Fridays Are Even Better Now!

There’s nothing cuter than my third graders, you say? Wrong! The one thing cuter than my third graders is my third graders in uniform.

I often miss being a cop, but never on Fridays (when I teach third grade). Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, these guys started showing up to school on Fridays wearing uniforms for a Korean organization akin to Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. This is the best possible way to end each week!

Until next time.

-Taft

I’m a Movie Star

I got word yesterday morning from my new (overly ambitious) vice principal that I needed to make a 4-5 minute video to play for the school’s morning broadcast. It seemed like a tall order, considering the fact that I’ve never made an educational video. The kicker came when they told me that have it ready the following morning (which is today).

I spent most of the day brainstorming. It was incredibly difficult to think of a simple, age-appropriate video for Korean elementary students – many of whom don’t speak any English yet. I finally settled on the idea of showing them how to make a food that I liked when I was their age: Egg in a Hole.

The video was a serious pain in the ass to make. It took over an hour to cobble together three minutes of usable video. By the time I sat down at my computer and began to edit the video, it was almost midnight. This may not seem late to you, but I keep grandpa hours during the week. At midnight, I”m already an hour late for bed.

Once I finished editing, I was too tired to care that the video was absolute crap that didn’t quite make sense. I even included a short bloopers reel, which no longer seems like such a good idea now that I’ve gotten some sleep.

As I’ve mentioned in past posts, it’s not fair for me to only share other people’s embarrassing moments on this blog while omitting mine. So, here goes:

For those of you who really loved this video, you’ll be excited to know that this is the first of many. According to the vice principal, I’ll be doing these at least every other week – maybe every week – for the rest of the school year.

Until next time.

-Taft

The New School

What a change from last year! I’m enjoying my new living arrangement. Elementary school is wonderful so far and I’ve spent the past couple of weeks exploring two new neighborhoods. This is a big turnaround from my last semester at my old school, which I simply did not enjoy.

I decided to wait a while before taking pictures of my new school. I was a bit hesitant to stroll around an elementary school with a camera before people knew that I am a teacher. I know that I’m thinking too much like an American in this situation, but I don’t love the idea of neighborhood thinking I’m a pedophile casing the joint. I finally felt comfortable enough to snap a few photos yesterday after lunch.

This is my new school: Sinseo Elementary School (신서초등학교). The building on the left is one of the two main school buildings. The one on the right is the new gym. The old gym, which was located on the fifth floor of the third building that you cannot see, is directly above my office. I learned earlier this week that it is still in use when I heard what sounded like stampedes followed by blood-curdling screams all afternoon. The gym teacher told me later that the fourth graders were playing tag.

My new office isn’t particularly nice, but I don’t mind. I’m as far as possible from the rest of the teachers. The administration office, principal’s office, main teachers’ office and faculty room are in a separate building. I have all of the privacy I could want.

The only downside to all that privacy is the fact that I might bleed out next time I smack my head on the low-hanging TV that is inexplicably located directly over my office chair, always waiting to split my wig. Fortunately, pain is an excellent teacher, and I’ve significantly reduced the number of times I smack my gourd each day.

Until next time.

-Taft

Attention. Bow.

Last year, when I worked at a high school, I was astounded by the lack of basic discipline in most of the classes. Few teachers required that students open every class with a bow, which is a Korean tradition. Each class has a leader whose job is to call the class to attention and lead the other students in greeting and bowing to the teacher. This should happen at the beginning and end of every class. I can count on one hand the number of times this happened last year.

This year, I am working at an elementary school that is much more focused on discipline. Though the kids go NUTS outside of class, as all kids do, they are exceptionally well-behaved during class. I was delightfully surprised during my first week that every single class opens and closes with a bow.

I don’t enjoy this practice because I feel important when students bow. Rather, I think it is an interesting and important tradition. It’s also worth noting that it is painfully cute when elementary school kids perform this ritual.

I had some extra time during one of my 4th grade classes, so I asked them if I could film them as they ended class. It took them a minute to figure out what I was asking, but once my coteacher explained it in Korean, they were more than happy to oblige.

Over the next week or two, I’m considering putting together a short video showing all of my students opening and closing class. I think you’ll understand why I like it so much when you see all of the 3rd and 4th graders snap to attention and bow.

Until next time.

-Taft

Brighter Days

Have you ever noticed that the quality of an entire day often hinges upon the first hour? I find that, in the absence of an unexpected event, I can usually tell whether my day will be good or bad before I even get to work. That has worked to my advantage lately, thanks to a silly little picture that makes me laugh every time I see it as I walk to and from work.

As I leave my neighborhood, I pass a huge construction site that stretches at least 100 meters along the main road through the city. The university beside my new apartment is building a new teaching hospital. A tall wall separates the sidewalk from the construction site – presumably to protect pedestrians and reduce noise.

The wall is mostly white, but there are a few pictures printed onto the wall’s vinyl covering. Most of them are typical stock photos – fake families posing together, puppies running through lush fields and other equally unrealistic images. They are all boring, except for one. The photo that stands out makes me laugh every time I pass it.

I would love to know the story behind this picture, but it’s not possible. So, to break the monotony of my walk to work, I make up my own story. I’ve decided that this picture was taken about fifteen years ago by parents who were smart enough to understand the value of leverage in the parent/child relationship. Her father took the picture, hid it away for a decade, and then threatened to show the world her most embarrassing moment if she didn’t toe the line. Unfortunately, she called his bluff recently and earned a B in school. As retribution, he posted the picture in the most conspicuous place he knew – the giant wall along Daegu’s main street.

The real story is probably not as complicated or interesting as that, but the picture still makes me smile and occupies my mind for the long walk to school every day. I’m glad it’s there.

Until next time.

-Taft