Tag: teachers
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People Don’t Know What They Want Until You Give Them What They Don’t Want
At many stages in my life, I have come to the same realization: people don’t know what they want until you give them what they don’t want. Since I started teaching in Korea, I have learned that the Korean administrator and headteacher seem to assume that, despite the lack of clearly defined roles and undocumented…
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Less Activity, More Drama
This week was quieter on the surface—fewer plans, more time at home—but somehow heavier than the ones packed with activity. Less movement, more tension. It started with an incident in the classroom—a student crossed a professional boundary. I handled it the way I thought I should: calmly, privately, directly with my director. I wanted my…
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Small Wins, Big Feelings
Since my last blog entry, there’s been more bonding among the foreign teachers. We’ve had a few dinners and even spent some time grabbing drinks at the bar. At school, I’ve become more comfortable with the routine and more confident in the classroom. I finally understand the schedule, and I have a better grasp of…
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The Week My Voice Quit Teaching
This past week at school felt a little less chaotic. I’m finally starting to get the hang of my schedule, my students, and my coworkers. Things are starting to feel slightly more normal—which of course means something else had to go wrong. Unfortunately, I came down with another cold. On Tuesday, I started losing my…
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My First Week Teaching Kindergarten in Korea: Chaos, Confusion, and “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”
No one tells you what the first week of teaching kindergarten ESL abroad is really like. It involves confusion, tiny humans, unexpected hugs, and doing “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” more times than should be medically advisable. To say this week has been overwhelming would be an understatement. Imagine this: And while all of this…
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Phillip N. Patrick 