Recently I had my two-month post-surgery check-up in Seoul. I think I mentioned before feeling a little concerned about the blurriness in my left eye compared to the right eye, and I was hoping that this check-up would help put my worries at ease. Hard to believe it's been two months since my surgery already. It's still strange to wake up without worrying about contacts or glasses. My eye doctor told me that I'm seeing much better than what I was with my contacts or glasses, because they can't really give you the same experience as seeing things with the naked eye.
I always like going up to Gangnam to Dream Eye, because Susan and Mr. Choo are both happy to see me and chat. It was a little busier than normal, but I didn't have to wait long for my exam. Susan ran all the tests on my eyes, checking their shape and visual acuity. When I finished the eye chart, she told me that now both of my eyes are reading off the 20/16 line, making them better than 20/20. Granted, they are still a little blurry due to winter dryness, but dryness goes away over time. My eye pressure had been going up, however, so after a bit of experimentation with different eye drops and no eye drops, I am off the anti-inflammatory drops for the next month. In January they will check my pressure again and see if I will need a different kind of anti-inflammatory drop.
Dr. Lee examined my corneas and showed me the residual dry spots that should lessen with time. Despite that, he said my corneas are clear and healing well. My worries were definitely lessened with that check-up. Now to just make sure my eyes don't get any drier this winter...
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
When Does it Feel Like Winter?
The thermometer tells me that winter is coming. (Cue GoT music.) The first snowfall has hit South Korea and its remnants still cause me to slip and slide everywhere. Right now, my students and co-teachers are running around complaining about the cold and blasting the heat while I'm wondering what the fuss is about. It's not really cold yet--just wait until late December/January/February. I wonder what everyone will be saying then...
Being from NC, winter isn't as snowy and white as I'd like. But it has its own subtle signs; frost on the windows in the morning when trying to start your car, slight icy patches on the road where the sun is absent, and of course, special edition holiday coffees at Starbucks. For me, winter wasn't really winter until it read freezing or below on the thermometer, and I had a hot peppermint mocha to take away the chill.
You could always tell that Christmas was on its way, no matter if the weather cooperated or not. Christmas decorations started appearing in stores, holiday music was piped in on speakers or over the radio, and Christmas-themed advertisements aired on TV. Not to mention all the sales papers that fell out of the Sunday paper with a resounding thunk.
Yes, Christmas is more materialistic and commercial than it is about the people involved. It's sad that more emphasis is placed on getting the best deal on Christmas presents after Thanksgiving than spending time with the people to whom you were going to give those presents. And while I didn't grow up in a religious family, I still take time to remember who is the reason for the season, in my own quiet way.
In Korea, Christmas is a couples' holiday and largely absent of the hustle and bustle and celebration that precedes it back home. There are Christmas trees and decorations you can buy, but the constant bombardment of music and advertising is largely absent here. It's almost too quiet.
While I don't miss all the advertising noise, I do miss the little signs of what makes it Christmas and winter. From my experience over the past few years in Korea, winter is very cruel mistress here. Snow is more plentiful than what I am used to, and I can revel in the beauty of it. But it's the "after" that makes it not so fun.
My mom always used to laugh when the first "snow" would hit my hometown growing up, joking that "Southerners don't know how to deal with snow. Oh, gotta go buy all the bread and milk from the store because we'll be snowed in for five days!" (We only ever got snowed in once in NC, that was in January 2000 when a record 18 inches fell. I remember this snow very vividly as it caused my 16th birthday party to be cancelled.) You see, my mom grew up living in Minnesota and northern Wisconsin for most of her life. She had seen some amazing snowfalls and knew just how to deal with snow. But she couldn't understand the people who lost their minds and ceased to remember how to drive or behave rationally when it snowed. Every year (until its engine finally gave out and it was too costly to replace) my mom's trusty Saab Turbo 900 made the charge up the icy/snowy hill with ease while other neighbors were forced to abandon their cars at the bottom and walk the rest of the way home. Mom 1, Snow 0.
Being from NC, winter isn't as snowy and white as I'd like. But it has its own subtle signs; frost on the windows in the morning when trying to start your car, slight icy patches on the road where the sun is absent, and of course, special edition holiday coffees at Starbucks. For me, winter wasn't really winter until it read freezing or below on the thermometer, and I had a hot peppermint mocha to take away the chill.
You could always tell that Christmas was on its way, no matter if the weather cooperated or not. Christmas decorations started appearing in stores, holiday music was piped in on speakers or over the radio, and Christmas-themed advertisements aired on TV. Not to mention all the sales papers that fell out of the Sunday paper with a resounding thunk.
Yes, Christmas is more materialistic and commercial than it is about the people involved. It's sad that more emphasis is placed on getting the best deal on Christmas presents after Thanksgiving than spending time with the people to whom you were going to give those presents. And while I didn't grow up in a religious family, I still take time to remember who is the reason for the season, in my own quiet way.
In Korea, Christmas is a couples' holiday and largely absent of the hustle and bustle and celebration that precedes it back home. There are Christmas trees and decorations you can buy, but the constant bombardment of music and advertising is largely absent here. It's almost too quiet.
While I don't miss all the advertising noise, I do miss the little signs of what makes it Christmas and winter. From my experience over the past few years in Korea, winter is very cruel mistress here. Snow is more plentiful than what I am used to, and I can revel in the beauty of it. But it's the "after" that makes it not so fun.
***
My mom always used to laugh when the first "snow" would hit my hometown growing up, joking that "Southerners don't know how to deal with snow. Oh, gotta go buy all the bread and milk from the store because we'll be snowed in for five days!" (We only ever got snowed in once in NC, that was in January 2000 when a record 18 inches fell. I remember this snow very vividly as it caused my 16th birthday party to be cancelled.) You see, my mom grew up living in Minnesota and northern Wisconsin for most of her life. She had seen some amazing snowfalls and knew just how to deal with snow. But she couldn't understand the people who lost their minds and ceased to remember how to drive or behave rationally when it snowed. Every year (until its engine finally gave out and it was too costly to replace) my mom's trusty Saab Turbo 900 made the charge up the icy/snowy hill with ease while other neighbors were forced to abandon their cars at the bottom and walk the rest of the way home. Mom 1, Snow 0.
In a way, I sometimes feel like when it comes to driving and acting like rational people in a snowfall, Koreans remind me very much of Southerners. Instead of slowing their speed to a more reasonable level because of reduced visibility or slick spots, I've watched many people take the opposite approach and drive faster and more erratically. Riding in the back of a taxi when it does that is not a ride you want to repeat. In that situation I'd rather have control of my life in my hands!
***
Back home, winter always meant putting up the tree, cleaning out the ashes from last year's fires and stocking new wood, and baking, baking, baking. I can't recall a single Sunday morning during the winter that I wouldn't wake up at home to the smell of something delicious being made. My mom loves baking and cooking, and it is from her that I learned everything that has kept me from going hungry on my own in Korea. I owe her a lot for that.
There are special cookies and treats my mom would make only when winter and the holidays rolled around. It included, but was not limited to: secret family recipe cut-out cookies, soft ginger molasses cookies, almond bark cookies, fudge, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, truffles, and potato pancakes.
Some of my best memories of winter were of helping my mom make the goodies, then sitting down with a treat and a fresh of coffee to work on the crossword together. Those are moments that I miss these days more than ever, with the holiday season in full swing. Those are moments when it felt like "winter" to me.
***
And so I ask you, when does it feel like winter to you? Is it the change in temperature? The first snow? Digging out the heavy coat, scarf, hat, and gloves? Or are there special foods or traditions that bring winter to mind?
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
The Unexpected Plans are the Best Ones
I like to bake. No lie. I'll often bring in treats for our office at school: banana bread, cookies, brownies, and pie. Since baking at home is rare in Korea (my co-teacher confessed that most of her cookies are of the bakery or store-bought kind), the other teachers in the office always gobble up whatever is served with gusto.
My co-teacher had asked me to teach her about baking, so I mentioned that there is a big baking market in Seoul that she could get some supplies to get started. She expressed interest in going and checking it out, so we made plans to go over the weekend. What we didn't realize until much later (or likely forgot) was that the market wasn't open on Sundays. So instead of letting that deter us from continuing with the day as planned, we decided to alter our plans slightly.
We headed into Seoul to the Insadong area to take a walk through to this place that my co-teacher swore had good coffee shops and restaurants. Right across from the palace side of Insadong a new through street had been opened, featuring a picturesque walk under trees changing colors. My co-teacher explained that this was a new project to make it easier for people to get around the palace area, and business owners in the area took advantage of the new foot traffic to boost their stores. It was like going into a movie or TV set because all the shops had an old-world feel compared to most Korean shops. Everywhere you looked was a cute little coffee shop or boutique, or a homey-looking restaurant with a patio beckoning you to come inside.
After perusing all the options (and it was hard to choose) we decided on a waffle, coffee, and pizza place. Those foods totally go together, right? For about $30 we got a waffle and Americano set, along with a mushroom pizza with Emmental cheese. The pizza was delicious; it was amazing to eat cheese that didn't come shredded in a bag for a change, and it complimented the mushrooms perfectly. Add some Tabasco and it made for a great lunch. My co-teacher preferred the sweet waffle coupled with ice cream, however.
I think we stayed there for almost 4 hours, just eating, drinking coffee, and talking. As I mentioned before, my co has lived in both the US and Canada, and has taught in a variety of Western school environments. She understands how both groups of students work, and what makes them tick. Additionally, she sees that while each group has its advantages and disadvantages, she prefers teaching Western students over Korean ones because the former are more involved in what they are learning, more disciplined, and more interesting. Sharing the same experience and perspective on students and teaching helps us both try to understand what we each should do to try and make each other's lives a little easier while in Korea. I really appreciate that, and her.
Sometimes the unexpected plans are the best plans. And sometimes they teach you more than you could have ever expected.
My co-teacher had asked me to teach her about baking, so I mentioned that there is a big baking market in Seoul that she could get some supplies to get started. She expressed interest in going and checking it out, so we made plans to go over the weekend. What we didn't realize until much later (or likely forgot) was that the market wasn't open on Sundays. So instead of letting that deter us from continuing with the day as planned, we decided to alter our plans slightly.
We headed into Seoul to the Insadong area to take a walk through to this place that my co-teacher swore had good coffee shops and restaurants. Right across from the palace side of Insadong a new through street had been opened, featuring a picturesque walk under trees changing colors. My co-teacher explained that this was a new project to make it easier for people to get around the palace area, and business owners in the area took advantage of the new foot traffic to boost their stores. It was like going into a movie or TV set because all the shops had an old-world feel compared to most Korean shops. Everywhere you looked was a cute little coffee shop or boutique, or a homey-looking restaurant with a patio beckoning you to come inside.
After perusing all the options (and it was hard to choose) we decided on a waffle, coffee, and pizza place. Those foods totally go together, right? For about $30 we got a waffle and Americano set, along with a mushroom pizza with Emmental cheese. The pizza was delicious; it was amazing to eat cheese that didn't come shredded in a bag for a change, and it complimented the mushrooms perfectly. Add some Tabasco and it made for a great lunch. My co-teacher preferred the sweet waffle coupled with ice cream, however.
I think we stayed there for almost 4 hours, just eating, drinking coffee, and talking. As I mentioned before, my co has lived in both the US and Canada, and has taught in a variety of Western school environments. She understands how both groups of students work, and what makes them tick. Additionally, she sees that while each group has its advantages and disadvantages, she prefers teaching Western students over Korean ones because the former are more involved in what they are learning, more disciplined, and more interesting. Sharing the same experience and perspective on students and teaching helps us both try to understand what we each should do to try and make each other's lives a little easier while in Korea. I really appreciate that, and her.
Sometimes the unexpected plans are the best plans. And sometimes they teach you more than you could have ever expected.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
It's weird. For the first time in a long while I am not thinking about renewing with a school or combing the job boards for available positions in Korea. I started getting emails from recruiting companies with lists of schools looking for the upcoming months, but I deleted them without even thinking of opening them.
Instead I find myself pouring over open jobs for NC, assessing the employment situation for my home state and going through my PRAXIS books, wondering what else I need to review in preparation for next year. The good news is that elementary school teachers (the field I want to go into) are in demand, more than in previous years. Before now, I cringed at the thought of going home because I didn't know yet what I wanted to do. Now, I am ready for the day when I can close the book on my time in Korea and start the next chapter in my life.
I can't guarantee it will be easy or without struggle. I can't say if things will go the way I want them. I can't guarantee that I won't have a moment or two where I want to escape to a foreign country. But I made the decision before I returned this year that it would be my last in Korea, and I'm sticking to that, no matter what awaits me at home. Having given Korea a good chunk of my life, I'm ready to appreciate where I came from so much more.
Through everything, and even with this past year's situation being less than ideal, Korea has taught me a lot about myself. It's taught me the value of human relationships. I know that having lived as a foreigner in a country where many avenues of life are difficult to get into, I will never again look at those who come to the US for a new life the same way again. Language, laws, religion, politics, health care, social status, education--all of these issues carry new meaning for me. Talk about a real eye-opening experience.
Even with the uncertainty surrounding the 2012 Presidential Election and what may happen in the following months, I know that no matter the outcome, I will do my best to find a way to live back home. I owe it to myself to give it a fighting chance. I've been putting "real life" off as long as I have been living in Korea; now is the time for me to get back into the swing of things, whatever the future brings.
Instead I find myself pouring over open jobs for NC, assessing the employment situation for my home state and going through my PRAXIS books, wondering what else I need to review in preparation for next year. The good news is that elementary school teachers (the field I want to go into) are in demand, more than in previous years. Before now, I cringed at the thought of going home because I didn't know yet what I wanted to do. Now, I am ready for the day when I can close the book on my time in Korea and start the next chapter in my life.
I can't guarantee it will be easy or without struggle. I can't say if things will go the way I want them. I can't guarantee that I won't have a moment or two where I want to escape to a foreign country. But I made the decision before I returned this year that it would be my last in Korea, and I'm sticking to that, no matter what awaits me at home. Having given Korea a good chunk of my life, I'm ready to appreciate where I came from so much more.
Through everything, and even with this past year's situation being less than ideal, Korea has taught me a lot about myself. It's taught me the value of human relationships. I know that having lived as a foreigner in a country where many avenues of life are difficult to get into, I will never again look at those who come to the US for a new life the same way again. Language, laws, religion, politics, health care, social status, education--all of these issues carry new meaning for me. Talk about a real eye-opening experience.
Even with the uncertainty surrounding the 2012 Presidential Election and what may happen in the following months, I know that no matter the outcome, I will do my best to find a way to live back home. I owe it to myself to give it a fighting chance. I've been putting "real life" off as long as I have been living in Korea; now is the time for me to get back into the swing of things, whatever the future brings.
“Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things – air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky – all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.” – Cesare Pavese
Monday, November 5, 2012
One Month Post-Surgery Check-up
On Friday after school, I headed up to Gangnam to visit Dream Eye for my one month post-surgery check-up. I can't believe it's already been a month since my surgery, but time flies.
I've been wondering about the difference in my eyes lately; my left isn't as strong as my right and has a little blurriness. Naturally that was the first question I asked once I arrived for my exam.
After checking my corneas, Dr. Lee showed me that there are still some dry spots on my left eye that are causing the blurriness, which will subside after a few more months. He also said that it will take a few more months for my corneas to smooth out completely, which will allow for crisp vision. But my eyes are healing well for a month past surgery, so that is good news, and I feel better about my progress.
When it came to my vision test, I learned that my left eye is holding steady at 20/20 and my right eye is now at 20/15. That was a nice surprise. In a few more months time, Dr. Lee tells me I'll be able to really see the difference in my vision change as my corneas finish smoothing out and healing. By then, my left eye could also be seeing 20/15.
With the weather getting chillier and the heat coming on, I have to be more careful to keep my eyes from drying out. For when I'm at home, I bought a small humidifier to keep close to my bed and run it at night while I sleep. That's when my eyes end up the driest. So far it has helped a great deal; no more eyelids sticking to eyeballs when I wake up, and thus, less discomfort.
I have another appointment at the end of November, which will mark the two month check-up time. We'll see how things have progressed then!
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Those Crisp Autumn Nights
Over the past few weeks the weather has been taking a turn for colder temps, and the leaves are changing once again, heralding the arrival of my favorite time of year: fall!
The joy (and sometimes frustration) of not teaching from a set curriculum is making up your own lessons. That being said, my favorite time of year has played heavily into the lessons for the past few weeks. We kicked off with an introduction into what fall meant (changing weather, leaves, different clothes) and are now exploring traditions and holidays of fall, along with food!
Something that got a lot of students' attention was the NC State Fair. Korea is rife with festivals; they seem to have one or another going on every week. But even with all the different festivals that I have been to in Korea, nothing holds quite the same feeling and excitement that the State Fair does. For the most part, amusement rides are separate from festivals here, instead residing at one of the actual amusement parks like Lotte World or Everland. My students were impressed to see that at the State Fair we combine our rides, food, music, displays, and animals all into one big package.
They were equally impressed (and some disgusted) with the array of food consumed at the State Fair. Showing pictures of deep-fried Oreo cookies, turkey legs, chocolate-covered bacon, and funnel cake elicited reactions ranging from professions of love to groans of hunger to confusion. Some students commented that Americans eat strange foods. Of course, that sparked another discussion on what is considered weird food. Koreans have been known to eat some foods that many Americans would consider strange, too!
I also introduced them to fall sports in the US, including my favorites: college football and basketball. For that, I pulled down some great moments of Carolina sports history from YouTube to show them. As a an example of showing how much fans can love a team, I showed them the end of the Miami-UNC game where Connor Barth kicked that awesome field goal to give UNC the win. The students were surprised to see the fans storming the field and taking down the goalposts, as they had never witnessed Koreans doing anything like that. (Of course in their defense, there isn't much to tear down and carry off in soccer, baseball, or taekwondo like a football goalpost.)
While going over these activities with my students, I couldn't help but feel this overwhelming sense of homesickness. I've been pretty good about trying to keep it in check before I go home, but occasionally it hits me. I think about all these moments that make up a small part of American culture (the part that I grew up with) and how I haven't really gotten to experience them in person for a long time. Then I think about how next year I will be fortunate enough to get to see my friends and family and have these moments again for real instead of reading about them on Facebook, and I am happy once more.
What am I looking forward to next fall, living back in the States?
There's so many other things I'm looking forward to, but that's a list for another post.
The joy (and sometimes frustration) of not teaching from a set curriculum is making up your own lessons. That being said, my favorite time of year has played heavily into the lessons for the past few weeks. We kicked off with an introduction into what fall meant (changing weather, leaves, different clothes) and are now exploring traditions and holidays of fall, along with food!
Something that got a lot of students' attention was the NC State Fair. Korea is rife with festivals; they seem to have one or another going on every week. But even with all the different festivals that I have been to in Korea, nothing holds quite the same feeling and excitement that the State Fair does. For the most part, amusement rides are separate from festivals here, instead residing at one of the actual amusement parks like Lotte World or Everland. My students were impressed to see that at the State Fair we combine our rides, food, music, displays, and animals all into one big package.
They were equally impressed (and some disgusted) with the array of food consumed at the State Fair. Showing pictures of deep-fried Oreo cookies, turkey legs, chocolate-covered bacon, and funnel cake elicited reactions ranging from professions of love to groans of hunger to confusion. Some students commented that Americans eat strange foods. Of course, that sparked another discussion on what is considered weird food. Koreans have been known to eat some foods that many Americans would consider strange, too!
I also introduced them to fall sports in the US, including my favorites: college football and basketball. For that, I pulled down some great moments of Carolina sports history from YouTube to show them. As a an example of showing how much fans can love a team, I showed them the end of the Miami-UNC game where Connor Barth kicked that awesome field goal to give UNC the win. The students were surprised to see the fans storming the field and taking down the goalposts, as they had never witnessed Koreans doing anything like that. (Of course in their defense, there isn't much to tear down and carry off in soccer, baseball, or taekwondo like a football goalpost.)
While going over these activities with my students, I couldn't help but feel this overwhelming sense of homesickness. I've been pretty good about trying to keep it in check before I go home, but occasionally it hits me. I think about all these moments that make up a small part of American culture (the part that I grew up with) and how I haven't really gotten to experience them in person for a long time. Then I think about how next year I will be fortunate enough to get to see my friends and family and have these moments again for real instead of reading about them on Facebook, and I am happy once more.
What am I looking forward to next fall, living back in the States?
- Football games in Kenan Stadium
- Late Night with Roy and the basketball team at the Smith Center
- Basketball season
- Walking in the quad under a canopy of autumn leaves and Carolina blue skies
- Heading to Franklin Street for a Carolina reunion with friends
- North Carolina State Fair
- Fair food!
- Crisp nights with the smell of wood fires burning
- Starbucks Pumpkin Lattes
- Daily Grind coffee
- Halloween
- Halloween candy
- First Thanksgiving at home in 5 years!
- Thanksgiving dinner
- My mom's pumpkin pie
- Getting ready for Christmas with my family and friends
- Celebrating friends' birthdays in person
- Traveling the US to visit wayward friends
There's so many other things I'm looking forward to, but that's a list for another post.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Co-teacher Shuffle
Teaching in Korea can sometimes feel like playing games at a casino. Sometimes you get lucky and win big, while other times you can't seem to get anything going right. Such is the case when considering which school to work for in Korea.
Hagwons, as well as public school, can be a crap shoot at times. The key is to do research before accepting a job; this means Googling your school name to see what pops up online or contacting previous teachers to get their opinions. It's usually better to talk to a teacher who has finished his or her contract, as there won't be a boss or principal standing over a shoulder making sure that every word is positive.
One thing about public schools that happens more than in hagwons is a change in staff. Korean teachers transfer to other schools after a year and the principal/vice principal can move on to other positions, leading to a completely different school environment from one year to the next.
From all of my different experiences teaching in Korea, I've noticed that there are 3 things that affect how well or badly a contract will go:
1. Your director/principal/vice principal. If the head of the school is easy to work with, understands how to run a school, and respects and follows the contract, this is a good sign. A difficult boss makes things like pay, vacation, sick days, and problems with accommodation harder to resolve--and in some cases, unable to resolve at all. I've had both kinds of bosses while in Korea, and I much preferred the ones who respected the contract that we both had signed.
2. Co-teachers/co-workers. Teaching English to students who don't speak it as a first language is difficult. Good co-teachers work with you to explain the lesson, provide help with discipline, and give feedback on lessons/teaching style. The best co-teachers I ever had were the ones who I could go to with concerns and questions about my classes and lessons, and not feel like I was being undermined or brushed off lightly. These co-teachers were stars in their own right, dealing with difficult students or making sure that any translation issues were quickly resolved. (Sometimes even with the best of intentions, there is no easy way to explain some concepts in the most basic of English!)
3. Students. It goes without saying that if students are engaged in learning and want to be learning, then they are generally better behaved and easier to teach than those who don't give a flip about English. I've encountered both in the past 5 years, and experienced both the excitement and frustration that comes with each group. Sometimes a lesson works really well, while others it falls flat. It depends on how the students are that particular class on that particular day. Just like teachers, students have good and bad days.
At my current school, my first two main co-teachers were difficult to work with, and I felt that I couldn't approach them about any concerns with classes or lessons. As a result, I felt lost, isolated, and bored to tears. My current co-teacher has lived in both the States and Canada, and understands how Western students differ from Korean students. She too shares my frustration with the education system here, which makes talking about classes and lessons a lot easier. As a result, there is less isolation and boredom in the office. Even if a class is difficult that day, I know that I can come back to the office afterwards and have a chat with my co-teacher about something completely unrelated to school--and it will cheer both of us up greatly. I will sad to leave her in March.
Hagwons, as well as public school, can be a crap shoot at times. The key is to do research before accepting a job; this means Googling your school name to see what pops up online or contacting previous teachers to get their opinions. It's usually better to talk to a teacher who has finished his or her contract, as there won't be a boss or principal standing over a shoulder making sure that every word is positive.
One thing about public schools that happens more than in hagwons is a change in staff. Korean teachers transfer to other schools after a year and the principal/vice principal can move on to other positions, leading to a completely different school environment from one year to the next.
From all of my different experiences teaching in Korea, I've noticed that there are 3 things that affect how well or badly a contract will go:
1. Your director/principal/vice principal. If the head of the school is easy to work with, understands how to run a school, and respects and follows the contract, this is a good sign. A difficult boss makes things like pay, vacation, sick days, and problems with accommodation harder to resolve--and in some cases, unable to resolve at all. I've had both kinds of bosses while in Korea, and I much preferred the ones who respected the contract that we both had signed.
2. Co-teachers/co-workers. Teaching English to students who don't speak it as a first language is difficult. Good co-teachers work with you to explain the lesson, provide help with discipline, and give feedback on lessons/teaching style. The best co-teachers I ever had were the ones who I could go to with concerns and questions about my classes and lessons, and not feel like I was being undermined or brushed off lightly. These co-teachers were stars in their own right, dealing with difficult students or making sure that any translation issues were quickly resolved. (Sometimes even with the best of intentions, there is no easy way to explain some concepts in the most basic of English!)
3. Students. It goes without saying that if students are engaged in learning and want to be learning, then they are generally better behaved and easier to teach than those who don't give a flip about English. I've encountered both in the past 5 years, and experienced both the excitement and frustration that comes with each group. Sometimes a lesson works really well, while others it falls flat. It depends on how the students are that particular class on that particular day. Just like teachers, students have good and bad days.
At my current school, my first two main co-teachers were difficult to work with, and I felt that I couldn't approach them about any concerns with classes or lessons. As a result, I felt lost, isolated, and bored to tears. My current co-teacher has lived in both the States and Canada, and understands how Western students differ from Korean students. She too shares my frustration with the education system here, which makes talking about classes and lessons a lot easier. As a result, there is less isolation and boredom in the office. Even if a class is difficult that day, I know that I can come back to the office afterwards and have a chat with my co-teacher about something completely unrelated to school--and it will cheer both of us up greatly. I will sad to leave her in March.
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