Park Taesik
May 28, 2008
Writing Feedback / A new challenge in my forties as an English teacher [2]
A new challenge
About two weeks have already passed since the entrance. I remember the first moment when I came across a lady on the first floor of the Oak Hall who looked like an instructor or an officer working here. I asked the lady in Korean, "Excuse me. I am here to check in. What should I do?" But instead of giving me an answer, she gave me a whispering response stepping toward me, "Don't speak Korean while you are here." Turning around behind her, I frowned for a second. I did not feel good; I am a Korean but I cannot speak Korean here in Korea? Anyway, thanks to her help, I checked in soon and got my room key and went upstairs to my room on the fourth floor. That was the first beginning of my living here. And I confess this kind of living (no Korean and English only) is my first experience ever so far.
Anyway, so much time I spare everyday for listening to foreign instructors' lectures from morning till late afternoon. Now looking back upon the past two weeks, I think I am now quite accustomed to this new environment. This is sort of like attending a foreign college somewhere in a foreign country, which I am really enjoying with each class given by various instructors. In the Drama classes, the trainees are shouting with their mouths open wide, giggling and making some big gestures. I get happy with Cara's new ideas for the class activities with the students. In the Debate & Discussion classes, I enjoy the discussions one of whose topics was about the beef import from USA. And in each class of the Debate & Discussion, the trainees, by turns according to the participants' order, can choose any topic for a discussion. Some instructors are giving us homework. This writing is also another homework of that kind. I am making an effort to enjoy various forms of talking, listening, reading and writing. Actually I enjoy most of the training here though suffering a little bit from the burden of homework and lesson practice. When I have many classes, I suffer from some headaches, which is due to the big surgery I had when I was in my mid twenties. But I am enjoying this new experience of learning. A quite different approach toward English teaching where communicative skills are emphasized and valued!
While listening to the lecture, sometimes it happens that I think of someone or something private, and I miss the important points of the lecture. This happens often and makes me have a hard time following the lecture. But still I enjoy the classes and I hope that I can apply the experiences here to the real situation at school for the students. I am happy that I am still young enough to start a new challenge and am thankful to the lady of the Oak Hall who helped me have a good start here.
A new challenge
About two weeks have already passed since the entrance. I remember the first moment when I came across a lady on the first floor of the Oak Hall who looked like an instructor or an officer working here. I asked the lady in Korean, "Excuse me. I am here to check in. What should I do?" But instead of giving me an answer, she gave me a whispering response stepping toward me, "Don't speak Korean while you are here." Turning around behind her, I frowned for a second. I did not feel good; I am a Korean but I cannot speak Korean here in Korea? Anyway, thanks to her help, I checked in soon and got my room key and went upstairs to my room on the fourth floor. That was the first beginning of my living here. And I confess this kind of living (no Korean and English only) is my first experience ever so far.
Anyway, so much time I spare everyday for listening to foreign instructors' lectures from morning till late afternoon. Now looking back upon the past two weeks, I think I am now quite accustomed to this new environment. This is sort of like attending a foreign college somewhere in a foreign country, which I am really enjoying with each class given by various instructors. In the Drama classes, the trainees are shouting with their mouths open wide, giggling and making some big gestures. I get happy with Cara's new ideas for the class activities with the students. In the Debate & Discussion classes, I enjoy the discussions one of whose topics was about the beef import from USA. And in each class of the Debate & Discussion, the trainees, by turns according to the participants' order, can choose any topic for a discussion. Some instructors are giving us homework. This writing is also another homework of that kind. I am making an effort to enjoy various forms of talking, listening, reading and writing. Actually I enjoy most of the training here though suffering a little bit from the burden of homework and lesson practice. When I have many classes, I suffer from some headaches, which is due to the big surgery I had when I was in my mid twenties. But I am enjoying this new experience of learning. A quite different approach toward English teaching where communicative skills are emphasized and valued!
While listening to the lecture, sometimes it happens that I think of someone or something private, and I miss the important points of the lecture. This happens often and makes me have a hard time following the lecture. But still I enjoy the classes and I hope that I can apply the experiences here to the real situation at school for the students. I am happy that I am still young enough to start a new challenge and am thankful to the lady of the Oak Hall who helped me have a good start here.