Korean Job Discussion Forums

[MollyBloom]

I just want to say Happy Teachers Day to all the great teachers out there~

Also, right now my present count is one rose, one small bouquet, one carnation bouquet, and a rose centerpiece. Also, one card in English and one note written in hangeul. A box of chocolate crepes. Funny story how I got them.

I realized as I was greeting this morning that all the roses were for teachers. I was excited, because I have a good relationship with my students, and I thought I would be getting some cute cards and other treats.

As the students came into my office throughout the day, they were giving flowers and notes to all the subject teachers except me, and I think they understood the look on my face. I was really kind of sad Then, all of a sudden, oh boy, I was getting flowers and cards left and right. One of my second grade teachers even gave me the centerpiece one of her students gave her! To one teacher's credit, I did get one early in the morning...her class leader was passing out corsages to all teachers and I got one.

I forgot English teachers aren't considered "real teachers" in some places...but at least I got some flowers and chocolate later on to make up for it! yee haw!

[bundangbabo]

I got the day off instead - which I consider a fair swap!

I know most of my students think I am awesome! They introduced the teaching staff to the students one time and they all got muted applause - when I got introduced - the cheers I got - it was like Daniel Henny riding into the playground on horseback waving a golden cane around - I'll never forget it to be honest...

I'm going back to England next month and I am never going to see them again - I am starting to feel a bit emotional about it to be honest - they are the best people in the school by a long chalk!

[Hello]

[cruisemonkey]

I got a great surprise this morning when I went to my middle school -

the first two blocks: regular classes, third block: ceremony on the soccer field where I received a boutoneer, fourth block: student-teacher soccer game, lunch time: GO HOME... you have the afternoon off!

[hogwonguy1979]

my dept is having a ceremony but i wont be there, its my day off and have too much stuff to do around here

besides last year the students gave the korean fac in my dept white envelopes with gift certs etc and we didnt get squat and they did it right in front of me. talk about lack of taste

[Kurtz]

Just the one flower (from a boy) but I git some tea, a pen and some chewing gum.

The highlight was an envelope with "To Mr X We Love You From 4-6" with letters from my 4th graders in it.

also, this note from a 3rd grader

"teacher I am Anna
Thank you for teach English
I am good at English But You and teacher 박 is very good teaching me.
I like English very much.
Becouse it is fun and very interesting.
teacher do you like this mail?
I will give you a pen
Teacher please tech English game and sing!
Anna"

That's a better momento than anything I could buy in Insadong as a memory from Korea.

[Morgen]

My school is celebrating by having teachers do chicken fights in the gym or scoot around on their asses with their hand holding the opposite ankles, trying to knock each other over by having foot fights. This is not the first time I've been grateful for having afterschool class as an excuse.

[harlowethrombey]

a mountain of food is still at my desk. I feel sick. . .

[WendyRose]

I received 3 flower arrangements/baskets, 2 cookies, a cake and several hugs. Oh, and all my classes were shorted by 10 minutes each and I have the afternoon off.

[blackjack]

big box of chocolate, 5 flowers, face wash (expensive stuff as well), socks, a t shirt, a couple of unopened boxes (chocolates I guess,) and a few random bags of candy. Still got two classes to go as well

[agoodmouse]

Three notes, two coffee mugs (one from a student, another from a parent [no money in it!]), and two student-made certificates -- one saying I'm handsome, another saying all the students like me. Real official looking, with gold leaf print.

[bassexpander]

A 50,000 won Shinsagae gift certificate and a gorgeous blue/ivory jewelry box that opens up and plays the song, "Arirang."

These gifts came from English majors whom I teach 1-on-1 during my office-hours for free. I have to sit there anyway, and told some students to drop by and practice their English. One of them hopes to be an interpreter, and has religiously dropped in for conversation every single week for the entire year. These students aren't currently in any of my classes.

I'll put a photo of the jewelry box up later. I love it. My coworkers gasped when they saw it. Not sure I could accept such gifts from a student currently in my classes.

[Milwaukiedave]

Well I had the day off since it was my regular day off.

On Tuesday, my MBA students gave me a bottle of wine. I haven't opened the bottle yet, but it looks to be a good quality brand. I was pretty shocked to get anything.

[MollyBloom]

There is this one 4th grader who I taught as a 3rd grader, so I know him quite well. He has a really bad situation at home: his step-mother beats him and his dad drinks a lot and hits him too.

His English isn't great, but it has gotten better from last year, and he is sooo happy, even if he had a horrible day. I love him and always give him small things, like pencils and notebooks. His family doesn't have a lot of money, so he has to learn English from me and our after-school program. No hagwons.

Anyways...he saw I wasn't getting any flowers, and he came up to me later with some flowers (I don't know how he got them) and a small letter, in Hangul:

선생님께!

선생님 선물드 레서 최송해용 ---> 이곷다 발받고 기은네새요!

I was disappointed it wasn't in English...but it was a sweet gesture nonetheless.


It really made my whole day!

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

No time off, no presents, no candy, no respect, all kinds of demands for stickers and candy, as well as a few 'chaemi upteo''s when they didn't win/like the game we played.

I hate teacher's day... but to be fair, as of late I also hate every other day I spend in Korea.