Life as an English Teacher (in South Korea)

I wanted to create a post for all of you back home wondering what it is really like living in South Korea and teaching as an ESL teacher. The photos that I will be showing you are all taken from a blog called #KikinitinKorea. For most of us foreign teachers, we all know about this blog, talk about it, and relate to it 100%! I want to give you a glimpse of my life through a way that is interesting and funny for you. So here is what it is like to be a English Teacher in South Korea. I hope you enjoy!

Teaching English

http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/35544641100/what-i-thought-korean-students-would-be-like

When I first started teaching (last year), to tell you the truth I did have the expectation that my students were going to be cute little angels that were well behaved... I guess I believed those misconceptions about how Asian schools were very strict and that the students were well behaved. I am not saying that all my classes are crazy little rugrats but a few are and those classes makes me want to rip my hair out. They have even made me cry a few times (okay more than a few times). To be fair though, I know I was a little diva as a child and having to sit in a class learning a foreign language with a teacher that does not know how to speak Korean and understand them would be difficult, I understand. So if you wondering what my kids are like they are just like your normal kid all around the world. Crazy, energetic, and sometimes misbehaved children...but on the days that they do want to learn and be in my class they can be a lot of fun! I love all of my students so much and everyday they make me smile and remind me why I am here. 

http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/30623312882/most-common-thing-i-say-to-my-students-in-english

I finally learned how to say "Do you understand?" in Korean at the end of last semester. Since then, I use that phrase all the time. I am now trying to teach them to not just say "yes" all the time even when they don't understand.... I mean come on, I am smarter than that. If you were talking the whole time I was giving directions, I know for a fact you do not understand. haha Most of the time, I can also tell if they do not understand (which is most of the time I talk) because they look at me like a deer in the head lights. I have been learning how to slow down my speech and use very simple English with my students. There have been times when I have been talking to a native English speaker and I catch myself (or they point it out) that I am talking to them like they do not know English. Opps! 

http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/37239745570/when-my-low-level-students-really-dont-understand

 So many times I wish I could just have a real conversation with my students. I want to know how they are actually doing, how their vacation was, and things like that. I also wish that I could actually help all of my lower learner students and help them to understand, but because they don't understand English at all, I have been trying to learn a few Korean phrases to help them and give them as much extra help as I can give. 

http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/36844778637/when-i-plan-an-awesome-lesson

 I have so many great ideas for my classes and English camps. The first time I was planning things, I had so many fun activities... but of course the lessons that you do plan for fail and the ones you did on a spur of the moment the kids love. What's with that? So, I have been trying to learn how to plan for awesome activities still but not getting my hopes up too much. I am not going to stop being a fun and creative teacher but I am going to learn that things do not always go my way and it is okay. 

http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/33048937702/when-my-students-start-punching-each-other-in-the

Hitting is a big thing over here. I am not sure why it is such a big deal but it is definitely something they have learned from the older generation and it is not just the kids. I have seen grown men and woman slap each other on the back as kind of a teasing thing... it's strange. So the first time I saw this in my classroom I was kind of shocked and really confused. The kids just like to hit one another all the time. Kids are taught from an early age that it is okay to hit one another and to me that is very strange but it is their culture, not mine. 

http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/37748691147/trying-to-get-my-students-interested-in-english

I love grumpy cat mimes and this one is so on point! I try to make English as fun and interesting as I can make it but sometimes my students come in, interested in other things. The most common phrase I get is, "game, teacher?". Everyday, without fail someone asks to play a game for class. So I have been learning how to created it educational and fun at the same time. I mean learning can be fun right?   

http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/44669719684/whenever-i-explain-something-to-my-students

This just happened to me yesterday. I was asking a question to my students and one of my students turned around and asked his teacher what I was saying. I looked at him and told him that I knew what he was asking and that he should just ask me so that he understands.  haha My favorite (not) is when the teacher shouts out the answer for them. Why thank you, but I was really hoping the kids could figure it out on their own. The joy's of teaching a second language. I have a new respect for all of those foreign language teacher, it is hard work!

Life as a Foreigner in School

http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/28451856410/when-my-kindergarten-kids-run-up-grab-my-stomach-and

Yes, this has happened to me.... multiple times. At first I was mortified, seriously I know I am not "Korean size" but I am not "pregnant size" either. Then it kept happening, so I just started telling them that it was not a baby but just food. haha I haven't been asked since. ;) 

http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/35182525150/when-were-out-at-a-teachers-dinner-and-my-co-teachers

I enjoy our teachers dinners for the first 15 min, then no one talks to me and I have to sit there all alone (after school hours) while everyone else is talking to their friends.For a person who likes to be included in everything, this has been very difficult. This past year was definitely a learning experience for me. 

http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/34471180585/standing-next-to-my-co-teachers-having-a-conversation

The same thing goes for teacher field trips. It is a really great experience being able to take a trip around Korea with my staff but when you are the only one who does not know Korean, no one wants to talk to you. So, I end up just tagging along with everyone else while I don't know what is going on or have any one to talk to. Oh well, that's part of the experience of living overseas. 

 http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/38108331170/when-someone-actually-understands-what-i-say-in

When I do use the few words I know in Korean and someone actually understands it, I get so excited. When I first got up enough nerves to order take out over the phone and actually got the right food delivered to my place, I felt so accomplished! I am slowly becoming a Korean. 

http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/33994933926/when-i-dress-up-for-school-and-my-co-teachers-and

I love being called beautiful... I mean what girl doesn't? So when I do get complimented, on the outside I thank them and bow but on the inside I am like "Yeah, I am!" (while throwing confetti in the air). haha The joys of being 'Just Justine'.

Food in Korea

 http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/41062095599/ordering-dolsot-bibimbap

Dolsot Bibimbap is one of my favorite Korean dishes. For those of you who does not know what this is, it is a Korean rice bowl served in a sizzling hot ceramic bowl. It makes your rice super hot and crispy and it is so delicious. Even when it is 100 degrees outside I still order this because it is so delicious!

http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/32640721300/trying-new-types-of-food

 When I first moved here, there were a lot of things that I did not really like. Fish, kimchi, seaweed soup....the list goes on. Now, everyday at school I am like "ohh, delicous, bring it on i'm hungry!" It's funny how much my taste buds have changed over this past year.

http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/23211296501/eating-kimchi

Kimchi is a food that I thought I would never ever like! Over the past few months though, I have been eating Kimchi like crazy. If it is made right, it is so delicious and is a food that I even crave. What, what has happened to me? 

Life in Korea (Outside of School)

 http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/23645409235/waiting-in-line-for-the-bus

Waiting in line in Korea is not a thing. You know like in America, first come first serve and all the rest of you wait in line behind of me until it is your turn, right? Well here it's more like whoever is the fastest and most aggressive will get their turn first. At first I was like, "oh, you are going to cut me? Okay go ahead...." but now I am like, "Oh you are going to cut me? I don't think so let's see who is going to win!" haha You gotta learn to adapt to your environment or you will get no where at all.

 http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/43705588396/when-the-bus-driver-wont-stop-letting-people-on-the

In America, when there is no more seats for passengers they normally stop letting people on the bus. Well, here it is, let's see how many people we can fit on the bus. On open markets days when all the Ajummas and Ajusshis come in with all of their stuff it can be pretty crazy. I have even been on an express bus when all the seats from Gwangju to Boseong (an hour and a half ride on the freeway) were all filled up and there were people who had to stand in the aisle the whole time. Luckily, I had a seat for that bus ride.

 http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/25261667968/riding-the-bus-in-korea

I learned quick that you have to watch out for those buses. They seriously run the streets, passing, honking, and running lights cause they want to cause they are a bus. Don't walk in front of one of those they will not stop!

 http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/28804108983/when-im-waiting-in-line-and-

someone-cuts-in-front-of

This is similar to the other post about standing in lines. This happens to me all the time. No matter where I am, standing in line at a store, bathroom, bus ticket booth.... you name it. People just walk up and cut in line and no one does anything about it! I get very upset so I don't let that happen anymore. If I see someone who is about to cut me I nudge myself up there so they will have to stand behind me and not in front of me. haha I got this down now. :)

http://kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com/post/31030375315/when-i-go-to-the-doctor-and-they-tell-me-i-need-a-shot

I have no idea what are in these Korean butt shots but whatever it is, it is a miracle worker. Haha My friends and I always joke about these. If you are sick you get a butt shot, if your foot hurts you get a butt shot, if you have an allergic reaction to a bee you get a butt shot (all of thsse examples were reasons I had to get a butt shot). Korean's cure to everything is a butt shot, so now whenever I get sick I am like bring it on! haha

So, that is just a little bit of an insight on what it is like to be a foreigner living in South Korea. I hope that, this blog post has answered any of your questions you had and made you laugh because everyday I live here, there is something funny and crazy to laugh about. If you have any more questions about what it is like to live over here please feel free to comment. If you enjoyed those photos check out the #Kikinitinkorea blog, there are a lot more funny posts about living in Korea. Thanks for reading everyone! Until next time. ^^