Sunday, April 10, 2011

In The Classroom (Introduction)

Hello,
                My name is Wintermute and this is Dumbr, a simple blog of my ongoing experiences in South Korea. I just recently finished Contract Week, if you missed it, go read it. Next we will be discussing Common Classroom Practices. You signed the contract, you met the consulate, you left your family, you ate the airline food, you took a cold shower not knowing how to make the hot water work, and now you are teaching in a classroom for the first time. I can only imagine the plethora of questions and thoughts storming in your head. Where are my shoes? Oh…they really don’t speak English? Hey don’t hit her… no don’t cry…well don’t hit him back. You have to go to the bathroom…Again?!

                One thing I noticed and love about Koreans is how they think Americans are magical, like we have some kind of wand that does everything. We all just know exactly what to do in every situation, and while we have the confidence to believe that’s true when you get right down to it we are all just winging it. Teaching in the classroom really is about 60% improve, this week I hope to fill in the other 40% and answer some basic questions you may have on how to deal with your new class.

1.       Morning Routine – What is a good way to get my class ready and engaged to start the day off?
2.       Discipline - Yelling and screaming at them didn’t work, how do I get them to listen?
3.       New Material – What’s a good way to introduce new material to the class?
4.       Music/Art – I can’t sing and I’m no artist, can we just have play time instead?
5.       Level Gap – Not all of my students are on the same level, what do?

I chose these as they will come up daily, and are needed if you wish to be successful and stay sane. This week will have a much happier tone then the last as I love teaching and soon you will too. This will be a helpful guide for you to turn back to if ever in need of help. So I hope to see you here every day. Please bring your questions with you, and do please spread word of this blog. I will see you tomorrow!

Your teacher,
Wintermute

40 comments:

  1. Thankyou! I'm going to use this as I take and teach some classes at my school :)

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  2. im considering about going to korea

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  3. half of the world thinks americans are magical. until they meet some.

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  4. Only from your analysis I already have the desire to visit Korea one day. Great blog.

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  5. This is a very good blog, with a lot of useful information. I'm going to take a look around some of your other posts.

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  6. I'm looking forward these answers! Especially the 4th one :D

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  7. Wow, looking forward to how you answer these!

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  8. I have friends in south korea, so I found this very interesting.

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  9. Nice, this is going to be super interesting. Following :)

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  10. This is looking to be quite the interesting blog. Can't wait to see some of the stories you post :)

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  11. Interesting, do update us with your classroom practices, btw I'm Korean :D

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  12. The best way I have found to get others to listen to to treat them as equals. This concept applies to all beings; not just humans.

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  13. The best way to keep them in line is to keep them all on the same level, try to talk to them as people, not students. But above all else, dont get too friendly with them, then they'll walk all over you! You'll do great! :)

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  14. Very interesting i must say :) Follow

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  15. Discipline, how I wish everyone was born with it (myself included)

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  16. I'm excited to get to hear everything.

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  17. good luck. No pics of the classroom?

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  18. I'm about to start work as a teachers aide soon, so I'm gona need as many tips as possible. (especially in the "getting them to listen to you" part) I'd like to hear more about that hah.

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  19. Any chance we could see some more pictures? I feel the story flows better with pictures. Like you had last time. :D

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  20. I'm half Korean and lived 5 years in South Korea. Probably the best 5 years of my life

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  21. I'm glad I'm done with school. I used to get high every morning before school though, and I still managed to graduate early ;p

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  22. its true that we are magical people

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  23. Teaching really is a gift! Good luck to you!

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  24. you need something interesting to really grab their attention at the beginning of the class

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  25. Interesting. I don't know all that much about Korea.

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  26. If yelling and screaming doesn't work. Then yell louder. haha :D

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  27. Most of my friends are Korean haha, so I understand wat you mean!

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  28. I think being a teacher would be cool but the fact that kids can fuck with you and you can't get them back scares me. Good stuff though man, very professionally laid out and presented clearly and in an orderly fashion.

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  29. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  30. i dont think your post was intended to be comical, but i got a chuckle at some parts.

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  31. no, there was intended humor, glad i made you laugh.

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