Hey yo,
So Deborah Teacher has finally arrived and the iron fist has come down. Well not really but there have been some exciting new changes in the Columbia classroom at the Ivy School. Kelly and I had our first real day of teaching today: 6 of our very own classes, with no one looking over our shoulder or helping us out - with the exception of Mrs. Choi's introduction speech, spoken in very fast, very angry Korean. For the most part, my kids are awesome. There's a few jerks, a few clowns, a few sleepers, a few cry-at-the-drop-of-a-hat-ers, but the school is filled with all these types, and its nothing I can't handle. I've got some adorable starters (really young, learning their ABC's) and some brilliant upper level kids, as well as a bunch that just really seem to enjoy being in English class. HOWEVER.... my first class of the day is pretty much a disaster. Let me tell you about a group I've been referring to as:
The Magic Time Maniacs.
The natural progression of an Ivy School student is to go from the "Let's GO! Starter" book to the "English Time 1" book. The kids that make it out of Starter, but are either too young or just don't get it, are put in the Magic Time Class. My class. Yesterday, when I was teaching them under Andrew-Teacher's observation, he had to explain that this would be his last day - that tomorrow he would go back to Canada and I would be taking over. They immediately started to A. cry, B. look puzzled because they can't understand anything in English ever, or C. Jump up and down, giving the thumbs down, yelling BOOOOOOOO DEBORAH-TEACHER BOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Option C was the majority. So I kept teaching them that day and Andrew, for some unholy reason, had to leave the room for about 20 minutes, which became the most hellish moments of my young life. Thy started running around, screaming, standing on chairs, etc. I pulled the ol' flick the lights on and off and wrote -1 on the sticker board. **
**Side Note: To quote Sandy-Teacher, in a bit of wisdom he gave me my very first day: "Stickers are like cigarettes in prison here." And it's true - you can get these kids to do practically whatever you want if it involves stickers**
Ok so the kids calm down, all upset that mean Deborah Teacher is going to pry a sticker out of their prized collections (on the inside flaps of their workbooks) and I proceed. Only until this one little demon leaps out of his seat, runs to the board and makes the minus sign into a plus sign, laughs maniacally, yells a bunch of stuff in Korean, and breaks into a goofy dance. Every other kid in the class followed suit. Jesus.
So yesterday Andrew Teacher was able to save me, and today I think Mrs. Choi's fear-inspiring intro speech helped me out a lot (they were a little crazy from time to time, but I was able to get them back under control) but God knows what tomorrow will bring. Basically I'm going to build myself a really sweet sticker collection.
Love,
Deborah-Teacher: Dictator of Columbia
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7 comments:
Girls, there's little doubt that this is probably the greatest blog ever created. I've been having a really shitty time getting adjusted to grad school, and I can't tell you how much your blog cheers me up. It's actually a bit ironic because one of my classmates is Korean and I've been helping him with his English as well. He is also very excited about your blog. Love to you both.
So I just sat down tonight (Thurs. 11/1/07 CT time) to read your entire blog and it has me in hysterics and has nearly made me cry. Kelly, I stand by my belief that you should be a writer...Deb, having read your blogs - I'll say the same to you. Anyway, keep the blogs coming! It's making a lot of ppl happy over here & everyone misses you both!
Now, getting down to business, I have a request:
-post your new address over there so I can send you cool stickers to help keep those animals in-line.
Love you both! Don't fret about the hellish kids, -they probably don't like changing teachers every year. They'll love you soon enough & then they'll cry when you leave.
I'm sorry to laugh at your problems with your class but i found the story about the kid changing the minus to a plus on the blackboard and doin a goofy dance was freakin' hilarious...
Check this out also (you might've seen it by now) cause it's also funny: http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN3129288120071031?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews&rpc=22&sp=true
Hey Guys,
Sounds like your having a time. Times are sweet.
When I was in China, these old people wanted to take a picture with me and my bosses, and we're ugly. I can imagine the time you ladies are having!
Best from NY to Columbia (which is actually in SoKo aparently).
-Seth
Deb, I've gotta agree with James on this one. You did a spectacular job of describing this little terror and the chalk board minus-to-a-plus move. My eyes are swelling with tears from the hilarity.
This blog is hysterical!!! It has become my new nightly reading between correcting papers. I am glad to learn that the Korean kids act just like these American 4th graders!
-Michele, Community School
Hey Deborah-Teacher. Had take-out the other night and thought of you - only kidding. Cleaning out My Favs and found this link - hope all is well. Your Aunt Deb has been at the beach house for over two weeks - promises to come home Thursday - we'll see. We hope you & friends have a great time in the Big K
Uncle Mark
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