Teaching observations 2

We've begun our 4th month in the teaching cycle. At this point, I think it's safe to say I'm a seasoned teacher. At least, I'm comfortable in this style of teaching; the most absurd teaching imaginable. Let me elaborate. Every morning, from 10 until 1pm we teach the Kindergarten children. My class is UCLA which, as you've all seen from the pictures, are the most adorable little sponges that ever existed. I call them my sponges because that sums up their responsibilities here. They are young enough to passively soak up another language so, without actual grammatical practice (reading, writing), they are able to learn through games, songs, etc. Every month, I'm responsible for teaching them a small amount of vocabulary words. Last month we learned the family members and this month we're doing animals. By about the second week, my class has mastered the new vocab and I often feel I'm not challenging them enough. In the short time I've been here, these 5 year olds have digested a large chunk of English vocab, but they're still unable to communicate. And this is not my fault, it's just the prescribed learning cycle. The students aren't expected to be able to phrase sentences and actually speak entirely in English until they've been here for a few years. I agree with this progression, but every day I wish I was able to talk to my children. The only times we are able to move beyond (mother, father, bird, table, scissors, etc.) is when I break the rules and speak in Korean with them. It's frowned upon but, until they are able to tell me in English what they like, what they don't, who is their friend, why their upset, and many other daily questions; I have to speak some Korean. It's a helpless feeling when you are so close (I teach the kids 2 hours of everyday) to the children and yet are unable to communicate with them. This is what drives me to teach them. Not the salary, not the syllabus, but my eagerness to really understand these children. We have Kindergarten helpers that are usually in the class and serve as the translator and, with their Korean, keep the children in line. Still, I hardly know what 5 year olds talk about in English, and I'm completely in dark as to what these little Asians are shouting about. Sometimes I think about scrapping the syllabus and starting some grueling lessons in writing and sentence framing. I think about how helpful it would be if they could get down some verbs, even a simple "I like ____." But I have to remember they're 5 years old and taking all the fun out of the class would be a very dangerous thing. For now, I've decided to continue playing games, jumping, clapping, playing Memory, flash-card basketball, etc. and just focus on my Korean studies. That will be my means to communication. Within the last week or two, I'm starting to hear actual words and phrases when people communicate. It's quite the revelation when you realize you're not entirely deaf. It came on slowly, but I eventually realized I could not block out the Korean conversations around me as easily as before. Soon, I'll be able to pick up on some of the foreigner-bashing that goes around the office. (We are all aware of it and we don't blame them because we make more than the Korean teachers and do half the amount of work they do). So, reverting back to my Kindergarteners, without the ability to conversate, I rely entirely on physical communication. Within the last week or so, my little Jenny girl has taken to finding me in the morning, hugging me and giving me a kiss. It sets the table for a wonderful day. And we're not hindered by the restraints some teachers in America are towards touching the children. It's advised and it is sometimes all we can do. Verbal joking goes unnoticed, but tickling will always get the children laughing. And a major plus to being a Kindergarten teacher is the use of free weights. Literal free weights: the children love to be picked up and I exhaust myself enough tossing them around every day that I have no need for a gym. They love to play Teacher Power where one grabs onto the right bicep, one to the left and I start from my knees and pick them up seeing how long they can hold on. The other teachers have often marveled how, being the youngest teacher here, I am able to run around and play with the children more often and for extended periods of time than they would. So I take a lot of the physical demands off of the other teachers and that's fine with me because it's a good workout and a lot more fun than sitting in a gym with sweaty meatheads and Britany Spears in the background.