I Honestly Love NH Bank

You will hear that you need to get a KEB bank account to have the best your money can get and the ease your mind needs to be happy with your money traveling back and forth between countries. 

BUT!

I am here to tell you (no matter what Carl says) that NH and I have a committed monogamous relationship. I haven't cheated on NH after my 3rd month of being here. They opened my account the first day swiftly with my coTs help. Then I went back to ask them to fix my account to do online banking. Done the same day. They filled out my paper work and told me it would be in my best interest to have my coT help me set it up over the school computer. They were right.

Then I needed to send money to the states and the first time they did it for me. They also told me how much I'd need to send in person for a better rate at the bank. Anywho, when I send money on-line I have the option of Sky Miles or a Gift Card.  Also, in order to use those "Gift Card"s (meaning points) NH has their own online shopping site in which they can be used.

NH Bank offers a bankbook like all other banks. They have a bank debit card like all other banks and they have credit cards...yea. Like all other banks. I got one after 3 months of living here. I decided it was foolish to continually use my U.S. cards and then pay the wire transfer fees to pay them off. The Smarty card from NH is perfect for my young foolish ways. I get discounts on theme parks, coffee shops, movie theaters, online shopping, etc. 

NH has a fully functional English website for online banking and you can always call their customer service number and get an English speaker. My banker set up so much for me and even literally walked me over to the nearest SK shop to have them discount my mobile services. When my security certificate went faulty, my banker set it back up over my USB and set up my mobile phone banking apps. Is this love? You bet it is. NH and I will be together 'till end of contract do us part! *breathing heavily*

Now. How do I get some of that cake Jamasian? I don't share...
Just kidding. You'd better go into your local NH and look at their brochures! They have the lists of cards/services available written in plain Korean~~ hehe Honestly, some tellers will not trust your foreign self to pay on time or stay in the country but some will. So don't be afraid of the little farmer bank. Sometimes it's the little things that count. ;)

Visit The Main Site (Click: Global Banking: English)

Learn to Set It Up Yourself

Learn to Send Money Home Yourself

 

Their English help number is  1588-2100 ext. 730 press 1 for English

Dealing with After School Classes

I run a special English after school class that doesn't have any cool name at all. It's just called English Conversation After school class. These classes are actually clubs and, unfortunately if you work in the countryside, it's highly likely that the kids were placed in your club as a result of not being able to decide what to do.
You will most likely be running the entire 45min/class yourself. (Middle school)

I only had about 12 students this time and 10 for the first semester. I've had 2 students sign up voluntarily each time for this club. One decided my club would be movies and games all the time and signed up before anyone asked what club he'd want to join. Two others were forced coerced in because English is their best subject. One joined because he enjoyed my last winter camp.

That's just random fact, but it give you a bit of background about the students that you may end up with too. I am not the one to be showing movies that I haven't pre-screened and playing a bunch of random games that I don't make a lesson out of. So, there have been quite a few days that I felt like an English club in the countryside just isn't worth it.

"Game game! we want a game!" Well you know what? My kind of games that enrich English learning include, Clue, Guess Who, Where's Waldo, Scattergories, Pictionary, etc. Do you see where I'm going? The crappy part is that most of the students are not good enough at using adjectives, describing situations or vocabulary. 0.0  Yea, I know.

Well, of course many of the students complained about not playing games. We did play but they were just bad in the beginning so I stopped it. We ended up doing a bunch of drills and learning cultural things instead. After they got the hang of making more sentences and describing things we did play games again. We also played Life and Monopoly because I love those games. 

One student, the third grader, that volunteered for my club, tried hard to not pay attention and get the other students to follow in his footsteps. I know about some of his family problems and academic problems so for weeks I tried to reason with him and get him on track and give him extra, then none then some attention, but then I realized something. I am not like the people on those forums complaining that they can't get students in line due to cultural differences. I was raised in a different kind of household. 

The whole 형 system won't be working with me. I am the  and that means my word should be final. From that point on I decided to punish any kid that listened to 형 after my distinct orders. If I said be quiet, sit down and get ready, 형 would tell them to engage in conversation with him and move to sit by him. I made them write lines, etc. Soon, only one boy would listen to 형 and I decided that he could be ignored along with 형(whom I'd just started ignoring). That kid isn't as strong as 형 and ended up begging to be left alone so that he could just follow my rules.

Unfortunately 형 and I could not get on the same page and he had to leave my club for good. Actually, this decision was made by my coT because she felt there were too many misunderstandings. Kids will be kids and interpret what they want if it gives them a certain outcome. I wrote this entry so that people know something. Children must have some sort of order and discipline. This goes across all cultures and languages. Letting them be disrespectful or disruptive with no consequences makes them win each time and soon no student will be on your field.



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Will make a relationship blog soon.

Test Taking

Koreans have such high test scores and everyone loves to praise how they are doing so great! After getting here, I must say I'm pretty disappointed and skeptical of the results of their exams. Please know that most of this is based on my class (English) but I definitely make it a point to try and see what the kids do in their other subjects as well. I want to discipline or reward in the same manner. I strive to teach with the same amount of expectation and diligence! I want to prep for exams in the same manner...well, kind of.

Here's the thing. Students are in lecture style classes for the majority of the class time all year long. When test time does roll around they are then given around 10 questions that will possibly be on the test. Usually, the easiest of the questions are picked to be on the real final. Students get this paper at least one week in advance of the test. You're thinking this is the same as the review paper in grade school huh? Maybe, but I don't remember the point of the review sheet being to memorize the questions with their correct answers. 

Tests here equal memorization skill, which predictably go no where when you need a job done. I had dreams of writing my own short answer tests and watching kids either pass or fail and then gauging what I should do better on as a teacher for the next go 'round. Not possible when all is allowed to be memorized. 

Oh well. I did have the pleasure of acting as overseer for exams! The students receive the test paper first printed on a newspaper like material. There are 25 questions total. The students can make any markings they want on this paper, and I do mean any. I saw pictures being drawn, scribbles, etc. Anywho, the scantron consists of 50 lines of A,B,C,D bubbles with 10 blanks for "fill in the blank" questions and on the back 8 blanks for sentences or essay styled questions. I'm not supposed to do anything but multiple choice questions. The other styles are prepared by the coTeacher to focus on writing and grammar.

They seemed to have half of the class time for just using the test paper and then were given the scantron for the second half. I have to admit there were some students that were working so hard and I was proud of them. A little hurt since this was the music class exam, but people don't excel at everything right? I also saw a few expected kids just fill in A for each question; never looking back. I was more hurt because the two in question have worked hard in my class this year and yet I could feel that they'd done the same on my exam. If they had to do an interview, they'd pass with a solid C. If they put effort into my exam, they could pull a high B at least. I hope one day they realize their potential...hopefully that day is in their first year of high school a.k.a. next year.

Is it this way because I'm in the countryside? I don't think so. According to a few city folks, things don't get much better except maybe the overall GPA.

Open Classssss!! #1

So some of you have heard of the infamous Open Class in Korea. This is when a few teachers, possibly parents and the vice principal or big (wo)man themselves come in and watch you teach. (With a video camera.)

It was teacher parent conference week at my middle school and i was told that every teacher must do an open class for parents at least once a year. Then they do one catered to other teachers twice a year. (This may be a new rule.)

I had to do one at one of my elems. (The good one.) My co-teacher was convinced that our 4th grade class of only 9 students would be the best to show off so I just went with it. We'd already argued so I didn't want another one.

I have been told repeatedly since the beginning of the school year that the VP hates NSETs and he wishes Korea would get rid of all of them. I've also heard plenty on the NSET that ran before me.

He came into my open class looking utterly distasteful. He sat at the back and began to read his pamphlet. I decided not to change anything that I normally do, but my co-teacher had already warned the kids. When I asked how they were (4th grade) they didn't do the normal "I'm hungry! I'm angry! Because English!!" but they did answer so that was good.

During the chant I didn't use the CD and just made up actions for them to do and they did it, slightly less enthusiastically, but they laughed.

Then I showed the crappy Story Time once and asked, "What happened? What did you hear?" The VP gave his disapproving look because he's told me before that the kids are low level and need to stick to the book. (He should have watched that class before that lecture. ugh) Anywho, to his surprise, all but one hand went up desperately wanting me to call them. They explained what they saw and heard beautifully. They also knew the moral of the story. He smiled in my class and was impressed by my students.

Then I teamed them up and had them present it. They were a little more comfy and acted with enthusiasm. Even my girl without her friend.

I apparently changed the mind of this school's VP. I tell you this because I just got a text saying he thinks I'm the best NSET ever~~!

I like kids. I feel like I have more energy than them, so that's probably why. MY kids are NOT low level. They are learning.

Elementary One Week (Version 2)

I had to go to my 2nd elementary for the whole day. When I got here my co-teacher gave me the info on how to take a bus there but it was wrong! It only worked if I went to the middle school first and then tranferred to another bus -_-
 
Of course I had checked this info a while back so there was no such drama my first day. I suggest learning to use navermap and checking your city's bus schedule. I found a bus that I could take all the way down :p

When I arrived I didn't see the actual school name. 0.0 I asked an old lady that was was walking through the gate with a kid and she assured my assumption. So I went into the school and explained who I was to another lady and they called for my co-worker there. They were kind of surprised that I didn't have any slippers...not sure why since everywhere else let me use a school pair. I eventually got some from them but decided to buy my own because they're all ugly and cold! Lol

She explained that she would be leaving and I'd work with a different lady for the year. Yaaaay! Why? Not that this lady is bad in any way but the new lady will be none other than my favorite coworker from the middle school~~~! She was a temp teacher so I was sad since she didn't know in advance about what she'd be doing.

Well this teacher had also not finished the lesson plans so that's what we worked on. Of course I introduced myself and had them do the same with a bit of Q&A so they weren't bored. 2hrs per period is long for elementary. I started with 6th grade and they were excited until they learned that I also will continue at the middle school. Unfortunately one girl will not attend for family reasons and will be home schooling. That's not always bad in the states but you can easily reenter the public school system with proper testing. You can't here. For some reason you have to stay in or out after elementary, but don't worry. They can still go to college.

The 5th graders have been taught very well! I was highly pleased with their skills and even inspired to adjust my reward program. Still not sure what the big prize will be. :/

After lunch we had 4hrs of....nothing to do -_- I didn't bring any work because I'd thought we would do some planning. Maybe they would prefer to wait for the new teacher. Understandable.

The principal was willing to let me go an hour early, but my coworker had offered me a ride so I waited. We left and went to Lotte Mart so that I could pick up some things from a leaving teacher. He was eager to get rid of things but I only wanted his hangers, shopping bags and towels. He threw in some school slippers but I still wanna buy my own.

I caught a different set of busses going back because it was too cold to wait too long. All in all it was a great day :)

That garlic bread was kind of sweet...