Red Harvest: February 2013

Leading the kids to graduation

You can learn quite a lot about what Korea is like just by sitting through ten minutes of a graduation ceremony. The kids are incredible and I can't wait for the new round of enrollments coming my way. Although, I will say, this seems to be a presentation culture... One teacher referred to it as a big dog and pony show. One thing is for certain... Education is serious here.

I sat through Greg Teacher's (In Korea, you call teachers by their first name followed by "Teacher") classes the day before and it took a huge weight off my shoulders. Walking into this country, this was the only thing on my mind: How the fuck do I teach kids?

They saw the camera -- "Take a picture!"

I mean, I had an input through CELTA that addressed this specific thing. I read books about building a physical and an emotional milieu. I was ready. But like a bank manager telling you to just push the silent alarm, you won't know how to react until the gun is pointed at you... Teaching kids.

Back to Greg Teacher -- The reason why it became so much easier is because I realized the kids don't actually know you're screwing up. They laugh at everything. And I'll laugh all the way to bank.

After the graduation ceremony... Noraebong... Here's a pic dump and hopefully you can Taratino your way back to the beginning using the pieces (Which is where I was this morning...):

Typical Canadian, Mike Teacher --> Almost-Typical American (He doesn't have diabetes)

The beginning of the "Soju Effect"

The picture you see below is of me and Fazia Teacher; a fellow Torontonian from the east end.

Although she's leaving in about three months, it's nice to have someone to talk about Canada that won't count the amount of times I say "eh."