The Transformation of a Teacher

Before I came to Korea--and I'll be honest here--despite the interview confidence, I had no idea how I would do with teaching. I remember talking to my friends in Seattle and asking for tips and advice from those who had worked with children extensively, worrying and worrying. I didn't know if I would like it and I didn't know if I would succeed. My biggest concern was being in control of the classroom. I'm not a yeller and, though I do actually have quite a bit of patience (things you learn from being a teacher...) how would that last in a room full of hyper kids?
At first, it was exhausting and rocky. The first term of classes definitely had focus issues and I wasn't entirely sure how to get all of the students engaged. Eight months in, and my confidence and abilities have improved drastically. I'm not going to say that I'm amazing by any means, but I think what's most important is how much I've learned and bettered my techniques. Sure, I still have some problems with discipline sometimes (the hardest thing is getting the kids to focus, since they're in school pretty much all day--especially the middle schoolers, who are basically in class until 10 at night and cry, "I'm hungry. I'm tired!") But I've been surprised at how many of these children make me really (omg) love teaching them. Patience has definitely come in handy, as well as getting to know the students and building rapport with them. They're all so different and it's actually a really fun game for me to try to figure out how they each work, individually, as people. And to hear them express themselves so (sometimes) eloquently in English!
Oh the joys of teaching.

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On an entirely unrelated note (which is why I'm bad at blog posts,) I went to Seoul last weekend and visited the pride parade to see what it was like. Despite there being one, singular woman running through the crowd, screaming, "NO," and waving her arms, there wasn't that much of a difference. My friend asked me what differences I noticed and I told her that there were less naked people than in the U.S. I also learned how to say "Haeundae Beach" in a Busan accent, which gives me Busan cred. I will take this to heart.