I started collecting the funny little phrases that I've heard thought my first few weeks at school. And while I'm sure there are many more to come, here are just a few things my students have said to me. "Teacher, is that your real face?" "Yes." "Ohhhh natural natural." "Teacher real eyes?" "Teacher first love?"…
Teaching
Newton’s Third Law of Teaching
Newton's third law of motion states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. And it occurred to me tonight, as I sit here at 10:00pm utterly exhausted from a long Monday with an hour or two of lesson planning still ahead of me, that the same principle applies to teaching.…
First Class Without A Korean Co-Teacher
So the protocol here is that all of the native English teachers have another Korean English teacher from the school in the room when we are doing our lessons. Their degree of involvement from any point after that completely depends on your situation. I feel incredibly lucky to have the co-teachers that I have,…
Work, Culture, and Workplace Culture
Breaking into a new culture in the workplace is not an easy task. Every job, and office, and company, or any group for that matter always operates under different social expectations even in our home countries. If I started a new teaching job in America it would be much of the same, but easier…
Teaching Day Two
My second day of teaching went a lot like the first. Except I didn't have to worry about figuring out how to walk to school, how to get to the office, where my desk was, or who my co-teachers were. So I could actually focus on noticing things about the school and the students.…
First Day of Teaching Middle School in South Korea
I did it. I officially survived my first week of teaching middle school in South Korea. Luckily for me that week was only two full days, but regardless I survived. I’m sitting here on Friday night writing this, thoroughly exhausted, and feeling very happy. I’m not on a mountain top, and I’m not in a…
Continue reading ➞ First Day of Teaching Middle School in South Korea
Thoughts From EPIK Orientation
Well, we are about a week into orientation and about a week away from my first day of teaching. Which is both terrifying and exciting all at the same time. The biggest news I have is that I found out I will be teaching middle school! This is, in the same way, both terrifying…
EPIK: Recruiter vs. Applying Directly
For anyone who is considering, or will soon be beginning, the process of applying to EPIK (English Program in Korea) I hope that this can be useful in some way. For everyone else, I'm sorry this is pretty much completely irrelevant. More interesting content to follow as I move out of the country in less…
Beginning of an EPIK Adventure: Moving to Daejeon!
Hello friends and family! I have some exciting news and Korea updates! But for those of you who aren't caught up, or are confused about what I'm doing with my life currently (don't worry most people I know fall into that category), let's begin at the beginning. Rewind to Thanksgiving of last year. That was…
Continue reading ➞ Beginning of an EPIK Adventure: Moving to Daejeon!
Hours and Miles 