Wow, I just had the best class, in terms of teaching success and I want to write it down before I forget it. I hope some other teachers might perhaps benefit.
I started the class by writing down a conversation on the board that wasnt in order and got them to read it first. I asked them if it was right or not. They said no. Then I got them to order it correctly and I wrote the corresponding number in front of the sentence. Then got them to read it correctly. I also put in a sentence that didnt fit to see if they got it. They actually did somewhat!
I want to go to Paris.
What did you do there?
I played tennis in Paris.
How long were you there?
I was there for eight days.
I want to go to Tokyo.
That was what I wrote on the board. Not in that order. A few words were different I think, but that was the idea.
Then I got a piece of blank paper and wrote "I want to go to Egypt" and folded the paper down to cover just the sentence. I explained quickly that it was a secret. Then I wrote another sentence like "Tyler laughs funny", and a few other ones to get the hint that it wasnt quite supposed to make sense in conversation terms.
I got 3 pieces of paper circulating and after a few tries and arguements over who wrote on which piece of paper and which way it was going after I told them and they didnt listen...I started to count down from 10 or 15. They had to finish writing the sentence in that time. I was suprised at how it got going, and they actually wrote sentences! Or close to that idea.
Then after it was all finished writing and the paper was full and all folded up, I numbered them randomly. They remembered their number and i called out numbers randomly from 1-8. There are 8 kids in the class. If their number was called they got to unfold and read the paper. They understood it and got laughing at things like "Jenny is babo" (Which means stupid in Korean). I used it to explain that it wasnt nice to call someone that. They know that...but its good to explain the concept of not nice. There were even a few "Jennifer is cute" and "Joanne likes Tom"! Ha ha! REmember that stuff when u were 10-12?! Wow...was it really that young an age?
Gotta run...but the gist is that it worked great. And I got them to make up their own sentence for a kooney at the end of class by getting them all to say one word to make up the sentence. It was great and they remembered it really easily and quickly! Woohooo! There is hope!
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Aida
I went to see Aida on Friday! Oooh it was soooo incredibly awesome to see. It's an opera I've been wanting to see for a long time...and I finally did it---in Korea! The vocalists were right up to par, and especially the woman who sang the part of Aida. Wow... The sets were quite large, the larger ones having about 200 people on stage.
There was one song where they had a big Egyptian courtroom ceremony for the warriors coming back from the war victorious, and Aida sang above them all! It was incredible. But the best part of her performance wasnt the loudest part. It was in one of her solos and then duets where her voice dramatically de-crecendoed (geez I forget all my music terminology..so I made that up) to almost a pin-drop, but you could still hear her like she was sitting beside you. I was gasping and the Koreans next to me wondered what I was doing! Ha ha...if you know me that's not unusual! She has definitely mastered the art of throwing her voice and having the utmost control over it. It was obviously a highlight for me.
The costumes were fantastic as well. They seemed quite authentic, but the colors also told a story. Aida was in all red, the warrior and her love was in all blue, the queen was in all gold, as well as the pharoah. There were dancers that had a nude body suit on, with a sheer white Egyptian skirt. Perfect. The woman singers were in all white long dresses, and the men were in dark blue.
The backdrops were very simple but powerful. Sometimes just a lounging bed in the middle and benches on the sides, or even just a picture of the tombs in Egypt, or columns. The best one was either the solo part where there was what I think is the fallen head of a pharoah, so it was a monster-sized head in half on the stage. That sounds a bit grotesque, but it was fabulous. One super large piece on the stage that spoke so much. The other one was the closing act, where on both sides of the stage were triangle shapes in black with an entrance in the middle. At the end of the act, the triangle shapes became three dimentional and started moving together to eclipse Aida and her lover inside them as they sang the most powerful and moving song. Then the pyramid closed, and the queen came around to sing her last lament about not being able to get Aida's lover that she wanted. Such is life...and so is opera. Can u tell I love opera?
And the lighting. Now that was super awesome. Lighting is almost overdone here in Korea, and I'm LOVING it.
Anyhoo...about life in Korea. Its cloudy and humid and rainy again. I'm feeling a bit depressed and feel that I'm missing summer altogether. Thank goodness for the 4 days on Jeju Island...or I woulndt feel like I've had a summer much at all. I hear Vancouver has had one of the best summers....it figures that I've missed it.
I cant believe it will be finished in a few weeks...about 12 of them, or is it 11 now? That's just crazy. I'm feeling quite anxious about leaving here, and the certain comforts it has had, like not paying rent for example!
There is Chosuk that is the Korean thanksgiving holiday that I have to figgure out where to go. I was planning on possibly going to Egypt, but it looks like I will try to do that after my contract is over. So I think I will go to China. I'd LOVE to see the terracotta warriors and Beijing and the big palace there. Crap, I cant remember what it's called right now! But its cheap to travel in China, so I might be well off to do that...and acchieve seeing another country and its treasures! I cant believe I am able to do that! FINALLY! Woohooo!
Gotta run to class....later!
There was one song where they had a big Egyptian courtroom ceremony for the warriors coming back from the war victorious, and Aida sang above them all! It was incredible. But the best part of her performance wasnt the loudest part. It was in one of her solos and then duets where her voice dramatically de-crecendoed (geez I forget all my music terminology..so I made that up) to almost a pin-drop, but you could still hear her like she was sitting beside you. I was gasping and the Koreans next to me wondered what I was doing! Ha ha...if you know me that's not unusual! She has definitely mastered the art of throwing her voice and having the utmost control over it. It was obviously a highlight for me.
The costumes were fantastic as well. They seemed quite authentic, but the colors also told a story. Aida was in all red, the warrior and her love was in all blue, the queen was in all gold, as well as the pharoah. There were dancers that had a nude body suit on, with a sheer white Egyptian skirt. Perfect. The woman singers were in all white long dresses, and the men were in dark blue.
The backdrops were very simple but powerful. Sometimes just a lounging bed in the middle and benches on the sides, or even just a picture of the tombs in Egypt, or columns. The best one was either the solo part where there was what I think is the fallen head of a pharoah, so it was a monster-sized head in half on the stage. That sounds a bit grotesque, but it was fabulous. One super large piece on the stage that spoke so much. The other one was the closing act, where on both sides of the stage were triangle shapes in black with an entrance in the middle. At the end of the act, the triangle shapes became three dimentional and started moving together to eclipse Aida and her lover inside them as they sang the most powerful and moving song. Then the pyramid closed, and the queen came around to sing her last lament about not being able to get Aida's lover that she wanted. Such is life...and so is opera. Can u tell I love opera?
And the lighting. Now that was super awesome. Lighting is almost overdone here in Korea, and I'm LOVING it.
Anyhoo...about life in Korea. Its cloudy and humid and rainy again. I'm feeling a bit depressed and feel that I'm missing summer altogether. Thank goodness for the 4 days on Jeju Island...or I woulndt feel like I've had a summer much at all. I hear Vancouver has had one of the best summers....it figures that I've missed it.
I cant believe it will be finished in a few weeks...about 12 of them, or is it 11 now? That's just crazy. I'm feeling quite anxious about leaving here, and the certain comforts it has had, like not paying rent for example!
There is Chosuk that is the Korean thanksgiving holiday that I have to figgure out where to go. I was planning on possibly going to Egypt, but it looks like I will try to do that after my contract is over. So I think I will go to China. I'd LOVE to see the terracotta warriors and Beijing and the big palace there. Crap, I cant remember what it's called right now! But its cheap to travel in China, so I might be well off to do that...and acchieve seeing another country and its treasures! I cant believe I am able to do that! FINALLY! Woohooo!
Gotta run to class....later!
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Blue alley again
Was looking at my pics and found this one again. Man I LOVE this shot. The colors and everything. Reminds me of a certain painting...that a certain person and I share. And the COLORS!
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
The things kids do...I should have been making a list a loong time ago! Like the words they say that are supposed to be #English! And the grabbing of body parts, and they're alllwayys unexpected and just about shock the...pants offa ya. Then there's the kid things they do like making all those annoying noizes. But not as much as I remember doing! That's a bit emabarrassing! Or not. And nthen the other day some boys were rubbing my legs cuz I hadnt shaved in a few days. Um..yah. Interesting that they noticed.. The boys here are just naturally more in tune with feminine things I swear.
Today I went to a hairdresser to look at color, and this guy ran up to me and was very interested in what i was looking at...(the color chart), and then by the time I was done, I left with an updo for 'service'! It was quite fun to watch him do it...he was just dying to get his fingers in my hair. Blonde and Russian and all...he was pretty happy. But beyond the hitting on me, I could tell he was good...cuz when he was doing my hair he had that look of sheer excitement like I get when I get something really unusual to do or work on. I left with a bow of hair in th back and he teased it all up, and I must say I'm impressed. Not sure about the bigness in the front but it was fun. Highlights, or just a few are called 'color point'. I kinda like that!
And also...about kids...last night I went to jimjilbang with John. We decided to play pool and 2 seconds later we had 6 kids running around and shrieking when we got a ball down..so they could watch it go down! Ha ha. And they were all speacking Korean to us and expecting us to reply. John did...but I was just speechless. Ugh...he's learning conversation way better and faster than I am. I must admit I get lazy tho....I listen well and understand most things in general...but stilll...I should make more of an effort to speak though. In the saunas there are stones that you lay on. Its really great but this time thanks to the kids following us around, the just jumped in and covered us with rocks. It was really awesome. They're so unselfish and have to sense of personal space or getting into yours. It's quite nice in a way. Imagine a stranger coming up to you and hugging you out of the blue almost.
gotta sleep.
Today I went to a hairdresser to look at color, and this guy ran up to me and was very interested in what i was looking at...(the color chart), and then by the time I was done, I left with an updo for 'service'! It was quite fun to watch him do it...he was just dying to get his fingers in my hair. Blonde and Russian and all...he was pretty happy. But beyond the hitting on me, I could tell he was good...cuz when he was doing my hair he had that look of sheer excitement like I get when I get something really unusual to do or work on. I left with a bow of hair in th back and he teased it all up, and I must say I'm impressed. Not sure about the bigness in the front but it was fun. Highlights, or just a few are called 'color point'. I kinda like that!
And also...about kids...last night I went to jimjilbang with John. We decided to play pool and 2 seconds later we had 6 kids running around and shrieking when we got a ball down..so they could watch it go down! Ha ha. And they were all speacking Korean to us and expecting us to reply. John did...but I was just speechless. Ugh...he's learning conversation way better and faster than I am. I must admit I get lazy tho....I listen well and understand most things in general...but stilll...I should make more of an effort to speak though. In the saunas there are stones that you lay on. Its really great but this time thanks to the kids following us around, the just jumped in and covered us with rocks. It was really awesome. They're so unselfish and have to sense of personal space or getting into yours. It's quite nice in a way. Imagine a stranger coming up to you and hugging you out of the blue almost.
gotta sleep.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Today is just another day
Hey everyone,
Man, it's been a while. So many things run thru my head that I have to write, but then...I try to collect them...we'll see what I can do this time. Might have to be a few entries.
Well, this weekend was a doozey..as in good and bad. I stayed up till 430 am in the noribang with a buncha ppl. Was sooo much fun. Liz and I were dueting fabulously, and Mel gave the best solo action to a Korean song she didnt even know...adn blew us away! Julian and Mel had 5 years together today, and he was being the most romantic guy, including bringing a dozen roses and keepign them for a special moment.... Serenades and everything. So awesome to see a couple like that. I'm envious!
School/work is going just fine. I've really come to a plateau of sorts in a good way I feel lately. Everyday is a challenge, but everytime I come out of it I feel good about it. And everyday there are little surprises.
I've been keeping a sticker chart, and every 25 stickers I give them a little present. One little guy, Percy, is not 'normal' as in he is a bit slow or something strangie. But lately he's been all excited about getting stickers so he can get his present. Today he got it! And he started speaking things in English on his own to me that really shocked me actually! I was wearing a tshirt that said "peanuts 10c" and he wrote it on a piece of paper and gave it to me! What a cutie. Melted my heart. I'm such a softie...
OH! and in another class...I've been changed to "wonder teacher"! (it evolved from wendy teacher) lmao! I've never had such a compliment in my life! haha. So now I come in the class "wonder teacher' style...complete with 'cape' and 'super powers'! It's grreat! I've also slowed down a lot in that class, and have been getting better results by doing it, and I'm learning alot with that one too. Like practice on ONE thing makes perrrfect. Not just "doing' the page. Obvious, but that's what it's like being a teacher. Not a dull moment.
Last week we had a holiday. Independance day from the Japanese war in 19something. So all of us whities went up to a temple/museum/hiking site and chilled out by the stream like a lot of other Koreans. Pictures on my flickr site. Got some nice ones too. And of pple! I felt quite inspired like I havent in a while. I needed that.
I need to paint soon! Cant quite do it here too much in Kroea. Doesnt feel like I can take it with me, or that it will last. Which is a bit silly, but I guess that's how it is. I think I need to be less possessive of my paintings...but there's sooo much of me in there.
I cant believe the countdown is somewhat starting for me. At least the realization that life here in Korea is winding down, and before I know it, I'll be moving back to Canada. Im really feeling nervous, and not looking forward to the lifestyle financially...like having to pay rent and stuff. And the general cost of living. And dealing with things as they always were. Nehhhh. But I need to do it too. I need a 'reality check'. I need to see how I feel in an English speaking country again. To see my family and friends and Very Important people in my life.
Its funny how much I feel that I absollutely LOVE living in a country with another culture and language etc. I just absolutely love it..even after all this time. That says something to me. It explains a lot too...about my past and how I forsee living my future too. It helps me to identify with so many people at home. People who arent native of Canada. It makes me realize how we are as Canadians, and how we are not, and how we should be. It makes me realize the stark contrast of how greedy Western society is...and how it doesnt seem like that at all here. A society that lives and has values of family first is wonderful to live in. Sure the priority of money is there, but it doenst rule their lives as relationships and famly do. There's a lot to learn about that stuff for us Westerners I think. But that's my opinion. And I have to own up to the fact that I tend to think in romantic terms. What can I say. IT's who I am and how I look at life. It's really a beautiful thing.
Anyhoo..I gotta run. Time and money runnng out.
Man, it's been a while. So many things run thru my head that I have to write, but then...I try to collect them...we'll see what I can do this time. Might have to be a few entries.
Well, this weekend was a doozey..as in good and bad. I stayed up till 430 am in the noribang with a buncha ppl. Was sooo much fun. Liz and I were dueting fabulously, and Mel gave the best solo action to a Korean song she didnt even know...adn blew us away! Julian and Mel had 5 years together today, and he was being the most romantic guy, including bringing a dozen roses and keepign them for a special moment.... Serenades and everything. So awesome to see a couple like that. I'm envious!
School/work is going just fine. I've really come to a plateau of sorts in a good way I feel lately. Everyday is a challenge, but everytime I come out of it I feel good about it. And everyday there are little surprises.
I've been keeping a sticker chart, and every 25 stickers I give them a little present. One little guy, Percy, is not 'normal' as in he is a bit slow or something strangie. But lately he's been all excited about getting stickers so he can get his present. Today he got it! And he started speaking things in English on his own to me that really shocked me actually! I was wearing a tshirt that said "peanuts 10c" and he wrote it on a piece of paper and gave it to me! What a cutie. Melted my heart. I'm such a softie...
OH! and in another class...I've been changed to "wonder teacher"! (it evolved from wendy teacher) lmao! I've never had such a compliment in my life! haha. So now I come in the class "wonder teacher' style...complete with 'cape' and 'super powers'! It's grreat! I've also slowed down a lot in that class, and have been getting better results by doing it, and I'm learning alot with that one too. Like practice on ONE thing makes perrrfect. Not just "doing' the page. Obvious, but that's what it's like being a teacher. Not a dull moment.
Last week we had a holiday. Independance day from the Japanese war in 19something. So all of us whities went up to a temple/museum/hiking site and chilled out by the stream like a lot of other Koreans. Pictures on my flickr site. Got some nice ones too. And of pple! I felt quite inspired like I havent in a while. I needed that.
I need to paint soon! Cant quite do it here too much in Kroea. Doesnt feel like I can take it with me, or that it will last. Which is a bit silly, but I guess that's how it is. I think I need to be less possessive of my paintings...but there's sooo much of me in there.
I cant believe the countdown is somewhat starting for me. At least the realization that life here in Korea is winding down, and before I know it, I'll be moving back to Canada. Im really feeling nervous, and not looking forward to the lifestyle financially...like having to pay rent and stuff. And the general cost of living. And dealing with things as they always were. Nehhhh. But I need to do it too. I need a 'reality check'. I need to see how I feel in an English speaking country again. To see my family and friends and Very Important people in my life.
Its funny how much I feel that I absollutely LOVE living in a country with another culture and language etc. I just absolutely love it..even after all this time. That says something to me. It explains a lot too...about my past and how I forsee living my future too. It helps me to identify with so many people at home. People who arent native of Canada. It makes me realize how we are as Canadians, and how we are not, and how we should be. It makes me realize the stark contrast of how greedy Western society is...and how it doesnt seem like that at all here. A society that lives and has values of family first is wonderful to live in. Sure the priority of money is there, but it doenst rule their lives as relationships and famly do. There's a lot to learn about that stuff for us Westerners I think. But that's my opinion. And I have to own up to the fact that I tend to think in romantic terms. What can I say. IT's who I am and how I look at life. It's really a beautiful thing.
Anyhoo..I gotta run. Time and money runnng out.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Japanese train card
Man, this is an awesome card! I wish we had one like that in Korea, but mine is pretty much just as cool. I have it on my keychain and it's roses! I guess I'm gonna haveta take a shot of that too!
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Jeju-do to today
Well, i didnt exactly finish my blog on Jeju-do. Dont remember where I left off..but I ended up staying up all night almost because i was paranoid about missing the ferry back in the am, and ended up meeting some Koreans to go dancing with, and then hung out at the 'causeway' like everyone else in the 'cool' of the night, and then sleeping on a 'platform' that was for eating from the fish restaraunts across the street...and waking up to all the people exercising at 5:30 am...and the sunset.
Then I went to a jimjilbang for a shower, and then walked around in the morning sun. What an interesting feeling..especially since its super rare that I'm actually up that early! It was great lighting for pictures!
Then got a taxi to the ferry terminal, and went to get my ticket. THen up on the ferry was interesting. A man escorted me right past some people to my 'room'. It was a 'second class room' but that just meant i was in a room with about 15-20 people. There are no seats on the ferry, but just carpeted floors. A family brought some newspaper to lay on, and they gave some to me which i thought was sweet of them. Where in Canada would u see that? Strangie. I was hoping to stay awake to see the ferry off..but I couldnt stay awake. I just passed out on the floor and sllept pretty much the whole way through. 3.5 hours or 4 to get across. At one point I got up and walked around the ferry. The color of the water was amazing, and it was nice to experience the difference of Canadian ferries to Korean ones! The water seemed clear in spots...wow. For an ocean I find that impressive.
Then we docked in Mokpo, and I went to try to get into the museum of culture and arts, but it looks like it's 'obssoyo' which is 'not there' in Korean. Darnit. But I did wander in the basement that was open to find an exhibit or something that wasnt up yet of architecture! That was awesome. And then on upper floors some paintings, and calligraphy. Awesome stuff...
Then I wandered around downtown, and got something to eat. Namely bibimbap. Sooo yummy. Cant get enuff of it! Then down to the bus terminal to go home to Gwangju.
The week was low key, and I only worked for 2 days, and got Friday off because of the kindergarten kids that werent there, and so I decided last minute to go to Seoul for the weekend. I left on Friday afternoon, go tto Suwon around 11. Went to Candice's. Good to see here, and to be in Suwon. Slept in. Went for the BBQ with Shawn and Jane and Nathan and a few others..was fun. We just hung around all day. Then went to Seoul and had an adventure in Hyundae district. Took bunch of pictures, but my camera's memory was pretty full...imagine that. 1G of memory full...haha...can u tell i love taking pictures?
Oh man, I'm going to have to finish this later. I"m sooo tired and i gotta sleep soon!
As in NOW!
Then I went to a jimjilbang for a shower, and then walked around in the morning sun. What an interesting feeling..especially since its super rare that I'm actually up that early! It was great lighting for pictures!
Then got a taxi to the ferry terminal, and went to get my ticket. THen up on the ferry was interesting. A man escorted me right past some people to my 'room'. It was a 'second class room' but that just meant i was in a room with about 15-20 people. There are no seats on the ferry, but just carpeted floors. A family brought some newspaper to lay on, and they gave some to me which i thought was sweet of them. Where in Canada would u see that? Strangie. I was hoping to stay awake to see the ferry off..but I couldnt stay awake. I just passed out on the floor and sllept pretty much the whole way through. 3.5 hours or 4 to get across. At one point I got up and walked around the ferry. The color of the water was amazing, and it was nice to experience the difference of Canadian ferries to Korean ones! The water seemed clear in spots...wow. For an ocean I find that impressive.
Then we docked in Mokpo, and I went to try to get into the museum of culture and arts, but it looks like it's 'obssoyo' which is 'not there' in Korean. Darnit. But I did wander in the basement that was open to find an exhibit or something that wasnt up yet of architecture! That was awesome. And then on upper floors some paintings, and calligraphy. Awesome stuff...
Then I wandered around downtown, and got something to eat. Namely bibimbap. Sooo yummy. Cant get enuff of it! Then down to the bus terminal to go home to Gwangju.
The week was low key, and I only worked for 2 days, and got Friday off because of the kindergarten kids that werent there, and so I decided last minute to go to Seoul for the weekend. I left on Friday afternoon, go tto Suwon around 11. Went to Candice's. Good to see here, and to be in Suwon. Slept in. Went for the BBQ with Shawn and Jane and Nathan and a few others..was fun. We just hung around all day. Then went to Seoul and had an adventure in Hyundae district. Took bunch of pictures, but my camera's memory was pretty full...imagine that. 1G of memory full...haha...can u tell i love taking pictures?
Oh man, I'm going to have to finish this later. I"m sooo tired and i gotta sleep soon!
As in NOW!
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