Why Orangoutangs Have Big Nostrils

I didn't leave Holly and Jody's until after midnight last night, so got home around 12:30 and in bed an hour after that. That means I slept late this morning, getting up basically in time to get ready for work.

The foreign teacher meeting this afternoon with Joelle was typical. It lasted about 25 minutes. The lesson plans changed slightly so she was going to tell us the changes. Well, the lesson plans did indeed change slightly but she went through everything, regardless of whether it had changed or not. The stuff we really needed to know (about our role in the computer system) was barely mentioned, and only because I asked her about it. In explaining the Can You Believe It? book, there is WAY TOO MUCH memorization! I suggested that, especially in that book, memorization actually hurts the students. Matt agreed, but Joelle dismissed the comment. She ended the meeting by saying that if we have any good suggestions to let her know. Apparently the comment about the CYBI book wasn't good. We're only native English speakers who have learned foreign languages ourselves, after all.

Just before the 2 PM class began Mark punched the window of Grape classroom, causing multiple cracks in it and cutting his hand. Someone wrapped up his hand, and his mother came within 15 minutes to look at what he had done and I suppose take him to the doctor (or put him in a dark cellar for life, she looked angry).

When I came into the 3 PM class Tomas was at the opposite end of the table from everyone else, pouting. I asked him what was wrong but he wouldn't say anything, not even hello. We did the listening book today, which involves a lot of listening and writing, yet he didn't pick up his pencil once. I prodded him several times to get involved, but since he wasn't disturbing the other students I let it go. After class I found out that Mona had scolded him (perhaps used the stick, too).

Rona is the giggliest girl I've ever met--every time I look at her she giggles. The kids not only remembered to do the weather calendar I assigned them last week, but reminded me about it! They're the first class where most of them did it. They did really good at the listening exercises today; Kelt made a big deal when he saw Lynn's name in the book. Other classes are similar--I think seeing their English nicknames in print makes them realize that they're actually people's names.

At 4 I corrected journals, then at 5 they were pretty talkative (mostly English). The new student is quieter, and possibly dislikes all of the talking. I can't quite tell, but she may be the kind of student who thinks that the only way to get better at English is to memorize vocabulary words or do writing exercises. Conversation is important, too!

At 6 I asked them if they had to do the Taehwa River cleanup, and they told me how horrible it was. They even had to drink "a little dirty water." Huh? You didn't drink water from the river, did you? Even just a drop of it on your skin would be enough to kill you! No, after the help of a picture they said they drank tap water. Oh no! Korean tap water is so horrible! (a little sarcasm) Did I write that it turns out that's what I've been drinking at work my whole time here? It goes from the tap into the water cooler, then through a filter and out into my cup. I have NEVER seen the filter changed, though. Gross!

In the next class Jake again did a great job of talking when he told me "Time change. Tonight go at 7:25." That means he misses more than half of class, every day, for a whole month! When he left we all said goodbye. Blake knows a lot of good words: "Bravo! Party time! Jake is going, so we have a party!" No, we get back to studying!

Paul is absolutely insane. When I asked them where Daniel was, Paul and Blake told me that Daniel is sick. Oh? What's wrong? "Toilet, Daniel (straining face) dung, water dung, like a water gun, next chopsticks pickup dung and mix and . . . " Where was he going with that?? He was determined to gross everyone out, but the other kids didn't really care. Not long after that, Paul asked me why orangoutangs have such big nostrils (he didn't know that word, of course, but pointed at his). I said that I don't know; he told me that it's because they have big fingers and pick their noses all the time. Thank you for sharing, Paul!

The 8:30 class is behaving so much better now that we're studying a decent book. They still speak too much Korean, though. At one point I was trying to get Charlie's attention, and Glen helped by asking Charlie, "Perfect English? No? Study!" I've used that line with them before, perhaps last class.

Tonight one page in their book gave sample personal ads, then they were to write their own. I'm not sure if perhaps they didn't understand, or maybe this is how personal ads are done in Korea: the boys were writing the kind of girl they wanted, not things about themselves. How self-centered, but perfect in going along with the Korean "men are kings" mentality.

After a little talking with Matt and Tanya (who signed their contract tonight, carefully reading the worthless pages) I took the bus to Mugeo-dong where I got off at Aram-Mart. I don't want to have to do grocery shopping this weekend, so figured I'd get it done tonight (I'm out or running low of almost everything). I entered the store at 10 and was out by 10:15. Then the 15~20 minute walk home, switching the one bag from hand to hand (my backpack had most of the heavy items). There were tons of police officers doing sobriety tests on the road behind the University. It's nice to have the shopping done for another couple of weeks, aside from eggs and bread which I can pickup at the stores near my apartment.