Last class

Last Saturday when I showed up for class, I was met by Mrs. Kim. We found the room was full of stuff for the Spanish youth and impossible for us to use. We went to the next room and prayed a while. Then I told her that I was going to leave this church and would not be holding ESL any more at IBC. I told her that I would be happy to help her church (World Vision) any time that they might ask. Then we prayed another time and hugged.

National sadness for Korea

One of my Korean students wrote to me about the fire that demolished a Korean national treasure, the South Gate in Seoul. I only knew what she was talking about because of a souvenir the kids had given me on their last day.

March 1

Tom called last night to ask if there was class. I've been sick all week, so I told him class was cancelled.

Feb. 24

When I got to the church there was some kind of luncheon going on. Everyone said hello as they were leaving. Nobody came to class. Tom came at around 1:30 and I sent him home.

Feb. 17

no class today. sick in bed.

February 9

Nobody showed. I waited 15 min. Then Tom showed, I sent him home and I went home. Do I want to advertise?

The Korean kids say goodbye

The Korean kids will be flying home tomorrow. I'm hoping someone will give me pictures from today's lesson. We took a lot of pictures. Several gave me little thank you presents and notes. After class I went shopping and ran into the bunch at Sam's Club. They were looking for dried foods like blueberries and beef jerkey - I guess to take home. Nobody else came to class today. So I can use the same materials next week.

Today's lessons included a lot of listening. Highlight of the day was explaining Ground Hog Day. Pastor Kim launched into a long explaination in Korean that involved a lot of merry laughter. The kids thought my drawing on the board was a prairie dog. There really is only a difference of scale.

I am with it and what's happening

I never know who's going to show up. Today there was the Korean crew of kids and a Mexican couple (been here 18 years). I pulled out the guitar for "he's got the whole world in his hands" and two of the more spirited boys giggled throughout. The key to being cool is to act like you think they think you're cool and eventually they will. Or I think they will.

Go in Korean is Baduk

I'm way over my head when it comes to relating across cultures. Especially when there is an age culture AND a national culture. I'm sensitive, but the only sensitivity I have sometimes is that I have no clue. I am clueless about Korean middle schoolers. My only consolation is that I suspect our Korean pastor is also clueless about Korean middle schoolers.
We had two brand new adult students from Mexico. I bet they wondered what they'd fallen into. Today I'm thinking that kids and adults should take separate ESL classes. It comes so easily for kids that I think adults are even more intimidated than normal.

My grandson came. He had the misunderstanding that I'd invited him to my Go class (which I hope to be teaching this summer). He was a very good sport when he got straightened out. I asked him play Go with a student who is quite advanced compared to the others, and quite antsy and happy to get out of regular ESL class for a while. My grandson was instructed to talk with the kid as get him to talk as much as possible. They were both the same age. I was surprised to hear that my grandson won ... and I can still beat my grandson and I'm not that good. (OK I'm downright bad) My grandson tells me he has improved since we played on my last laundrymat visit.

Tommy came and helped out. I really admire how open he is about his limitations and how willing he is and truly an asset to the class.

I think the successes of my teaching today was that I included a variety of activity and remembered everything. I was all too aware of my physical limitations today. For the record, we went over conversation small talk and numbers.

High point of the class was during an activity where people were encouraged to give America style small talk compliments. Eun Pyo told Mrs. Kim that she had a beautiful voice. Yes, she really does!

January 12

We had church members from Guatemala and Mexico (Reyes, a welcome regular) and the 12 Korean adolescents. I'm wondering if they picked up some bad speaking habits from the local public school. We worked on putting birthdays in sequential order, using "older", "younger". When I asked them to pair up and ask each other questions, I found out that they knew quite a bit. We went over the classroom direction pages - something I've never taken the time for before, but seemed to be in order for adolescents.
I'm glad the Oxford Picture Dictionary has two levels of workbooks so I can give harder pages for the more advanced students. Mrs. Kim and Tom Jarrett were extremely helpful. Mrs. Kim doesn't speak much English but comprehends plenty. Tom is developmentally disabled but has been helping the class for years and knows what I need before I ask for it.

First post for Jan. 5

I opened shop for ESL class today after having taking a year's sabbatical. I figured I'd enjoy it if I had a couple of dedicated students, maybe five or six adults. I had two terrific volunteers show up and no students at first. Then Mrs. Kim came. She has been a faithful student (and a prayer warrior!) for several years. Then things went into the realm of the inpredictable. Pastor Kim arrived with twelve adolescents age 11 to 20 who are visiting this country for a month or more to learn English. I think the 20 year old was supposed to be the chaperone. I'm here to say that 13 year olds are the same all over the world! The picture's not my class. I just found a Google picture so you can picture Korean adolescents. Add two, make them very lively and talkative and you have my class.