A wandering soul in Korea: New Semester at ILS

Last week we started the new semester at ILS. In Korea the school year starts at the beginning of March, instead of the end of summer.

The new semester naturally means change. This is especially true since four of our kinder classes graduated to elementary. This also meant we got some new classes. Let me tell you, you haven't seen cuteness until you've seen a brand new "class" consisting of 2 three-year-olds in prep school uniforms. And then just when you think it can't get any cuter, they mime slash tell you in broken Konglish that their names are Elsa and Rapunzel. Frozen continues to take ILS by storm.

Some of the foreign teachers got new main kinder classes, but I was so happy to hear I got to keep mine. As I've said in a previous post, I love my kiddos. My class did change a little. We lost two of my favorite students to another class (basically they leveled up because they are Korean baby geniuses) and I got a new student. My class now has 5 boys and 3 girls. And since they're on the next kinder level they're called Washington instead of Houston.

The Korean staff at ILS was almost completely changed as well. Many of our beloved Koreans moved on to greener pastures, and they hired almost all new teachers. Unfortunately, we still don't have a full staff so as of right now I don't have a co-teacher. They've been sort of trying to make due with tagging teaming the situation between a few people. I don't know why they decided to stick the new girl (me, duh) with the semi-solo gig but whatevs. I'm choosing to believe it's because Korea realizes how awesome I am. I might be in denial. Or delusional. Like I said, whatevs y'all!

The best thing to come out of the new semester is that I'm a science teacher now! When I first got here they stuck me with math (barf), but after some not so subtle hints on my part, they're letting me teach something I actually know a bit about. Not only is it my favorite subject, but it's most of the kids' favorite as well. I've come to think of science as the crack cocaine of the kindergarten world. The kids want it so bad that if I so much as mention science stickers or books even the biggest turds in the class sit nicely and quietly until they're handed the materials. It's nice to have the kids get excited when I walk into class. But I'm choosing to believe part of that is also because like the rest of Korea, they too have come to see my awesomeness.

I have also acquired an additional main elementary class. These kiddos I'm not so fond of. I suppose it had to happen since I love my other three classes. Just Korean Jesus' way of keeping my karma in check. (Side note- Does Jesus believe in karma? I'm pretty sure Korean Jesus does. Please ponder this and let me know.)

This new elementary class doesn't speak English as well as my kinders and they sure as heck don't listen as well either. These elementary kids aren't as impressed by my sticker bribes. And they are semi-rude (sometimes bordering an straight up a-holes). Yesterday they hid my cell phone and I didn't find it until the next day. I think things will be better as we get to know each other more. I'm pretty sure their last main teacher wasn't into the whole making kids listen to you and respect you thing.

Overall, I think it's going to be a great year. I've got some solid classes and when all else fails I can usually bribe them with science or the Frozen soundtrack. In the meantime readers, let me know your thoughts on Jesus' karma beliefs and/or wrangling my newest bunch of elementary turds.

Until next time!