Review on Monday, January 6th, 2014, Sunny

I took a walk on the way to BUFS. I felt good. I should take a walk often like this.

1. Writing
Running dictation... It was interesting and somewhat fun but hard and difficult!! Brad, you could have given us some easy work! I am not good at memorizing sentences for short time! I am 29 almost and it means my short-term memories don't work well as they used to do! Also, I am terrible at memorizing nowadays. I am forgetful a lot when I don't like to remember something... Jeff must be laughing at this writing(Are you?). I used to memorize little better in short time when I was in high school but not any more...-_- Anyway, I had to check the sentences for several times before reciting them to the group.

Interestingly, I have never been told that I was smart. Instead of that, teachers always told me that I was so patient and I had a real 'heavy butt'. That meant that once I sat to study, I stayed there for long time and finished my work. This explained a lot. I should put my best effort on whatever I want to get or I should fail. Why? Tricks and tips don't work well for me. The good thing is I usually enjoy what I should do(not paper work!)

How can I use this in my class? I will use this the class after big test or end of semester for refreshment. Or, I may use this as a way to make students memorize the textbook. kkk

P.s. I love the story about a husband and a wife.

2.  Classroom Strategies and Techniques
I like the movie "the untouchable". It does not follow the typical Hollywood movies. (Which tense should I use here???? past? or simple present?) For the opposite reason, I hate the ending of "The Devil Wears Prada". The entire story line is screwed up because of the ending. Why should she choose the stupid boyfriend?-_-++ I know lots of Hollywood movies focus on the love for FAMILY and FRIENDS. However, to me, the boyfriend is so, very, undeniably selfish. Why? If he was in her shoes, he would certainly do the same thing to her and say "I have no choice. You should understand me." And then, he might find another girl who seemed to understand him better because they worked in the same field.

Denis made us do dictowatch which we already had done before we went to USA. Still, it was pretty hard and difficult.... Today was a hard day for two classes... It was fortunate that we had time for watching a movie.

For my students, what kind of movie clip should I prepare? It could be a very difficult question for me.

3. Practicum Presentation
Dr.Schwab was absent. We took our time to prepare(?) the presentation. I finally decided what to do for the presentation.




One of my friend failed again to pass the exam for public school. I felt so sorry for her. I know what she felt... Also I am curious about the result for other friends. Are they preparing the next round(?) of the text? I hope they do...

Friday, January 3rd, 2014. Sunny

1. Speaking
As time goes by, I'd rather not open myself to public. I don't know why, but definitely, I feel uncomfortable now to talk about myself. Being active? I want to do only if......
However, it was good to hear that I looked passionate.
Conscientious. I like this word, but also I don't like this word. Isn't it funny?
I also don't like to look passionate to others. It sometimes hurts me a lot.
I should do or I can't not catch up with others. To chase my goals, I should be passionate on what I want to do. However, sometimes I am so confused.
Am I wrong? Have I done something wrong? What I am doing now? Often, I don't know at all.

So, I don't want to open myself sometimes or more than that. Sometimes it is better for me to make other people believe that I am so selfish(Actually I am!) and lazy(I am, seriously! You should see me on weekend what time I should wake up! And What I do whole day!).

2. Extensive Reading
Read read read and read.
I am reading Heidi. It is fun to read an original novel that I used to read in a short version.
Is it that great to live on a mountain like one in the Alps?

3. Classroom Strategies and Techniques
Denis said that we hijacked his class by watching a movie before the class started. However, it was he who was late... I didn't know why, but there might have been a mistake on timetable.

Nowadays, it is somewhat tiring to take classes everyday. The program should have finished with only one week in Korea for doing presentation and writing a report after three months of USA practicum. It is somewhat strange to take classes after we came back to Korea.

Anyway, it is good that there is no group work.

Review on Thursday, January 2nd, 2014

What I am thankful to : the fact that I have people who care me a lot. 

Whenever I see my phone, I cannot help but smile. I love my best friend.

1. Teaching Culture in English Classroom

Review on logical fallacy. Sometimes it is confusing to find some fallacies in statements.

2. Writing

Find and try to correct errors. I made big chaos in class. hahaha.

3. Classroom administration & Student Counseling

What is this subject for? I don't get it yet. 

2013 superlative.

I finally know why it is important to keep distance when I meet and get socialized with people. However, I try to keep my way. I try to be close to new people. Then if I find out he/she is not for me, I will stay away from him/her.

It is easy way to get hurt a lot. However, it is who I am. It is not easy to change myself.

Review on Tuesday, December 31st, 2013.

The last day of 2013... What have I done for this year?
Although I told my friend that I also regret many things, I felt little proud of myself. I ended up with many things left behind. However, I did many thing last year, like running, studying English, and being socializing with Americans... It is not enough to say I did everything I wanted at beginning of this year, but I am pretty satisfied with what I have done.

1. Classroom Resource & Materials Development

We talked about what we have used in our class. Brad introduced us some useful websites(one of them I saw in Jeff's class). Those looked great. I should check all of them.. when I have time(when? surely soon!)

It is tricky to use Pops in class. Brad said some popular songs has not-good meaning like drug or sex. I know lots of hip-hop have something I don't like teach but I didn't know that really popular songs could have those meanings. I should use songs that I can be sure its meaning.

Well, I don't know many songs, so it may be difficult job.

2. Practicum Presentation

I brought a textbook for open class... The problem is I couldn't find out the lesson I want to do in open class. I may try lessons end of the textbook which I haven't taught before(because the time I should teach that part, all students would be sick and tired of learning English after the final exam....). However, if I try what I have in mind, it would take a long time to do. Also, I am not sure whether it work or not. I should think over more.

I wish the day I should present my lesson, it will snow a lot so I don't have to do in front of many people....

3. Teaching Culture in English Classroom

I didn't feel like studying more today. It was an excuse but it was the last day of the year! So other teachers badgered Mr.Schwab a lot( I just watched them doing. I just said today is the last day.... and I didn't need to do anything more after that. lol) to finish early, so Rob finished the class early after announce what we would do from now on. Huh? Wow.


I just dropped by a cafe and talked with other people and met my friend after that. And...  I heard the worst news of the year on the last day of 2013. I went crazy almost....

Review on Monday, December 30th.

1. Writing
 Learn about theories for teaching/learning writing and the reason why we teach writing in class.

2. Classroom Strategies and Techniques
- Finish "Freedom Writers Diary"
I like the story. I read the book before and watched the movie also. It is a very moving story. I want to be like her. The problem is, her life was a little bit broken because her husband didn't understand her. Why don't husbands understand and support their wives in movies? He said "I'm not a wife." Shut up. Is there a rule that a wife should help her husband but he doesn't have to do? In the movie, all the men play so selfish? What stupid animals they are. Also, I want my own life, too. I love my job, but I don't want to devote whole myself. I need some time for me. Am I selfish? However, I am different from her. Without any prize for me, I don't think I can keep going on.
- Learn Dictogloss and Do using Jeff's diary(?) kk
How can I use this in my class? First, I need good text which have certain grammar points. Second, I may change a little bit. Students can rewrite after they learn a text. Isn't it okay? In this case, this cannot give help for listening skill.

3. Practicum Presentation
Talk about our demonstration class.(-_-)
Ah....................... I don't like to do open class in front of other teachers...T-T

Nowadays I started to read a fantasy novel again. It was written 97~98 and I read this in my middle school days. The title is Dragon Raja. This novel was once picked in Korean literature textbook in high school. I love this novel a lot. The problem is that it takes lots of time because it consists of 12 volumes of books...... I finished half today. lol
This is one of fantasy I want to recommend to my friend.... but only written in Korean.:)

Review on Friday, December 27th.

Today's class.
1. Speaking,
2. Extensive Reading, and
3. Classroom Strategies and techniques.

Today's classes were not bad. I mean, easy to follow. I was still tired of jet lag and needed some rest for short trip on Monday to Wednesday. However, not that tired so I was able to study.

We talked about what we miss in America life. I don't know what's wrong with me. However, I really miss life in America a lot where everyone is equal regardless of age. Here, I am so suffocated. Here, everyone says that it is natural that the younger have more work than the older. Why? Everyone agrees with that because they can get rest when they reach that position like the ones they don't like now. However, they want to be like them.

I DO NOT want to be like them. I do handle work which is given to me but I don't want to do other's work because of my young age. Also, I WILL do my work even if I get much older than now. This is my resolution for my whole life. I never make excuse of age. I never say "I am too old to do that." I NEVER give my work to the younger. If I forget this, then I am not who I am.

I know there are much more people who I can respect. However, still there are at least several people in school and they make every problem that they don't manage it by themselves.

Also, I don't understand the concept of 'gift' much. I bought some for gifts but I don't know how much should I give to teachers in my school. I know they work for me while I have been away. However, I do exactly the same when a teacher is away. My case is a little more special because the period is long, but still I don't want to prepare many presents. I am not here for just hanging out. There is a sub teacher and she does my job well.

Sometimes it is ridiculous that I can't take a good chance since I can't find a sub or the principal or the vice principal doesn't want to me go. They often(not always. My ex vice principal was great!) want teachers to work in school rather than have good opportunities to improve themselves. I don't think everything in school in Korea is bad, but they surely adopt the system of America on sub teachers.

I know there should be a problem for using subs like quality of education or consistency of teaching... We should find out some solutions for this. This must not be an obstacle for using subs.


These days I got upset very easily. However, I am really careful not to say anything. If someone sees my blog? This is my blog, so I have the right to hold my opinion. haha.

Review on Thursday, December 26th.

I am back. It is little bewilderment that I am in Korea and live my ordinary life again. Three months in California is long but short. I really wanted to stay there more. I thought a lot and I felt a lot on lots of things. Some of them were really disappointing but some of them were so fascinating that I kept thinking about them.

Today, I was late for the class. I left early, but I had to send a package to an unknown person. A box was delivered to me which is wrong address, and i should send it back. How irritating job it was! It took more than ten minutes. Also, my bus stopped on the way because the door didn't close. The driver tried to close it several times, but it was useless. Ah..... Very joyful start for the program.

I didn't do much today. I mean, there was only one class for we started at 2 o'clock. We just talked about our life after coming back to Korea and gave some tips to teachers from 5+1 program. It was bothering that some teachers spoke Korean whenever Jeff was not in classroom. Well, that was their choice. I just want to try hard as much as possible.

There are two things which I found that I hate: 1. aggressive driving. Here, I should wait for cars. Isn't it funny? People invented cars for its convenience. However, if a person doesn't drive a car, he/she should embrace all the inconvenience in Korea like waiting for car passing, staying alert about cars around. How FUNNY! 2. There is no room between people. On December 23rd, I went to Seoul. I was inside of train waiting for getting out. I was in line and I found out a lade stood behind me too close. There wasn't enough space even for a fist. EXCUSE ME, do you love me? Why do you stand so close to me? I kept glancing at her, but she just looked at me and ignored it. She kept standing too close to me walking though the passage. So, I chose to move my body a little to make space, like shaking my head so my hair spread to make room or doing some small stretching. I really hate strange people being too close to me. I don't understand this Korean custom because no matter how close they stand to each other, the result is almost same. It could make some problem, but they still do that. They think doing in hurry makes big difference, but not at all!!!! Maybe very slight difference? However, is it worth bothering other people?

Oh. I should shut my mouth up, or stop writing. I am too aggressive even as a Korean. That's what I've been told for my life. Dang.