I have been writing lesson plans all week.  I have been slowly and more slowly writing lesson plans all week.  My students are gone--whisked away for the annual Freshman American field trip the school organizes every year where all the first years travel to the coasts of our great country to visit the cream of the crop of collegiate education, Harvard, Yale,Princeton, NYU, etc.  They are gone two weeks and in the interim, I have been trying to keep myself busy. But that hasn't been too hard. This week my CT gave me two extra chapters to teach, which will mean six more lessons, and my excitement is bittersweet.  I need more teaching practice, I need more time to develop a rapport with teenagers and reflect and critique my teaching.  So six more lessons is great in that respect.  The bitter part, of course, doesn't need mentioning as I am still teaching Economics.

My lesson plans have become progressively more involved as I am looking for ways to shake/spice/revamp the lessons and make them coma-proof for my students.  I am going to head into this challenge with more grit than before and going to do what I can to motivate their sleepy little heads into believing that staying awake in Economics class is better than a fifteen minute cat nap.  A tall order, I realize, but I'm going to try.  It takes me hours to write up one lesson plan, and these are taking even more time because I want to find interesting things to discuss or games to play.  I hope I can get everything accomplished this week before I have to begin teaching again.  I will have to learn from the Korean students themselves about putting my head down, switching the internet off, and working hard to finish what I start.

I have heard from my CT that last year when her first year students returned from America they were changed.  I questioned what she meant and she said that they were more dedicated to working harder--which is pretty impressive considering they work hard now--because they want to ensure their place among the college of their choice.  Many of the students want to go to America, or abroad, for college and this trip apparently motivates them to put in more concentrated work.  I do not know how I feel about that.  Working hard is great, being motivated is commendable, but there must be balance in life...these students already have no balance.  They are so far off balance, weighing so heavy on the side of work/work/work, that I feel great sympathy for them very often.  I am sure that is what makes me so inclined to let them sleep in class which is something I would never let American students do.  And to think they will come back to only work harder and study more makes me think of them as little student robots, not teens.

In counseling this week, one of the students asked me if what I thought about Korean students and how they are different from American students.  I knew all my answers already, I didn't have to think about it.  I told her that in most ways, the Korean students are just like American students.  All teenagers are silly, quick to laugh, love to be with their friends and talk, love music, good movies and relaxing.  The differences seem to start and end with education though.  Korean students know when the fun should end and the work begins.  I think in America, we all have trouble with this one.  Self motivation is not something American teenagers are known for and it is a visually striking difference if one has the opportunity to observe a South Korean school.  I told her that American students have more freedom as well, to decide how they want their life to look, how they want their future to unfold.  It's not total freedom but it's certainly more balanced.  I'm not sure how honest to be with the students sometimes.  Their wishful thinking about living an American-style life will not help them succeed in Korea.  But, being a hopelessly honest person, I tell them what I believe to be true, that balance is a and I hope they can find it one day.


...So as this week was a prelude to the trashiest, fun-est, most awesome holiday we have to offer, Halloween!, Bonnie and I decided to bring the kids some goodies on Friday.  It was pretty much the best $30 I've ever spent.  The kids went insane and I thought a couple might stroke out on me.  One girl yelled, "I've never received a present like this ever!!!!" in my ear.  There were thank you's galore. Such sweet kids!  I am really going to miss them when I go home.

The student in front always gives me little treats.  I was happy to repay the favor!

This student likes me the most :)  She always wants to talk with me and says "Good Morning, Crystal!" Every morning.

I tried to stay out of the picture but the students weren't having it.