Korean Job Discussion Forums

thegadfly · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

Lifeinkorea,

Really? Are you really complaining that someone linked 45 different sources of information in response to a REQUEST FOR INFORMATION?

I guess you think reading is hard and stuff, and you just want the cliff notes version?

I think the words you were looking for were "Thank you, Tomato!" Then again, you might want someone to write them for you, since writing is prolly as hard as reading is...so here, I'll help you:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?p=2387959#2387959

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

ontheway · Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 7:29 am Post subject:

thegadfly · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

lifeinkorea,

Why don't YOU make one page, with ongoing ideas? I mean, if you WANT to, I think lots of folks would be very grateful, and it would be a terribly worthwhile project -- no denying that! I am just trying to point out that YOU berating Tomato for the helpful links because they require some effort on your part is ungrateful. I dunno, if you are in Hell, and you ask for icewater, and Tomato gives you a glass, are you gonna start moaning because it is TAP water? And that maybe the ice has that stale-freezer taste?

A gift was given, and you are kvetching about it. A poster that doesn't owe you the time of day TOOK some time to post some links -- a whole metric arseload of links (actually, it might only be an imperial arseload -- I can't remember how many links are in a furlong, and how many hullabaloos are required to raise a ruckus, so I may be overestimating the amount by a sconce or wainscotting), and you write several pages about how his links are difficult to navigate....

Here, try THIS on:

"Thanks, Tomato -- you had a lot of good information in those many, many links, so I took it upon myself to give up my weekend and cull through all of the posts, and cut and paste all of the useful information into this handy-dandy guide I have linked here. Thanks for doing the groundwork for us, and here I am paying it forward! Sincerely, lifeinkorea"

'til that is your post, quit complaining about other people not doing big enough favors for you....

Chambertin · Joined: 07 Jun 2009 Location: Gunsan

Get a net and a club, or a plane ticket home.
Korean children are special.

I remember some great classes but not enough to make me stick with it.
Still some people love it, listen to them not me.

EDIT: Seriously Lifeinkorea is your new job to troll the forums and piss off the few people who try to help others?
Whatever kind of life you lead where that kind of actoin is satisfying I pitty you.

Troglodyte · Joined: 06 Dec 2009

Back on track here.......

That sounds like a pretty exhausting program you have there. I've taught small kids on plenty of occasions but the under 10s can really wear you out.

Take comfort in the fact that you're not really there to teach them much, but mainly entertain them and hopefully they'll pick up some language in the process.

The few times that I taught kindy in Korea, was in a sort of daycare-ish setting. The kids couldn't even read Korean and most of their time was spend singing songs and playing games.

I've found that the little kids love card games, coloring, puzzles (e.g. jigsaw or find the hidden picture types). If you have space, then try to get them moving around in the games. They can usually stay on the same game a few minutes longer if it involves physical activity. e.g. put some posters or objects around the room and have them run to them when you say a word. If your school doesn't buy games or flashcards, but you can print stuff, then PM me and I'll email you some flash cards and pictures/games that you can print out yourself. Some of them I've used with kids as young as 8, so you might be able to use them. It's hard to say. 3 or 4 yrs old is pretty young.

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

balzor · Joined: 14 Feb 2009

You have so much room to work with in Kindergarten. First, They all LOVE Disney. Have a song or video ready. Teach them the ABC's, play games, find coloring sheets with a lot of small pictures on it and have them color by letter. Also get color or paint by numbers as well. Learn some Korean childrens games. Get any of the Wee sing stuff. Go to any big book store and see what books you can find. Spend a couple bucks on a good one and keep it to copy handouts and lessons from. Hell, your school might even reimburse you for it. Most of all, Have FUN. Make them laugh, funny faces, strange noises, games, anything so that they go home and tell the mom they like the English teacher.

thegadfly · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

lifeinkorea,

"Hey, why don't you do this for me?" isn't a suggestion, it is a demand, and smacks of entitlement. Entitlement pisses me off. I get sick and tired of people demanding help as if it were a right rather than a favor.

Point by point? Ok, I'll try that:

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

balzor · Joined: 14 Feb 2009

tomato · Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 9:51 pm Post subject:

I appreciate you folks standing up for me, but lifeinkorea was probably intending to make a constructive suggestion, and a complimentary one at that, but didn't quite choose the right words.
If I have the potential to write a manuscript on kindergarten ESL teaching which would be widely read, I certainly want to know about it.

thegadfly · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

Fair enough, Tomato. I thought it was rude, you didn't, but it was directed at you, so that is your call. My stance was not so much pro-Tomato as anti-rudeness and entitlement, though again, your tolerant attitude and willingness to be helpful despite tone and diction make you part of an unfortunately small group...good on ya, mate!