Saturday, January 28, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Fighting fire with Tornadoes
I just had the most challenging few classes of my entire existence. I am not talking of a University class where you can disappear in the back of a classroom only to hope that the professor won’t see you if you slouch low enough. In my case, I am the Professor and I am calling on you, sleepy, in the back.
I have been assigned to teach the elementary school level classes for intensive courses which last from the end of December to the end of February. Intensive courses are the courses that students take at the hagwon (a school they normally attend after their regular schooling), but since they are out of their regular school during these months, they come to the hagwons for additional schooling- Korea, a very overachieving country. I mean no disrespect, afterall, I am half “overachiever” myself; a quarter passion, a tenth gullible, and the rest - mystery. Is there a place for us, halfies? What a world, dare I say - hemispheres? –As I digress, speaking of halves and hemispheres, I was assigned to the wonderment that is the elementary-level students and trying to explain the hemispheres of the Earth. Simple enough, one might think, and think twice as it was the most “unearthing”, mind-splittingly complicated concept to teach a low level ESL student. They are wonderfully smart, brilliant, and energized students that I have the utmost respect for, however, the concept was colossal and the students staring into the abyss that held only the darkness with no explaining light.
A tour guide with a dinky flashlight.
In front of the class with dry erase marker in hand, “What are the four hemispheres?” I ask. – blank stares across the faces of children- not a good sign.
“Look in your reading, Paragraph 2”- and a glimmer of hope is born.
The students flipping pages in the maddening silence – “Teacher! Hemisphere is half Earth!” I look toward the student with a smile and “yes, that’s right”
We fast-forward through 25 minutes of explanation and repeating terms. “Now what are the four hemispheres?” – it was like a bad sequel “Revenge of the blank stares 2.” The end of class wasn’t the most fruitful as almost all days are, but I think all of my students touched the concept of the hemispheres lightly. I am sure the topic will come up again and like the phantom of a white stag that vanishes from the corner of your eye the instant you think you caught a glimpse…we will be ready for you!
By the way, Happy New Year!
I have been assigned to teach the elementary school level classes for intensive courses which last from the end of December to the end of February. Intensive courses are the courses that students take at the hagwon (a school they normally attend after their regular schooling), but since they are out of their regular school during these months, they come to the hagwons for additional schooling- Korea, a very overachieving country. I mean no disrespect, afterall, I am half “overachiever” myself; a quarter passion, a tenth gullible, and the rest - mystery. Is there a place for us, halfies? What a world, dare I say - hemispheres? –As I digress, speaking of halves and hemispheres, I was assigned to the wonderment that is the elementary-level students and trying to explain the hemispheres of the Earth. Simple enough, one might think, and think twice as it was the most “unearthing”, mind-splittingly complicated concept to teach a low level ESL student. They are wonderfully smart, brilliant, and energized students that I have the utmost respect for, however, the concept was colossal and the students staring into the abyss that held only the darkness with no explaining light.
A tour guide with a dinky flashlight.
In front of the class with dry erase marker in hand, “What are the four hemispheres?” I ask. – blank stares across the faces of children- not a good sign.
“Look in your reading, Paragraph 2”- and a glimmer of hope is born.
The students flipping pages in the maddening silence – “Teacher! Hemisphere is half Earth!” I look toward the student with a smile and “yes, that’s right”
We fast-forward through 25 minutes of explanation and repeating terms. “Now what are the four hemispheres?” – it was like a bad sequel “Revenge of the blank stares 2.” The end of class wasn’t the most fruitful as almost all days are, but I think all of my students touched the concept of the hemispheres lightly. I am sure the topic will come up again and like the phantom of a white stag that vanishes from the corner of your eye the instant you think you caught a glimpse…we will be ready for you!
By the way, Happy New Year!
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