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.