WEEK 5, DAY 34: Alia's Korea-Malaysia Teacher Exchange Programme KOMTEP 2018

Today and yesterday are examination day for grade 2 and 3 students. Thus, the school arranged that the grade 1 students to go on a field trip today. Interesting process of examination here. This is my 3rd experience during the examination period.
First was English listening test. Second was English writing test. These 2 days is examination for all subjects. Hong Cheon Middle school has exam starting at 9am and ends at 12pm. Teachers would be invigilating the whole period and not base on the usual timetable.
After 12 pm, students could go home and rest. Teachers as well. So, yesterday, the school organized teachers' excursion after 12pm.
I think they are trying not to pressurized the students as examination is really hard. According to my mentor, each school has different arrangement on examination process.

These are my notes and thoughts on homeroom session and school system.
1. students on duty for the week must clean class at the end of the day. On Friday, they have to mop the classroom.
2. On Friday, there will be students assigned to mop the corridors.
3. Homeroom teacher has a register book where she would write all students name on the first page. Then, they would circle who is absent. They would not rewrite the names each month.
4. Students submit and retrieve their mobile phones at the beginning and end of the day and put them in a special handphone bag. The homeroom teacher would take good care of it.
5. Announcement is made by the homeroom teacher or the speaker. No assembly.
6. Korean flag is pasted in front of each classroom.
7. No record, but state the theme and topic taught in class everyday.
8. Grade 1 has no examination. They said Korean education system is trying to make Middle School as a period where children explore their interest and decide what they want to be in the future.

These are my observation in the school I am attending. It may differ to other schools, but I hope this is a good insight.
Overall, I find that the things done efficiently. Not wasting time but focus more on the big idea and purpose of schooling.

p/s: Today, 5th October, is my first birthday in Korea. All my colleagues did a great birthday videos and had a video call with dad. Life is kind and good :)

WEEK 4&5, DAY 23 - 34 : Monday, 24th September 2018 - Wednesday, 5th October 2018

This is the summary of my learning experience in Korea for week 4 and 5 in visual form. Learning happens throughout my stay, not just in school, but through discussions with teachers, students, locals and Malaysian colleagues. More future activities to come!

word of wisdom from my brain

I realize and learn….it is not about you are the best. Because everyone is the best in their own way. Everyone is the winner in their own way. They dealt with what they need to deal with, so they are winners!  So, all you got to do to survive in this world is be the best version of yourself. I don’t like competition.so be the best based on my own standards is the best way to live peacefully :) 


p/s: somehow, surroundings judgement still affect you, but take it as learning experience, not as a standard to be compared to. 

Week 5, Day 33 : 4th October 2018

I am utterly grateful with class 1-7 today. I was excited to start my drama project and lesson with the students, but when I arrived, I saw on their table they had my last week's flag project! the white and red stripes. oh, they remembered! I was glad I brought sweets in my pocket. I could reward them for participating. Everyone participated well! Everyone was able to produce the Malaysian hats and at last, I got to take pictures with them! I was so thankful to God for sending the technology teacher to always observe and control my class. I am also thankful for the students' enthusiast. I postponed my drama project as I could see their eagerness to complete the Malaysian hats. I hope in the future, they will enjoy my drama project.

Then, on that day,Grade 2 and 3 were having examination and ended at 12 pm. After that, they could go home. Iwant to ask the teachers why next time. Then, the teachers went out for an excursion. We went to the contryside, had lunch (vegetable and rice), then we did "suspension adventure rope course". It was crazy and increadible!!!! I was scared of heights. Ifelt like crying, at the same time, I just kept walking and pray that I will be safe. Walking on it felt like exercise as I had to balance and pull myself up.  I think I enjoyed balancing myself but I seriously did not like the heights. When I did the flying fox, I almost gave up. I went back and felt like I want to take off my clip. But in the end, the instructor pushed me and I did not look to the front. The other female Korean teachers were not making any sounds. I could not help myself but scream!! haha. This is going to be one and last time.

But I realise doing this, I was able to share how scared I was with other teachers. Ryan and Kim songsannim explained how to walk and handle the gears and the female nurse and teachers just kept motivating each other. I learned that to be in a good relationship with your colleagues, I think this kind of activity is needed to bond ourselves in other ways, because we may not be able to bond due to different subject or different working area, but, through this activity, we could connect with one another through feelings, and from here, we would see the other side of the person that maybe, we could have a better conversation with that person, better yet, better friendship. 

This makes me reflect on how teachers in Korea talked to each other.It is in their culture to always greet each other by bowing their head a little and said anyohasayo, and when they said goodbye, they would say anyohegesayo (i am sorry if i am spelling it wrong) and also choshimhassayo(take care) or kapshida (let's go). so, this nature of being polite makes the environment is always in a polite situation. it is beautiful and calm working culture indeed. 

I was glad to have a great conversation with an English teacher, who is very much interested in observing culture and places. We shared the same interest, hence we discussed about education system, world culture, documentaries and movies. It was fun and I am looking forward for future conversation with her.

I also saw the principal was choosing who he would like to pour drinks to. The eldest would pour drink to the young ones and the young ones would bow and said thank you, kamsahamnida. this is like saying that the elder is giving blessings to the young ones, hence, creating a respectful environment. everyone is doing something in return. pouring, bowing. it is very good. 

WEEK 4&5, DAY 23 - 32 : Monday, 24th September 2018 - Wednesday, 3rd October 2018

These 2 weeks have been interesting experiences as I started teaching. I am teaching multicultural classes,  but I also focus on teaching the students English vocabulary. Being in Boys’ School has its own challenges.  Some students were hyperactive and not interested in the lesson. However, I believe,as a teacher, it is my job  to face the challenge and find a way to educate the students. These 2 weeks, I had been introducing Malaysian flag,  colours, shapes, comparing it with Malaysian flag and then the students create a Malaysian flag hat. The objective  of this lesson is to make the students pay attention to the details of the flag by making a hat and remember the  importance and meanings of the shapes and colours. I also taught Malay vocabulary such as Harimau and Jalur  Gemilang as well as English vocabulary such as anthem, earth, sky, star, moon, states, crescent, stripes, shapes  and colours. Most of the students participated well as they were able to answer my questions when I wanted to  test their memory after I taught them. They were also able to create a hat. Some did not pay attention but I tried  to ask whether they are alright and try to encourage them to continue with their activity. Next class was grade 2. Same lesson, however, few boys at the back were not attentive. However, being older boys,  about 4 students are able to get it done. Then I had to make sure the class is clean after the lesson. Eventhough it  was not a 100% happy lesson, I made myself brave and I said goodbye to them and hope to see them again. They  looked very positive. I realised this is the importance of always being positive as a teacher.  At least, in the next  class, they remember our positive goodbye. Hopefully, it will be a better and positive start and lesson next time.  The next day, I tried to give them a reward when they finished making their craft. They were enthusiastic about the  reward. Maybe, this will work better for next activities if they competed them well. As for my project,on 28th and  29th, I was not able to meet my multicultural club students as there was no multicultural club session. I would only  able to meet them the next Monday, 1st October. On Monday, I was teaching 2-8 and 2-4. The students in 2-8 were a bit hard to control, hence, I taught them a fun  way to clap. So that, when I need their attention and it works! When I said clap, they did it. That’s good. Next class  2-4, they don’t need it much but I do the clap as well. Students were paying attention throughout the class and  most were determine in doing their craft and paid attention to the lesson. I was very happy with my lesson as it  went smoothly. However, I was not happy with the after school programme as only 4 students attended the session. Hence, I was  only able to carry out my project with only 4 students. They learned about various types of expressions and  Malaysian clothing. They also recite the drama script. They are good. I hope more will come next time and be  more serious. However, I am worried about the participants in my project plan. I am worried that the project plan was not carried out well. Hene,I decided to bring my project in class as it is related to malaysain culture and English as well. Today, I tried my project with grade 1-2. It was haywired. Why? First of all,it was an abrupt change, from a lesson to project. So, in my mind, I am thinking how to speed up my prject, at the same time, I need to teach step by step to help the students understand better. In the monerning, I came early to school to print and cut the papers but in the end, because I was so haywirde, I could not go through the process of the lesson step by step. So,when I was in class, I could not carry out the lesson systematically. It was here and  there. Students may not be able to see the continuation of it all. So, next class, I will do it step by tep. First, pre test, next vocabulary, next video, then, rearrange story, then moral values.maybe that’s it for today. Try next class…try try. I also realize these students need more help with viocabulary because they are grade 1. So, I must add the vocabs for the young graders. I entered second class for Tuesday, 1st graders. I was co-teaching with an English teacher. She was helpful as she explained when students could not understand my instructions. She also helped in correcting my Korean translation. Students paid attention and tried their best. After 3 weeks in Hong Cheon, I realize, teachers’ work ethic is really high. They would get to class on time and elave on time, modeling to the students to be punctual too whilst not taking their precious time. Students would also be back in class on time to start the class. Students are also determine in their stiry as they would onctinue going to stody at extra tuition acadmy out of school. Students also keep on nurturing their interest, for example, they play magic tricks or drawing or foot volleyball practice and keep on practicing during recess or after school programme. I also notice the working and documenting process is done efficiently. For example, the register is written only once at the front and students are marked only based on their absentise. Then, students does not have exercise books but they have handouts,givne by their teacher. The teacher would also carry out experiements in class by demonstaringt if the science experiments could be done fast. So, students get to learn more. I am also amaze at how responsible the students are in keeping the class and school corridor clean. Everyday, at the last period they ouwld have 10 minutes cleaning time. Then, on Friday, the students on duty would mop rooms and corridors. Patriotism is essential in korea, throughout education as well as around areas.graceful and good etiquette is also important as I notice Koreans are much quieter and always greet each other and have high value of seniors. My Korean mentor, Yenny is very helpful. She is not good English but she is determined to improve. My partener and I area also determine to learn Korean language, be it reading and orally. So, we always exchange information about language and culture. She teaches us how to say phrases and reading and I would help her with English words and explains Muslim and Malay culture, especially since I am wearing hijab. I am glad I am in the school wearing hijab,especially for students. I want the students to understand that the world is filled with various types of people, culture and religion. I want them to get used to it  and be aware and understand the existence of different culture and places and not be too shock to see different people and culture. Last fortnight, I went to Seould during Chuseok Holiday. I saw on television where family went back to their hometown, visiting families as well as visiting graves. Some went to Gongbeokgung palace or other famous places to celebrate by playing games and looking at the full lunar moon. It was very festive. On Tuesday, I went to I went to Gongbeokgung palace.itwas free to enter the palace that day. Many people were wearing handbook and taking pictures. Family came and enjoyed the day. Last weekend, my mentor, Yenny, brought me to Seoul for Hanbook and Korean experience. We visited Gongbokgeong Palace. Yenny had taken for us an English guide to explain about the history of the palace. The guide was informative as tehey shared about the decoration of the palace paintings, such as the sun and moon represent queens,and the number of claws on the dragon, the meaning of them, the function of fireplace under the palace which explains the floor heating in Korea and the importance of having clean floor, the function of each building, the king’s place, work place, meeting place, sleeping place, wives’ rooms and garden. Then, we stayed in a traditional house. I love it as I get to learn little details about the house like they used charcoal to make sure the air is clear and there were duck decorations where it explains to have a good wedding life. Then there was open rooftop with chairs.the staff explains that the alley beside the guest house was from KDrama “goblin”. The next day, we walked around Samchondong area, observing the traditional residential area. It was amazing.we went to the observatory and saw the Blue house where the president is and see the mountains. Then, we went to a traditional knot-making-craft. I crafted a dragonfly keychain knot. Then we ate Korean noodle and Korean vegetable. We also went to Namsan tower. It had an amazing view of Seoul city, mountains and Han river. We also saw buchechum dance there, and the dancers are elders but they were very professional. Then they dance using Hyangbal, a small clinking music instrument. It was very inspirational and graceful. It was beautiful experience.  It was amazing to learn about the history of another country as it shows the beauty of the country and how the country work hard to make it properoous.The architecture of the palace and the traditional house was majestic and increadible as how beautiful the designs were and how strong the wood and bricks are.