First Day of School!

Today, was the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!! *in my Finding Nemo voice* {Can you tell that I love the 1st day of school??? As a student AND teacher I always anxiously wait for this day - planning my outfit, buying the essential supplies, organizing the introductory lesson days in advance.}



Vice Principal and two faculty members

On August 29, 2016 I started teaching in Daejeon Public School for the Blind or 대전맹학교 in the district of Dong-gu, in Daejeon, South Korea. Our school follows the Korean Educational System by way of the Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education. At the time I started the school was responsible for the education of approximately 111 students (open enrollment during the academic year). Nationwide, the school year starts in March 2nd in South Korea. At 10am there was a Welcome Ceremony; parents and family members attended.

The academic year officially concludes with a graduation ceremony in February. Our schools' graduation was held on the 17th this year. This educational institution has a special place in my heart. I love working here and would not want to be placed elsewhere, while I teach in the country. I plan to renew my teaching contract for at least one more academic year (August 2018).
Schedule:

This semester (Spring 2017) I will teach grades *E3, E4, E6, M1, M2, M3, H1-1, H1-2, H2-1, H2-2, H3-1 and H3-2. For the non-teaching audience, I will have 12 different groups of students to teach and 10 different preps (classes to prepare lessons for), including my after school class for an hour.

During Fall 2016 I taught: E5, M1 - M3, H1 -1 and -2 and had an hour after school class on Thursday evenings with H2. I also taught an Alternative English, Fun English (lunch time for 20 minutes), Journal Writing and Teacher Training class (where my colleagues attended a language training course twice a week). I don't think I will be teaching my coworkers this semester; I enjoyed that class very much because the content was entirely my choice. During the Fun English lunch class I taught the students (English) songs and dances; we all enjoyed the Cha Cha Slide and Christmas carols. Having curriculum flexibility always makes the teaching and learning more fun, I think. Last year I had 11 preps, so I am down one this year.

Fall 2016 schedule

School starts at 8:30am and ends at 4:30pm KST. (I actually get to leave on time EVERYDAY. #spoiled) There are 7 periods a day, not including Homeroom. The last period of the day ends at 3:50pm. Students and Homeroom teachers meet between 8:30 - 8:45am and 4:00 - 4:30pm. Classes are 45 minutes each, with a 10 minute interval between each class. You should have seen my face when I learned that teachers are actually given time to use the bathroom, modify lessons, make copies, answer emails, have a snack, and/or make a phone call in between classes!! My EPIK contract states that I cannot teach more than 22 hours per week - without being PAID OVERTIME. Hallelujah! This is a blessing after teaching at a public high school in Pennsylvania for 3 years and teaching 33 plus hours per week. Talk about exhausted. My co-teachers, Judy and Kate (English names they chose) do work extremely hard and long hours. I often feel bad for them and ask if there is anything I can do to relieve their workloads and distress. They are growing more comfortable with giving me more complex tasks to complete.

Commuity-focused Classes:
Each class I am accompanied by a co-teacher who translates my instructions and information to students and the students answers and questions to me. Some times it can take up more class time; however, it is necessary to enhance the students' foreign language speaking abilities. My largest class last year had one student, while my largest had 7. Nearly all of my classes have an aid designated to work with one student, whose learning needs are greater. I do enjoy teaching smaller groups of students, as it provides opportunities for all learners to practice individually with the a peer and the teachers.

Students:
Each school day I get to see what a community-centered classroom looks like. The students do not like being singled out for their efforts. If I play a game where prizes are given the winner usually wants to share with his classmates - which all students will state are "friends". Due to the grouping of ages anyone within your age group is automatically your "friend" in Korean culture. (That makes life a lot simpler if you ask me, lol.)
At the end of each class the group leader says, "Attention...bow!" All the students sit up straight in their chairs or stand up straight to kindly bow and say "Thank you Teacher." It took me by surprise, but I have come to appreciate the gesture. It is a reminder that I chose to be an educator and regardless of the tough times teachers are sure to experience, the students' positive growth and development are the number one priority.

Coworkers:
Co-teachers work harder than many other teachers, because they are constantly translating between students, foreign language instructors, administrators, staff and other coworkers - in addition to teaching, being homeroom teachers, academic planning and completing paperwork.
My school has a great administration. The Principal, Vice Principal, and Head Teacher are wecloming and continue to be helpful and patient throughout the language barriers. (I must call the administrators by their titles. To use their names would be impolite and would only be tolerated if we were in the same age group, making us "friends". They are older than me and must be given the respect deserved.) Our administrators ensure that we attend all trainings, including CPR and teacher development.

Faculty:
I have been told by a few expats that it is common for coworkers who speak very little or no English to ignore the native English teacher. This was my experience for a short while. I showed myself friendly by greeting everyone that walked passed - in and outside of school - especially my visually impaired coworkers. At the start of this school I had one of my coteachers post a welcome letter on the faculty portal to encourage my fellow faculty to attempt speaking with me, despite our minimal language aquisition. [Aug 2017 Update: The welcome letter made a huge difference in the level of daily communication.]

Field Trips:
I have been on several community based learning trips with my students. In October, we visited a rice and sweet potato farm. The trip consisted of several teachers chaperoning the middle and high school students. We dug up potatoes and learned how to manually reap the rice harvest and grind it into powder. In November, I accompanied several students (ranging between pre-school to high school) at the science museum for a dance performance. One Tuesday evening in December a group of high school and college students went to CGV to see a barrier free movie - which I learned happens in many places for the visually and hearing impaired. My students go once a month as a scheduled outing; the school provides transportation and tickets. 

There is so much more to share, that I will add when I find the time. I am learning to read and write English in braille. I know I will continue to have rewarding  and rich experiences through my work and travel abroad.

School grounds after first snowfall, November 2016

* E = elementary school
M = middle school
H = high school
For example: E3 means elementary school 3rd grade, M1 translates to middle school 1st grade, and H2 is high school 2nd grade, etc.