New Semester

The new school year just started, and it is my first (and only) semester as the only foreign English teacher at my school. It's a bit strange not walking to and from school with anyone and not having anyone to eat lunch with. The other teachers have done their best to include me in things though. Sometimes my main coteacher offers to drive me home from school since I'm alone.

I was fairly certain that the school admins would want me to teach all 3 grades, somehow, because I'm the only foreign teacher, but that was not the case. I got my full schedule on Friday, and I am still teaching only grades 2 and 3, so not much has changed there. This semester, I will be teaching grade 2's every week in mixed level classes only. Two classes a month will be devoted to their textbook, and the other two classes in a month will be culture classes, so basically, whatever I want to teach. I'll teach grade 3's every other week in separated level classes. A slight change is that the grade 3's are separated into only A and B levels instead of A, B, and C. I only teach culture lessons to grade 3's. So the semester isn't as different as I thought it was going to be. I have some new coteachers who all seem good, and I really like my new second graders. Every semester I feel more confident in my teaching ability, and I am really hoping to teach the kids something about American culture. Believe it or not, I really haven't focused too much on what things are like in the US, so that's one of my goals this semester. I think I have a better grasp on how to get the grade 2's to understand the textbook material best as well. My schedule is pretty good, but Mondays are going to be hard days. I have 5 classes in a row with only lunch in between two of the classes.

I think the biggest change of this semester was my big move. I used to sit in a small office with only 4 other teachers in it, one of them being the other foreign teacher. I was moved to the main teachers' office. It's kind of nice to get to see the kids more when they come by to see other teachers, and it makes it a lot easier to communicate with the other English teachers. I have been trying to get their input in my lessons more, having them give me feedback about lessons after I plan them. I don't know if it is just because it's the beginning of the semester, but I feel more productive in the main teachers' office so far. I can't watch as many videos with people walking all around all the time.

Anyway, I'm really excited for what my last semester teaching in Korea has in store. I'm feeling pretty confident, and I hope this continues going forward. I have a good group of kids, and I hope they enjoy my classes this semester.