Ok, so a demonstration class is scheduled once a semester
generally either for parents or school staff to visit a classroom and evaluate
how the teacher(s) are teaching the students. My co teacher and I had one
scheduled for yesterday. It was placed on the school calendar at the beginning
of the term, in September. We met and created a great lesson plan that included
pair and team work. It highlighted some of the best work that we have done
together this semester. She suggested I wear a dress and (after confirming that
she would wear one too) I agreed.
We rehearsed in the first three classes
for the day and then left lunch early to put the final touches on the
classroom. The 5th grade class also came back from lunch early and were acting
very polite at our suggestion. Then 1:40 came...then 1:41...nothing. My co
teacher suggested we start the class. She recorded it on the stationary cameras
in the classroom and ..... We had the BEST CLASS EVER. The children were
responsive and on their best behavior. We clicked together and were in sync.
The lesson plan flowed WELL.
And no one showed up. NO ONE. Not the
principal. Not the vice principal. Not an admin. Not even the school mascot.
The windows were opened and not even a little birdie from outside flew in to
perch on the window and watch our wonderful class.
After we dismissed the students, I turned
to my co teacher and said, very American-like, "THAT SUCKED!"
To further confirm the
"suckiness" of it all, yesterday afternoon, I went to teach adults at
my weekly session at the Education office. I once again only had one student. I
even heard her trying to convince another guy to come to the english lesson and
he was arguing with her and shouting that he refused to come! I do not speak Korean but I KNOW when someone is REFUSING to do something.
At the class I asked the woman does she
have anyone else to speak english with besides me. She said no. The only time
she speaks or practices english is during our weekly Tuesday lessons. But she
also told me that she is VERY HAPPY to learn english with me and I am a great
teacher.
I smiled because this just confirms what I
was starting to discover a month into teaching in this country.
English is mandatory to teach in this
country but not mandatory to learn.
It is only after you get here and get into
the classroom that you realize that the only ones who take english seriously
here are native english teachers. NO ONE ELSE. LOL.
How do you like them apples? LOL.
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