lots of food, the food was good, and Hee-jung and her new husband came out in traditional Korean duds, glad handling their guests. My cousin looked really beautiful, and her mother (my mom's youngest sister) and my aunt were dressed in beautiful "Hanboks," or traditional Korean dress. It is the equivalent of a Japanese woman's kimono, used for special ceremonies.
So, the wedding was an eclectic mix of traditional Korean and Western wedding styles, which is interesting.
The bride and groom were very happy to married, and off to their honeymoon they go.
When will I get married? When God Wills It.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Saturday, December 8, 2007
M. Soni Mulling Future
By Anono J. Mus
The News Network
ESL rookie #20 Mark P. Soni, drafted straight out of the University of Maryland in 2006 into the EPIK Proram (English Program in Korea), is currently working for the premier institution Yeonsu High School in Incheon, South Korea. He is nearing the end of his first contract, which terminates next March 2008. The rising star is mulling his future options.
Soni, a 23-year old young man from the great state of Maryland, is enjoying his first experience as a rookie teacher at an all-boys high school, but he has to make the decision to re-sign or move on.
"Its definitely a tough decision. I don't want to say anything on the record, but for now I am looking at other options to see what's out there," says Soni.
Soni is a restricted free agent, which in sporting terms means that he can look at other schools and perhaps sign with a new school, but cannot be guaranteed a new contract. However, with the limited availability of new slots on schools' ESL rosters and the demand to fill in those new roster spots, as a restricted agent he could be on the same Yeonsu High School English Department next year.
"Something similar happened in the NBA this past year. Milwaukee Bucks ball player Charlie Bell was in the same situation in the summer of 2007. He wanted a change in scenery, to have a fresh start as a player, so he originally signed with the Miami Heat this past summer. But since he was a restricted free agent, his original team still retained his rights and chose to match the Heat's offer, so he ended up staying with his original team," analyzed Soni. "Basically, that means that if God wants me to stay at this school, He'll just simply shut the other doors and match the offer."
"It'll be nice to spicen up my experience and switch schools, to work with a whole new set of kids, and to become a better teacher, but ultimately, I want to use this experience of living on my own and to grow, which is why I am here."
Soni has no regrets about his experience at Yeonsu High School. Struggling early as a rookie teacher, he found out many new things about Korean education such as student learning styles, disciplining tough students, and finding teaching methods that are more effective to keep their interest.
"Regardless of what I tried, it was a take and give experience. There were some things that I would not give up as a teacher, such as teaching them about culture, even though they were not in a lick interested. But there were some things I did give up, such as forcing some kids to try English even though they have no interest or were too shy to try. I started to relax my style and started to have more fun with my boys, and that's the way to do it," reminisced Mark.
The future is not limited. Soni recently got a new kind of Visa, which grants him stay here in South Korea for two years instead of one. He will not be limited to just teaching jobs in the future.
"Right now, I'm not in a rush. God wants me to grow slowly but effectively, and I feel that if I try to jump into a new kind of job outside of teaching, it'll be too quick. The ESL field is one of the more relaxed jobs in the world with alot of benefits...I can't complain."
So which school will Mr. Soni end up next term? Depends on who he signs with, but His Agent knows for sure.
"I'm hoping and praying for a new situation. Its not that my current school stinks, because its a great school, they have some of the best students around. Yet I think it will be good for the school and for me to move on...but who knows the future?"
Yet His Agent, God, had this to say:
Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have called according to His purpose." There is no limit for our rookie.
The News Network
ESL rookie #20 Mark P. Soni, drafted straight out of the University of Maryland in 2006 into the EPIK Proram (English Program in Korea), is currently working for the premier institution Yeonsu High School in Incheon, South Korea. He is nearing the end of his first contract, which terminates next March 2008. The rising star is mulling his future options.
Soni, a 23-year old young man from the great state of Maryland, is enjoying his first experience as a rookie teacher at an all-boys high school, but he has to make the decision to re-sign or move on.
"Its definitely a tough decision. I don't want to say anything on the record, but for now I am looking at other options to see what's out there," says Soni.
Soni is a restricted free agent, which in sporting terms means that he can look at other schools and perhaps sign with a new school, but cannot be guaranteed a new contract. However, with the limited availability of new slots on schools' ESL rosters and the demand to fill in those new roster spots, as a restricted agent he could be on the same Yeonsu High School English Department next year.
"Something similar happened in the NBA this past year. Milwaukee Bucks ball player Charlie Bell was in the same situation in the summer of 2007. He wanted a change in scenery, to have a fresh start as a player, so he originally signed with the Miami Heat this past summer. But since he was a restricted free agent, his original team still retained his rights and chose to match the Heat's offer, so he ended up staying with his original team," analyzed Soni. "Basically, that means that if God wants me to stay at this school, He'll just simply shut the other doors and match the offer."
"It'll be nice to spicen up my experience and switch schools, to work with a whole new set of kids, and to become a better teacher, but ultimately, I want to use this experience of living on my own and to grow, which is why I am here."
Soni has no regrets about his experience at Yeonsu High School. Struggling early as a rookie teacher, he found out many new things about Korean education such as student learning styles, disciplining tough students, and finding teaching methods that are more effective to keep their interest.
"Regardless of what I tried, it was a take and give experience. There were some things that I would not give up as a teacher, such as teaching them about culture, even though they were not in a lick interested. But there were some things I did give up, such as forcing some kids to try English even though they have no interest or were too shy to try. I started to relax my style and started to have more fun with my boys, and that's the way to do it," reminisced Mark.
The future is not limited. Soni recently got a new kind of Visa, which grants him stay here in South Korea for two years instead of one. He will not be limited to just teaching jobs in the future.
"Right now, I'm not in a rush. God wants me to grow slowly but effectively, and I feel that if I try to jump into a new kind of job outside of teaching, it'll be too quick. The ESL field is one of the more relaxed jobs in the world with alot of benefits...I can't complain."
So which school will Mr. Soni end up next term? Depends on who he signs with, but His Agent knows for sure.
"I'm hoping and praying for a new situation. Its not that my current school stinks, because its a great school, they have some of the best students around. Yet I think it will be good for the school and for me to move on...but who knows the future?"
Yet His Agent, God, had this to say:
Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have called according to His purpose." There is no limit for our rookie.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
School House Rap
So I was forced into doing this school festival today. Three-four weeks ago, I said "no" ten times to Mr. Bae. And not just Korean "no's," or "aniyo" in Korean, but I said big, FAT, American "no's" to Mr. Bae: "no, I will not sing a duet with you in this year's school festival." I said "no" ten times. He left with a sad face, but I finally got to say "no" to something. (By the way, Koreans rarely say "no." Its just part of their culture. So, when you flat out say "no," they are shocked!)
Two weeks later:
Mr. Bae: "Hey Mark, I saw that your name is in the program for the school festival. So looks like we're going to do a duet together after all...so we must prepare something for the program. The kids are expecting to see something from you soon."
Mark: "...great." (I should have said "no" one hundred times)
But in my mind, I was like, "forget this man, if I sing, I will turn into the laughing stock of the school." My singing skills are so bad that people wonder if I am the cat on the fence doing the yowling.
So, I turned my attentions to something I'm decent at, but I have no true affinity towards: hip-hop. I am no Theory Hazit or Ohmega Watts, but I like to rap now and then. I certainly don't have the skills to go and rock a crowd, but I enjoy putting together my own rhymes and making something flow with a beat.
So I opted out of singing a duet and recruited one of my students to help me. This boy, Kim Suk-jin, from class six, volunteered to do a beatbox: making verbal hip-hop beats.
Beatboxing is an art form, technically, that is long gone now. In the 1980's, when the hip-hop revolution was growing, some of the more fun aspects of young hip-hop was breakdancing and beatboxing. Kids in America were definitely into it, I was into it when I was growing up in Germany trying to mimic the dopest techno beats. (I remember in 1992 when Germans were all into Shaquille O'Neal's first hip-hop album...which was one of the worst hip-hop albums ever)
But kids in Korea are into this beatboxing/breakdancing phase (20 years late), and they are pretty good at it. Its funny now cuz the hip-hop interests back in America are more into newer things, while the kids in Korea are picking up from the 80's.
So this kid and I practiced for around 3 days, just 3 days right before the festival. I wrote a quick rap, in English of course, and this kid and I were trying to find the perfect beat to go with it.
But in the end, I was thinking to myself: "why should I be too concerned about my lyrics? 90% of the crowd won't understand anyway!"
Then, something came over me: "Do it for God. Do it for Him."
You know, I don't have too many chances to perform all the time. Some people are called to do the music ministry, but for me, I was not that talented to do anything on stage. Maybe give a testimony or two...but to rap?
I rapped once in 2003, with my boy Amir and I doing a Thanksgiving rap for a few dozen plus at a inter-Christian organization Thanksgiving service. It went down real well, receiving a standing ovation as Amir and I traded rhymes and beatboxes.
Then comes this in 2007. I have not rapped in four years live...like I have a career in the first place! These people won't understand my lyrics, they don't understand the true essence of hip-hop in the English language...since it was Americans who started the art. So I was like, "I'll make my audience God and Heaven."
I stepped on stage with Kim Suk-jin, and I was real nervous. It was a huge audience. All the students eyes on me...the foreigner about to rock the stage.
I just started rapping, and confidence came on me...something that picked up more and more, and I started flowing. Suk-jin was doing fine on his end of the mic, but then I signaled to him after a certain rhyme to stop his beatbox so I could finish it off with this one hook where I rapped really fast.
Again, I'm not the best MC, but for some reason, God made that rhyme special. The kids were into it, and I finished it off well.
I put a lot of lyrics in their about giving glory to God, and the cool thing was one teacher, Mrs. Kim Eun-jung, a teacher at my school who is married to an American man, caught that in my rhyme. She said, "I like that idea, giving Glory to God." If I could at least touch one person's heart, my job is done. Maybe it can open the door to something new.
So, the school house rap, while no one else got it, but at least one person got the whole idea and that's great. Someone listened, and all of that backbreaking practice was productive.
Thanks God for the assist.
Two weeks later:
Mr. Bae: "Hey Mark, I saw that your name is in the program for the school festival. So looks like we're going to do a duet together after all...so we must prepare something for the program. The kids are expecting to see something from you soon."
Mark: "...great." (I should have said "no" one hundred times)
But in my mind, I was like, "forget this man, if I sing, I will turn into the laughing stock of the school." My singing skills are so bad that people wonder if I am the cat on the fence doing the yowling.
So, I turned my attentions to something I'm decent at, but I have no true affinity towards: hip-hop. I am no Theory Hazit or Ohmega Watts, but I like to rap now and then. I certainly don't have the skills to go and rock a crowd, but I enjoy putting together my own rhymes and making something flow with a beat.
So I opted out of singing a duet and recruited one of my students to help me. This boy, Kim Suk-jin, from class six, volunteered to do a beatbox: making verbal hip-hop beats.
Beatboxing is an art form, technically, that is long gone now. In the 1980's, when the hip-hop revolution was growing, some of the more fun aspects of young hip-hop was breakdancing and beatboxing. Kids in America were definitely into it, I was into it when I was growing up in Germany trying to mimic the dopest techno beats. (I remember in 1992 when Germans were all into Shaquille O'Neal's first hip-hop album...which was one of the worst hip-hop albums ever)
But kids in Korea are into this beatboxing/breakdancing phase (20 years late), and they are pretty good at it. Its funny now cuz the hip-hop interests back in America are more into newer things, while the kids in Korea are picking up from the 80's.
So this kid and I practiced for around 3 days, just 3 days right before the festival. I wrote a quick rap, in English of course, and this kid and I were trying to find the perfect beat to go with it.
But in the end, I was thinking to myself: "why should I be too concerned about my lyrics? 90% of the crowd won't understand anyway!"
Then, something came over me: "Do it for God. Do it for Him."
You know, I don't have too many chances to perform all the time. Some people are called to do the music ministry, but for me, I was not that talented to do anything on stage. Maybe give a testimony or two...but to rap?
I rapped once in 2003, with my boy Amir and I doing a Thanksgiving rap for a few dozen plus at a inter-Christian organization Thanksgiving service. It went down real well, receiving a standing ovation as Amir and I traded rhymes and beatboxes.
Then comes this in 2007. I have not rapped in four years live...like I have a career in the first place! These people won't understand my lyrics, they don't understand the true essence of hip-hop in the English language...since it was Americans who started the art. So I was like, "I'll make my audience God and Heaven."
I stepped on stage with Kim Suk-jin, and I was real nervous. It was a huge audience. All the students eyes on me...the foreigner about to rock the stage.
I just started rapping, and confidence came on me...something that picked up more and more, and I started flowing. Suk-jin was doing fine on his end of the mic, but then I signaled to him after a certain rhyme to stop his beatbox so I could finish it off with this one hook where I rapped really fast.
Again, I'm not the best MC, but for some reason, God made that rhyme special. The kids were into it, and I finished it off well.
I put a lot of lyrics in their about giving glory to God, and the cool thing was one teacher, Mrs. Kim Eun-jung, a teacher at my school who is married to an American man, caught that in my rhyme. She said, "I like that idea, giving Glory to God." If I could at least touch one person's heart, my job is done. Maybe it can open the door to something new.
So, the school house rap, while no one else got it, but at least one person got the whole idea and that's great. Someone listened, and all of that backbreaking practice was productive.
Thanks God for the assist.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving
By the way, my friends, Happy Thanksgiving from South Korea!
I hope you had a good Thanksgiving with your family and friends back in the States, and that you enjoy the Christmas Holidays, remembering about our Lord Jesus who makes our lives more special in what we do and say.
Thanks for reading my blog.
I hope you had a good Thanksgiving with your family and friends back in the States, and that you enjoy the Christmas Holidays, remembering about our Lord Jesus who makes our lives more special in what we do and say.
Thanks for reading my blog.
SK Wyverns: Champions of Korean Baseball
I'm very late in writing this, but the Wyverns did win the Korean Series from last month! Pictures are on my MySpace and Facebook accounts.
It was total euphoria at Munhak Stadium as the home team brought home the Korean Series title. Listening to the roar and fireworks as the Wyverns came down from a 2-0 series deficit was just total bliss. And James doubted they were going to come back. Have faith my friend!
Their impressive win earned them a ticket to the Asian Cup in Tokyo, facing an all-star team from China, the champion of the Taiwanese League, and the Chunichi Dragons for the Japanese Baseball Organization.
But this time around, our beloved Wyverns fell short of winning a second successive title, losing 6-5 in the chamionship of that series to the Dragons. Our boys just came close to conquering all of Asia!
What was so awesome about this experience is that in my first year in South Korea, I got to see a team win a championship...live. I've never had a hometown team in my life win a championship. These are stories for my kids. If I stay another year, perhaps I can watch them defend the championship.
It was total euphoria at Munhak Stadium as the home team brought home the Korean Series title. Listening to the roar and fireworks as the Wyverns came down from a 2-0 series deficit was just total bliss. And James doubted they were going to come back. Have faith my friend!
Their impressive win earned them a ticket to the Asian Cup in Tokyo, facing an all-star team from China, the champion of the Taiwanese League, and the Chunichi Dragons for the Japanese Baseball Organization.
But this time around, our beloved Wyverns fell short of winning a second successive title, losing 6-5 in the chamionship of that series to the Dragons. Our boys just came close to conquering all of Asia!
What was so awesome about this experience is that in my first year in South Korea, I got to see a team win a championship...live. I've never had a hometown team in my life win a championship. These are stories for my kids. If I stay another year, perhaps I can watch them defend the championship.
Back Again
Man, its been a while since I did this blog! Thank the Internet filter at my work! But, its good to be back again to update on what's real here in Incheon, SK.
Lately, I've been teaching a myriad of lessons via PowerPoint, talking about weather and Thanksgiving. Both lessons went down really well, despite the fact they are boys who can't sit still for a moment. I've been also teaching my evening class with the 2nd level (juniors) students, as well as my favorite ajumma class on Friday afternoons.
Outside of school I've been staying indoors, reading books, studying Korean and for fun, Japanese (just the Hiragana script), spending time with my aunt's family weekly, and hanging out with my friends Dave and James. I'm starting to establish my own routine.
My friend Bobby, famous Bobby with his goofy self, is opting out of his contract real soon to pursue a new life in...Kenya. He met his future wife in Kenya, so he will be leaving Korea real soon to take over his future brother-in-law's PC Cafe. For him, "Africa is a place where he feels the most peace." I say good luck to you, my friend.
Last week, I went to another trip to Busan, doing more sightseeing and spending time with a friend down there. I visited President Syngman Rhee's former presidential house, the Chungyeolsa (a shrine dedicated to the fallen Koreans during the invasion of Japan from 1592-1598), and the UN Cemetary. All were great pieces of history that bring out the worst and best out of the human experience.
School is going well, especially with the national SAT's finished, our senior students can breathe with some relief, even though test scores are nail-bitingly being checked to the dotted i. Also, sooner and sooner I am inching towards the end of my first contract, and I am right now in the process of making a decision towards the future. In due time, the right path will come, but there are alot of factors that will come with that decision.
The semester has not been that bad, and I'm just trying my best to improve as a teacher. One thing I'm proud that God is doing in me is my disciplining skills. When I first started this gig, I was very scared to discipline kids because I'm naturally a gentle guy, I don't like conflicts. I don't like getting angry or going out of my way to put my foot down. But sometimes, with the way kids behave, especially boys, they cry for discipline. I used to not like it when others say, "young people ask for discipline," but I'm starting to see how it works.
So, I've been putting down my authority on my students who have no interest in the class, which is fine, not all kids are going to learn English, but its the kids who try to distract others or do things that are clearly out of line. I gave "red cards" (just like soccer) this week to kids who cussed in English during class, and one to a kid who kept making a mess out of the English Zone. What intimidates them is when I talk to them after class, because I turn on my angry voice.
As one teacher taught me, "be firm, but be fair." That's how the game goes. I discipline kids with the chance for redemption. Just like how God does to us: he disciplines those he loves.
Outside of the teaching realm, I've been following my favorite sport...basketball. The NBA is in full swing, and my Wizards made a full recovery to start the season 6-6, but with Gilbert Arenas out for a few months, things are not going to look great for a while. We need him as a leader and a scorer. Thanks to the Internet, I can keep up with the pleasures of home with a touch of the mouse.
So, as fall goes into more chillier temps and the nights come closer, I continue this journey to maximize my experience in East Asia by seeking God and becoming a better man.
Lately, I've been teaching a myriad of lessons via PowerPoint, talking about weather and Thanksgiving. Both lessons went down really well, despite the fact they are boys who can't sit still for a moment. I've been also teaching my evening class with the 2nd level (juniors) students, as well as my favorite ajumma class on Friday afternoons.
Outside of school I've been staying indoors, reading books, studying Korean and for fun, Japanese (just the Hiragana script), spending time with my aunt's family weekly, and hanging out with my friends Dave and James. I'm starting to establish my own routine.
My friend Bobby, famous Bobby with his goofy self, is opting out of his contract real soon to pursue a new life in...Kenya. He met his future wife in Kenya, so he will be leaving Korea real soon to take over his future brother-in-law's PC Cafe. For him, "Africa is a place where he feels the most peace." I say good luck to you, my friend.
Last week, I went to another trip to Busan, doing more sightseeing and spending time with a friend down there. I visited President Syngman Rhee's former presidential house, the Chungyeolsa (a shrine dedicated to the fallen Koreans during the invasion of Japan from 1592-1598), and the UN Cemetary. All were great pieces of history that bring out the worst and best out of the human experience.
School is going well, especially with the national SAT's finished, our senior students can breathe with some relief, even though test scores are nail-bitingly being checked to the dotted i. Also, sooner and sooner I am inching towards the end of my first contract, and I am right now in the process of making a decision towards the future. In due time, the right path will come, but there are alot of factors that will come with that decision.
The semester has not been that bad, and I'm just trying my best to improve as a teacher. One thing I'm proud that God is doing in me is my disciplining skills. When I first started this gig, I was very scared to discipline kids because I'm naturally a gentle guy, I don't like conflicts. I don't like getting angry or going out of my way to put my foot down. But sometimes, with the way kids behave, especially boys, they cry for discipline. I used to not like it when others say, "young people ask for discipline," but I'm starting to see how it works.
So, I've been putting down my authority on my students who have no interest in the class, which is fine, not all kids are going to learn English, but its the kids who try to distract others or do things that are clearly out of line. I gave "red cards" (just like soccer) this week to kids who cussed in English during class, and one to a kid who kept making a mess out of the English Zone. What intimidates them is when I talk to them after class, because I turn on my angry voice.
As one teacher taught me, "be firm, but be fair." That's how the game goes. I discipline kids with the chance for redemption. Just like how God does to us: he disciplines those he loves.
Outside of the teaching realm, I've been following my favorite sport...basketball. The NBA is in full swing, and my Wizards made a full recovery to start the season 6-6, but with Gilbert Arenas out for a few months, things are not going to look great for a while. We need him as a leader and a scorer. Thanks to the Internet, I can keep up with the pleasures of home with a touch of the mouse.
So, as fall goes into more chillier temps and the nights come closer, I continue this journey to maximize my experience in East Asia by seeking God and becoming a better man.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
The "Sleepers"
Hi ya'll. This week has been a fun mess. This week I had to conduct oral English exams for many of the 1st level students that I teach. The goal is to accurately assess their ability to understand and respond to a series of questions in English and give them a proper score. I finished doing the 1st level students this week, and next week is a group of 2nd level students (juniors), whom I have not met or taught. Their scores go into their academic record, which could be useful when their teachers want to know their ability when it comes to English.
One of the most shocking aspects of this exam was the fact that I got to meet many "sleepers," or students whom I teach but had no clue that their English fluency was beyond what they look like. For example, there was one student from class 1-13, who always looks clueless and seems never to care what I say, reveals to me that he lived in New Zealand for 4 years and our 'oral test' turns into just a long conversation about his life in Kiwi-Land. What made me laugh about this cat was he had a New Zealand accent. It was awesome.
Other students throughout the examinations included boys who lived abroad, or at least had a grand aptitude towards language learning. Doing the exam with them was easy and fun because I did not give them the usual questions like "where are you from," but to even more interesting questions like "what do you think is wrong with the Korean education system." Some kids gave me some thoughtful answers and insights on how they perceive education in Korea. Having conversations with these kids was actually like talking to Westerners, because the level was so high. I was shocked.
Another surprising element of these tests was that the kids from class 1-13, who are notoriously ill-behaved kids (but not malciously), produced some of the best English speakers. But most of the time, these kids are always yakking in my class without a care in the world, and the reason is because of their teacher Ms. Lee, the young one. She's an awesome teacher, but she's so young so the kids think of her as their friend. And then there's me, I'm young, so these kids don't give a hoot about us because they think we can pal with them. But the crop of English-speaking peoples from this crew was amazing, and I actually lectured each one of them about the fact that they need to start performing better in class and stop misbehaving.
Unfortunately, the reason I never knew about these "sleepers" was because of the Korean classroom system, which many native English teachers and Korean teachers alike acknowledge is not adequate for language learning. Each Korean classroom at all levels has an average of 40 kids. In a college-like classroom setup, the teacher can only lecture and hope that the students absorb the information.
However, when it comes to foreign languages, a classroom setup like this is bound to fail. No one, especially the kids who do have experience and have a high level, can get individual attention or at least even feel comfortable to try because they will get teased for trying. And in this country where everyone has the same characteristics and uniforms, teasing is a major problem in the classroom. The most futile thing to do at times in a classroom size like this is to ask: "What do you think?" Teachers never ask their students what they think about a certain topic, there is no mutual learning.
With foreign languages, a students must apply what they learned readily or the material goes to waste. Unlike subjects such as history, math, and science, which can memorized and analyzed, language learning is a "trial and error" process. Take it from me, whom I have learned four languages in my lifetime (English, Spanish, Russian, and now Korean). Languages takes time, effort, joy, and depression. You must break through barriers, which means now and then you have to suck up your pride when a person corrects your speech or grammar. That's why I have a passion for languages, because I get joy when I can communicate with someone outside my culture and when I can break into a new level of communication via new grammar points, vocabulary, and sentence build-up.
But in Korea, people have this concept of "face," which I believe is a major barrier to language learning. "Face," or "kibbun" in Korean, is the concept of maintaining your dignity and integrity in front of your peers and other peoples. For example, a student must not ever outshine his teacher if he or she knows more than the teacher does when it comes to knowledge. Or, if I intricately correct an older teacher's pronunciation of English, I made him lose "face" in front of others because I, the young man, made him seem dumb in front of his peers. Its an unwritten code that is still followed by many Koreans in this society. The examples are endless.
So from this tangent, I come back to the Korean classroom. Any student who does speak out in class, especially in foreign language class and outshines his peers makes them lose face, and he also loses face for not conforming to the pack. I'm not necessarily saying that Koreans are pack-oriented, but they do have an emphasis on group unity. Kids who do speak good sentences, answer my questions, and do well get my approval, but then the other kids turn around and say, "ooooooooooooooooooohhh, he spoke good English, FREE TALKING!"
My point is that a Korean classroom setup is not well designed to cultivate language learners. Many kids are filled with grammar points, vocabulary words (some words that are even SAT Level), and sentence structure, but they cannot built a sentence on their own! So, as I did these oral exams this week, I felt joy and frustration for these students: it was awesome that I got meet and practice some higher level conversation with some talented students, but frustrated that they spend their days in a monotonous classroom regime that does not allow them to try to expand on their knowledge and experience.
Even as I learn Korean now, its humbling when your Korean friend or relative can make out what you say or understand you, but I look back in hindsight and really see it as growth. For me, its a problem because pride is such a big issue for me. But, the more humbler I get as God helps on that path, the easier I can learn anything in life. I am proud that after 2 years of learning this language, that I did learn so much, and even though I am not my goal of decent fluency in my mother tongue, I realize what I need to improve: which is a humble heart, no self-pressure (which I mistakenly did my first few months in South Korea), and diligence. I will learn this language.
As for my students, I liked how one student, Min-hwan from class 1-15, one of my fave students, talked about how in his middle school they had a "free talking club." All students who had lived abroad gathered at lunch time and they spoke only in English, no Korean. Its initiatives like this, and like my English Club at my school, that make it more joyful to work with these kids and improve their skills.
"With God, all things are possible..."
One of the most shocking aspects of this exam was the fact that I got to meet many "sleepers," or students whom I teach but had no clue that their English fluency was beyond what they look like. For example, there was one student from class 1-13, who always looks clueless and seems never to care what I say, reveals to me that he lived in New Zealand for 4 years and our 'oral test' turns into just a long conversation about his life in Kiwi-Land. What made me laugh about this cat was he had a New Zealand accent. It was awesome.
Other students throughout the examinations included boys who lived abroad, or at least had a grand aptitude towards language learning. Doing the exam with them was easy and fun because I did not give them the usual questions like "where are you from," but to even more interesting questions like "what do you think is wrong with the Korean education system." Some kids gave me some thoughtful answers and insights on how they perceive education in Korea. Having conversations with these kids was actually like talking to Westerners, because the level was so high. I was shocked.
Another surprising element of these tests was that the kids from class 1-13, who are notoriously ill-behaved kids (but not malciously), produced some of the best English speakers. But most of the time, these kids are always yakking in my class without a care in the world, and the reason is because of their teacher Ms. Lee, the young one. She's an awesome teacher, but she's so young so the kids think of her as their friend. And then there's me, I'm young, so these kids don't give a hoot about us because they think we can pal with them. But the crop of English-speaking peoples from this crew was amazing, and I actually lectured each one of them about the fact that they need to start performing better in class and stop misbehaving.
Unfortunately, the reason I never knew about these "sleepers" was because of the Korean classroom system, which many native English teachers and Korean teachers alike acknowledge is not adequate for language learning. Each Korean classroom at all levels has an average of 40 kids. In a college-like classroom setup, the teacher can only lecture and hope that the students absorb the information.
However, when it comes to foreign languages, a classroom setup like this is bound to fail. No one, especially the kids who do have experience and have a high level, can get individual attention or at least even feel comfortable to try because they will get teased for trying. And in this country where everyone has the same characteristics and uniforms, teasing is a major problem in the classroom. The most futile thing to do at times in a classroom size like this is to ask: "What do you think?" Teachers never ask their students what they think about a certain topic, there is no mutual learning.
With foreign languages, a students must apply what they learned readily or the material goes to waste. Unlike subjects such as history, math, and science, which can memorized and analyzed, language learning is a "trial and error" process. Take it from me, whom I have learned four languages in my lifetime (English, Spanish, Russian, and now Korean). Languages takes time, effort, joy, and depression. You must break through barriers, which means now and then you have to suck up your pride when a person corrects your speech or grammar. That's why I have a passion for languages, because I get joy when I can communicate with someone outside my culture and when I can break into a new level of communication via new grammar points, vocabulary, and sentence build-up.
But in Korea, people have this concept of "face," which I believe is a major barrier to language learning. "Face," or "kibbun" in Korean, is the concept of maintaining your dignity and integrity in front of your peers and other peoples. For example, a student must not ever outshine his teacher if he or she knows more than the teacher does when it comes to knowledge. Or, if I intricately correct an older teacher's pronunciation of English, I made him lose "face" in front of others because I, the young man, made him seem dumb in front of his peers. Its an unwritten code that is still followed by many Koreans in this society. The examples are endless.
So from this tangent, I come back to the Korean classroom. Any student who does speak out in class, especially in foreign language class and outshines his peers makes them lose face, and he also loses face for not conforming to the pack. I'm not necessarily saying that Koreans are pack-oriented, but they do have an emphasis on group unity. Kids who do speak good sentences, answer my questions, and do well get my approval, but then the other kids turn around and say, "ooooooooooooooooooohhh, he spoke good English, FREE TALKING!"
My point is that a Korean classroom setup is not well designed to cultivate language learners. Many kids are filled with grammar points, vocabulary words (some words that are even SAT Level), and sentence structure, but they cannot built a sentence on their own! So, as I did these oral exams this week, I felt joy and frustration for these students: it was awesome that I got meet and practice some higher level conversation with some talented students, but frustrated that they spend their days in a monotonous classroom regime that does not allow them to try to expand on their knowledge and experience.
Even as I learn Korean now, its humbling when your Korean friend or relative can make out what you say or understand you, but I look back in hindsight and really see it as growth. For me, its a problem because pride is such a big issue for me. But, the more humbler I get as God helps on that path, the easier I can learn anything in life. I am proud that after 2 years of learning this language, that I did learn so much, and even though I am not my goal of decent fluency in my mother tongue, I realize what I need to improve: which is a humble heart, no self-pressure (which I mistakenly did my first few months in South Korea), and diligence. I will learn this language.
As for my students, I liked how one student, Min-hwan from class 1-15, one of my fave students, talked about how in his middle school they had a "free talking club." All students who had lived abroad gathered at lunch time and they spoke only in English, no Korean. Its initiatives like this, and like my English Club at my school, that make it more joyful to work with these kids and improve their skills.
"With God, all things are possible..."
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2010: The Year of the Soni Tiger
