Teaching and Movies

Teaching
On monday 28th I had my first day of teaching. Because of the fact that I had been here for two weeks and watched a lot of other classes, I was quite nervous.  It's an interesting experience getting to work and knowing that you have absolutely no choice but to teach a bunch of children.  I know it's a decision you make when you come out here, but for me it didn't seem real until that first lesson, and it kind of still doesn't now.  Especially as it's something I would never have considered doing at home.

I had 7 classes on Monday which is quite a daunting prospect, especially as someone who has never taught before. I have a mixture of ages that I teach, some are 9 or 10 years old, and others are about 14.  The younger ones are very intrigued by a new teacher, and like to ask lots of questions like how old I am and whether I am married! I find them much more enthusiastic, but I think children will always be like that - curious, naive, imaginative.  Teaching the older kids on my first day was pretty tough.  I just couldn't get them to talk, and they're supposed to have been learning English for a while so I just couldn't work out if they understood me or not.  Therefore, I am trying to teach them that it's not important to always have the right answers, that everyone makes mistakes, and it's just important to try.

Most people I've spoken to have said that in their first few lessons the kids are pretty quiet. I think that especially the older kids are a bit wary of new teachers, but it sounds like they warm up to you eventually.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays I teach 2 classes and they are both younger ones - 9 or 10 years old. I really love to teach them and they're all great kids with a huge sense of fun about them. The only problem is that I want them to like me so I'm probably not enforcing enough discipline.  I think I'm pretty good at the pissed-off-teacher-stare, though.  Another issue I'm finding is that these younger children do their homework from their workbooks which we then go through in class. After seeing that they all have the right answers, I ask them some more questions - Sometime else about the subject, or a re-phrased question, and they arn't too sure of the answer. I don't know if the Korean teachers arn't teaching them grammar very well, but I do worry if they're actually taking anything in properly.

I can't really believe that my current job is to stand up in front of groups of kids and teach them. It's very strange for me!

But as I've always thought, teach and be taught. Share your knowledge and learn from others. I'm loving learning about my friends and the people I've met so far, hearing about where they're from, being asked questions about England. It's great!

Movies
I've been to the cinema 3 times so far. It costs about 8000won, which is around £4.50. So about half what we would pay back home!

Avatar was pretty incredible, and certainly not a let down. I didn't get to see it in 3D, but hopefully I will soon.  I think it's rare to find someone who has created a whole new world, the main ones I can think of are Tolkien and JK Rowling! The landscape of Pandora is one of the most imaginative and creative I've seen. The film mainly focused on visuals so I think a bit more development in character would have been good.


Fantastic Mr Fox was just so much fun. I watched it and was transported to my youth where I would be reading the book! It was funny and quirky, witty and delightful. I encourage anyone to go and see it. Oh and the soundtrack was brilliant.

Nine I wasn't sure about. I went into it not knowing anything about it aside from the cast, so I had no expectations. It's directed by Rob Marshall who did Chicago and is about a famous film director Guido Contini who struggles to makes a new film as he battles with issues in his professional and personal life, whilst engaging in relationships with his wife, mistress, muse and mother.  It was a bit too long, the songs wern't great and it didn't really go anywhere (though sometimes I that works.) There were some good performances though - Daniel Day Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Fergie. It did have some ideas that I found a little intriguing, particularly about his perfectionist nature and issues in general, though perhaps a little shallow. I guess I would say it was 'okay' but definitely not anything worth raving about.  Funny, because it's the one I've written most about. The boys all hated it.


DVDbangs
We saw about half of 28 Days Later, which of course is a great movie! But realised we wanted to watch something a little more lighthearted, so we put on The Hangover.  Remembered that it's not that great. When you're drunk and sleepy though, it's not so important.
The other night we watched Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - I can't remember paying that much attention to it but the HP films for me, are terrible and fun. I hate Daniel Radcliff and his acting makes me cringe, but if I could live anywhere it would be Hogwarts!
Watched the latest Star Trek movie too, which I actually saw about a week before I came to Korea, but I do love it.
I'm sure there were a couple of others but I don't remember what they were now!

I like that I've met many other people as into watching films as me, and it makes me happy that I'm getting to go the cinema lots as I haven't really been able to since moving away from Canterbury.