The year in pictures. Kind of
Hello, my name is Marc, I'm an English teacher, etc.
I haven't updated this blog for some time...although you probably haven't noticed. If you're reading this post right now, chances are it's because I told you that I've resumed blogging and I asked you to stop by and increase the traffic so this thing doesn't languish in cyberspace. At least I've been active with Facebook and my photo page on Flickr. Anyway, instead of trying to recount all of the events of the last few months, I'll give you some current stuff and maybe work my way backward if I get inspired.
The semester has finally ended. Difficult to believe that I'm halfway into my third year of lecturing at the university. I gave final exams this week and, unlike previous semesters, I've actually started grading early. I have two weeks to turn in all of my paperwork to the university and enter the final scores. This time around I'm not doing the mad dash where I try to tackle everything in a few hours. I'm spacing it out over a period of time. It's a little less stressful and less tedious than the previous semester. This semester has been more challenging because the overall workload has been heavier. It's nice that I've developed a good reputation around campus and more students are registering for my classes, but the downside of that is more work for me. I've never had as many students as I did this time around. Many students still struggle with motivation. There were some definite highs and lows. I feel much more comfortable in the classroom. Studying Korean and spending time with students have gone a long way toward affecting my teaching style and trying to understand students' needs (and wants). I lecture mainly in English, but incorporate Korean where necessary. Recently the head teacher observed one of my classes and gave me some useful suggestions but also some good feedback. I'm very aware of my weaknesses as a teacher, but I also know my strengths and I feel more confident in them than I ever have before.
This afternoon I attended a teachers' workshop on teaching multilevel classes, which I will be doing next semester as my department is eliminating most of its levels for the English classes. The expected turnout was about 20 teachers, but three times that number showed up. Many of them were working in public schools, although universities were also well represented. Most of the teachers were foreigners. It's always fun (and sometimes entertaining) to meet with other foreign teachers to talk about our common experiences in Korea as well as to trade suggestions and teaching methods. There was a good amount of spontaneous discussion, more so than the presenter expected. It became quite emotional and, at a couple of points, borderline nasty. There was also one teacher who got into a laughing fit, perhaps causing the rest of us to wonder if his work had gotten to him.
After the workshop I sent a text message to invite Jin-Young to dinner and coffee, but accidentally sent it to Jong-Min. Jin-Young turned out to be busy and Jong-Min, who was on his way to meet some friends for dinner and coffee in Pyeongchon, invited me to join him. Although I visited Pyeongchon briefly when buying my bicycle earlier this year, tonight was the first time I walked around it. Although there were several stores and franchises, the area was unusually quiet for a Saturday night, with very few people. Jong-Min explained that many people preferred to go to Seoul, which boasts a more active nightlife than some of the surrounding smaller cities.
Jong-Min is going to help me with Korean study during the vacation. Actually last night we met to discuss some of my goals and current study methods and also to chat in Korean for the first time for him to get a feel for my level, which I would consider low intermediate. Anyway, I wasn't planning to meet with him the following night, but the timing turned out to be pretty good. We spent the entire evening chatting in Korean with the occasional break into English for words or expressions that I couldn't figure out. Many Koreans default into English when talking to me and although he did the same, he would always catch himself and switch back to Korean. Which I really appreciated. After samkyeopsal for dinner, we went to a charming cafe where one his friend Kwang-Eun served as the barista. The cafe's interior design and quietness of Pyeongchon made for a comfortable, intimate atmosphere.
As some of Jong-Min's other friends showed up, it was fun to watch their reactions to me. The common reaction of many Koreans to foreigners ranges from shyness to irrational fear. The most common reason (as Korean friends have explained it to me) is self-consciousness over their English ability or lack thereof. Besides English, some Koreans have had little to no interaction with non-Koreans. In some situations, a few people deal with this by complete avoidance of the non-Korean. In this situation however, with me being there by invitation of one of the Koreans, no one had that option. While my Korean is not fluent, I've seen a definite improvement in my ability to have a conversation. It's amazing to watch people's mental walls slowly come down when they realize that I can say more than just "Hello, my name is Marc, I'm an English teacher, etc." One of my goals for winter vacation is to try to have at least one conversation in Korean each day. In a normal day, probably 75 percent of my conversation with people is in English. Realistically I may not be able to completely reverse this (not in my profession, anyway), but I have been seeking out Korean conversation opportunities more aggressively. This is in addition to increased daily input of the language through listening and reading. I've always enjoyed the discovery process involved with learning a foreign language, and I'm thankful to have met several people to help me along.
I have developed a reputation in some circles for being the foreigner who studies Korean hard. "He studies hardly," as some Koreans put it. Studying is a hobby for me, much like sports or video games for someone else, and I don't really consider it as hard study per se. To be honest, I would much rather be known for my Korean ability than my study habits. Although if I can be an encouragement to a Korean studying English, it's all good.
Sunday morning I'll meet Juhee at Caffe Benne near Samkakji (which has become one of my favorite hangouts as of late). Juhee's English is excellent, but she seems to prefer Korean conversation most of the time. Unlike many people, she doesn't simplify her speech for me, which is a little difficult but then again it's nice to see that she believes in me enough to understand her despite several "Huh?" moments. Afterward it's off to church in the afternoon. I've been avoiding any serious ministry involvement for a long time, but recently I've felt a stirring to do a little more. I've been considering joining the worship (music) team for some time, and I may finally give in next month. After church I'll head to Sangdo for another get-together, hopefully in Korean, with Hong-Woo and some of his church buddies. From Monday I'll be meeting various Korean friends, as well as doing my grading at Caffe Benne and a couple of other cool places. Life is good.
OK, this is not exhaustive...these photos only cover the last three or four months, but I like them a lot. Locations include Chuncheon, Palbongsan, the Banpo Bridge, Namhansanseong, Guri and Sahara Coffee Shop near Soongsil University. (Although not in that order.) Activities include cycling, hiking, a September church retreat and hanging out. More to come later.
