How and Why We Learn English

I recently launched my advanced courses for the 2009 school year. I was allowed to develop my own curriculum, choose my own books, and select the students for my class. To officially launch the course, my school held a ceremony where I had to give a speech to the students, their parents, some teachers, my principal, and vice-principal. I titled my remarks "How and Why We Learn English." Below is a picture of me speaking:
Please note my Korean-style sport jacket. I had it made by a tailor in Seoul.

6 Months

I arrived in Korea 6 months ago today. It doesn't sound that long, and there are times when it doesn't feel like a very long time either. Then I think of myself 6 months ago. On the plane ride over here. How little I knew about Korea, about what I was getting myself into. I think about all the people I've met, all the strange food I've eaten, all the soju I've drank, and all that I've learned. In the process of it all, I have picked up some Korean language, traveled around this country a little, spent countless days and nights and early mornings in Seoul, and learned quite a bit about what it means to be a teacher.

I am also looking to the future, the coming 6 months and beyond. Will I stay in Korea longer? If so, will I stay at the same school? What will I do if I return to Boston? Is one year enough time here? Would two years be far too much time?

And as I think about everything, I am constantly faced with a busy, but enjoyable lifestyle. In fact, right now, I am on my way out the door to meet some friends for some spicy Korean soup and beers. I taught 6 classes today and they went pretty well, came home, did some laundry, and now I'm on my way back out the door. Another day in the life I suppose.

All in all, I have enjoyed my first 6 months here, and am looking to the future with a rather positive mindset.

What Did the Violinist Symbolize?

Last night, my co-teacher, Mrs. U, took me to a play in Seoul. The play was about the Korean War and spoken entirely in Korean. I didn't expect to understand everything, but I thought I might be able to pick up on the gist of the plot. I was wrong.

The play began with the stage covered in dead bodies - Korean men, women, and soldiers. Two got up, started to dance and play around, then began to position all of the other dead bodies. There was almost no language for the first five minutes and I still had no idea what was going on. Then loud violin music began playing, and a formally dressed violinist appeared in the back of the stage. Then he left again. Then more and more dead bodies began waking up. There was one dead woman who was dressed as a bride, a woman sized doll dressed as a bride, and a man dressed as the scariest looking clown I could possibly imagine. He carried an antique camera and occasionally took pictures. Every time he took a picture all the lights in the theater flashed.

For the next two hours I watched various scenes of these dead bodies moving around, talking to each other, fighting, and dying. There was a priest who was killed four times. Twice, the cameraman returned, turned his camera into a machine gun, and killed everyone on stage. Once, he also shot the audience. The bride was the object of a lot of fascination. At one point several of the characters were writing on her dead face (they were all dead, just some more than others) and Mrs. U leaned over and tired to catch me up on the plot: "She is guilty," she told me.

During the next hour or so the soldiers attacked several times, once raping and murdering the fake bride and repeatedly killing the real bride. After one of these incidents she crawled over to one of the soldiers and grabbed his ankles. Again my co-teacher decided to bring me up to speed : "He is her son," she whispered.

After the play, as we were walking out, Mrs. U said to me, "See, you don't need to know Korean to understand this play."

"I beg to differ," I responded.

It turns out the bride represented the Korean people. The play was about their struggles during the war and was actually pretty good. I only wish I had had some idea of what was going on before it was over.

St. Patrick's in Seoul

This past weekend marked five months of living in Korea. Looking back, my life has changed dramatically from what it was when I first arrived. I know a lot of people, and am managing to keep very busy.

This Saturday afternoon I met some friends in Seoul to celebrate St. Patrick's Day at an Irish Festival. We spent the day, evening, and early morning in Seoul. The below picture was taken by a friend and is of me demonstrating how to drink two cups of Guinness at once:

Standing in the North

As I mentioned, my parents visited for a week back in February. While they were here we took a trip up to the Demilitarized Zone and saw the border between North and South Korea. The whole thing was very bizarre and very interesting and I recommend it to anyone visiting Korea. Here is a picture of me standing just over the border, technically in the communist North:I didn't know whether to smile or not, so I went with the half smile (the photographic equivalent of the nervous laugh).

Back to Teaching

This week marks the beginning of the new school year here in Korea. I have a new co-teacher and about 150 new students. I taught my first classes of the new year today, and was pleased that everything went smoothly. Yesterday, I attended a ceremony for the schools new first graders and incoming 6th graders. The gym was packed with about 200 first graders, many of their parents, about 175 6th graders, and most of the schools teachers. I was the only person their who didn't understand a word of the ceremony. This situation gave my mind ample time to wander and I had an interesting thought. I was remembering my own first day of school, and suddenly realized that I only finished "school" less than a year ago. It was strange to think that most of those first graders would be in school until they were my age. I couldn't help thinking that they have no idea what they are getting themselves into. Okay, its not that interesting, but I didn't have anything else to think about as I was standing there.

Delinquent

I know, it has been a long time since I have posted anything. It is not that I have had nothing to write. Rather, I have had plenty to write about; just not enough time or energy to sit around and do it. The last few weeks, I have not been teaching regularly and have had to find new ways to pass the time. I spent a lot of time in Seoul - occasionally until 5AM. I took a solo trip down to Gyeongju (a city in the Southern part of the peninsula) that went pretty well, despite a little camera trouble that I plan to discuss at a later date. Yesterday I attended the 6th grade graduation (that's right, graduation is in February) which was an interesting ceremony. And I've continued to study Korean and do things that make my life here more comfortable.

All that said, I plan on posting much more frequently in the future. My parents, however, just landed at Incheon Airport and I am meeting them in Seoul in about an hour. So, while I would like to say that a new post can be expected soon, I make no guarantees. They will be here for a week and my priorities during that time will not center on the internet. Other than that, I promise to get some good posts up by the end of the month. You can hold me to it.