Week 1, day 8: Sunday, 9 SEPTEMBER 2018

Today, Yennny brought us to Sutasa Temple at Gongjak Han. Gongjak means peacock. Han means mountain. It was full of green of forest and there were people going there to hike. There were temples, a park, pond willed with lotus and a clear crystal river.  It was serene!

There were art exhibition in the temple area and we observed the traditional design of the temple and a bell. We were served hot tea and rice cake (tteok) by Yenny’s friend who was a tea–making teacher. Yenny was helping her friend serving Darjeeling tea to visitors. We roamed around the area, appreciating God’s beautiful nature and silence. In the afternoon, we had vegetarian lunch. It was delicious. Then, we helped Yenny and her friend cleaning the tea cup. We washed it in 2 basin. Once to soak, the other to rinse. Then, we dried them up. We had to do it fast if there were many visitors.  

Later, we went around to capture some moments and memories. Then, we ate ice cream with our mentor by the stream. It was peaceful. 

Week 1, day 7, Saturday, 8th September 2018

Our mentor, Yenny, brought us to the town. It is a small town. We went to Daiso to buy necessities. She also showed us the bus station and tourist information centre. Yenny explained to us that Hong Cheon is a soldier town. We saw many soldiers around the town. It reminds me of KDrama Descendant of the Sun.

Then, went to farmer’s market to buy Kimbap’s ingredients. Yenny wanted to teach us how to make it.

Then, we had lunch at a vegetarian restaurant. We sat on the floor on a thin cushion.

After that, we went home, and had tea and a chat. Yenny was so sweet as she put effort to learn English so that she can speak to us. She teaches us how to use the facilities in the house and how to clean the house Korean style.

Then, we made kimbap. We slice the carrot, Korean vegetable, cooked rice and rolled them into seaweed and we cut the roll into small pieces. It was delicious! Yenny really make sure we experience Korean culture. We are very grateful!

WEEK 1, Day 6,FRIDAY, 7th SEPTEMBER 2018

It was the day we perform our dance. Each country did very well and had similar dance costumes. Mongolia sing, play an instrument and dance. There was Indonesian dance and Thailand dance coconut dance. My 9 friends and I did the dance very well. We enjoyed ourselves and by the end of it, we invited other people to dance.

Then, we met our mentor. It was the first time I met my mentor, Yenny, the Principal of Hong Cheon Middle School , Mr Choi Ki Yong, and Mr Kim So Jung, an English teacher. Mr Kim was very nice to us and converse well with us. Yenny was kind, greeted us with warm smile. The principal greeted us with warm welcome. They were really helpful.

Then, we went to Hong Cheon by taxi-van. The journey was beautiful. The scenery reminded me of the road to Genting Highland and Janda Baik. Full of hills and trees.

Then, we reached our house. We were gobsmacked. It was on the second floor and in the house, there was 2 floors. The house was locked by an electronic lock where there is a password. Then, when we entered, it was the kitchen and a bathroom. Then, on the right, there was a room with television and a bed. Lina, my partner, took that room. I climbed upstairs. The staircase is high, half of the leg. Then, I climbed up and there were 2 rooms,1 bathroom and a veranda. I was surprised as there was a spare room! i was also surprise with the wardrobe. The wardrobe is super huge! As if I can fit in 6 luggages. I think this is because without a bed, people can sleep on a mattress. So, they will keep their mattress in the wardrobe. Awesome culture!

In front of our house, there was a grocery store. Lina and I were very glad as it will be easy for us to get our necessities. Yenny brought us there to buy basic needs and food.

In the evening, we had dinner with the Principal, our mentor, head of academic, Mr Kim and academic of extra-curricular programme, Mr Park Shi Jin, at a vegetarian restaurant by the Hong River. Mr Choi explained that he came from Hong Cheon. He said that he was in the school during the war. Hence, he is back to serve the place where he grew up. He sounded very inspirational. Then, he explained that river means Hong. Cheon means wide. Hence, the name of the city Hong Cheon. The river was crystal clear and serene. It creates a beautiful ambience for our dinner. The teachers welcomed us with smile and laughter, sharing ideas, informative and entertaining stories and facts. Mr Kim and Mr Choi even teach us hoe to eat the rice in the pot. Take out the rice and put it into the boil. Then, pour hot water into the pot. Cover it. Wait and it will become porridge. This teaches me that Korean culture does not waste every bit of rice. It is a beautiful culture J

Week 1, Day 5, Thursday,6 sept

We had 3 learning sessions

1.       How to create effective lesson for foreign students

2.       Learning how to read in hangul

3.       GCED session: Using theatre as a platform

Session 3 is very interesting. The person handling the programme is a professor from the Phillipines. First, he asked us to walk around. Team A looked up and team B looked down. Then, everyone described their feeling  about being superior or caring more for others.

Then, next activity, she asked us to do hand gesture. At first, it is action of a handshake. Then, one of the pair leave the other pair and someone else comes in and continue with shaking the other person’s hand. Then, this is repeatedly occurring but the other person who comes in must do a different action. It was fun and enjoyable.

Next, is doing the handshake, but this time, when the pair leave, another person must come in and create a picture of bullying. Then, another person comes in and continue the picture. In the end, there were 8 people in the picture. After that, the characters must come up with a dialogue and say it. This is picture A.

After that, another 2 picture is created before and after picture A. In the end, this will create a full story, start,climax and ending. This was fun and everyone get to experienced being the bully or the bullied. Everyone started to point out how this will make students show their experience, hence, we are including and celebrating their prior knowledge deeply in the learning session. We can also detect the students’ creativity or experience via this activity.

Drama could really help students to “learn while doing”, as promoted by Constructivism theory. Students will start to make their interpretation and analysis on situation that is happening around them. This is what GCED is promoting. Besides culture and world knowledge, GCED is aiming at celebrating each individual in the world, with hope that this effort will promote peace to the world as everyone understand and respect each other better.

That night, we had our last dance practice. It was sad as it was the last one but we can’t wait to do our best and introduce the crowd to Malaysian culture. Lina and tracy , the dance choreaographers gave their last words of motivation for us to do our best the next day.  

Week 1,Day 4: Wednesday, 5th September 2018

I remembered interesting events that I experienced since I reach Korea.  I saw a robot at the airport. Then, an ice box in the middle of hotel lobby in Korea. I also got to know Nun, Bom, Nui, Jo and Ninphin from Thailand.  And moreover, for dinner, I ate som tam…haha. It really haunts me!

GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

What amaze me today is that I get to listen to a speech from Ban Kim Moon, 8th UN secretary. I was surprised with this lucky opportunity. His story moved my heart.

Korean war was harsh. There was also civil war.so, they attacked each other,it became a poor country. UN give a helping heand through UNKR, relief centre thatat provide shelter and schools. Bank Kim Mon mentioned he want through this. SO, war, extrisimism,terrorist manhy more global issues are getting more serious each day. SO, He went through this hardship. So, because he wanted to contribute to his country and to ensure unity and peace, he started GCED. These are few key points:

1.       Suggested topics for teaching GCED: Refugee, Natinonalism

2.       GCED promotes network and solidarity

3.       He question is how to localized “global education for global citizenship”

4.       Localised Global idea

5.       Importance of education is to educate people to stop the serious issues mentioned above. , solving global issuess

6.       Let students learn from their eyes, towards pppeace.eduaction is for the future.

7.       During rprevious protest, ppl messed it and cleand eit hup

8.       There are still sensitive issues that need to be observe

9.       Some authors create textbooks for Asia

10.   Peace is acknowledge diversity and respect opinion.

Week 1 KOMTEP 2018: 7TH SEPT

1. Miss Tae shared "creative effective lesson for foriwg students"

Tips:

1.smile to show friendliness

2.vocal - don't yell 

Blog
6 sept 18,thursday

1. We learned Korean from Miss Park. It was fun. There were syllables that needed for us to say it loud until we breathe out the sound,so we were given a tissue to practice. If the tissue moved, it means we did it right.

2. Useful sentences when we introduce ourselves as teacher are:

Anyohasayo
Hello
Chonen alia Imnida
My name is ali
Malisia Salam imnida
I'm a Malaysian
MAnaso panggapsimnida
Nice to meet u

GCED session: theatre imaging practice

1.

KOMTEP WEEK 1: 5TH SEPTEMBER 2018

Sun had just risen above the horizon. Korean Air that had departed at 11.55pm from Malaysia had touched Korean soil at 6.30 am. Our hearts jumped as “The First Day in KOMTEP” is finally here. Great expectations and adventure lie ahead. There were smiles across our faces, Suhaimi, Farid, Parthiban, Hafiz, Saif, Ibrahim, Tracy, Alia, Lina and Michelle, accompanied by BPG officer, Miss Noraini and JPN Penang officer, Mr Akmal.

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We saw a Korean Robot at Incheon Airport.

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Miss Hyun Ju Bae and Miss ,Apceiu officer had fetched us  at the airport. She was very warm and welcoming.

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Then, we were brought to our hotel, Courtyard by Mariott Seoul, Yeongdeungpo.Miss Kim brought us to Hansik Olbaan Restaurant in Time Square mall for a buffet lunch.

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Our first week orientation began. We were brought to APCEIU building. We registered and were given handbooks. We were introduced to the officers in charge of this week, which are Ms. Eom Jeong Min, Ms. Bae Hyun Joo, Ms Hong Sol, Mr Hong Sung Hwan, Ms. Kim JI,  Ms Kim Hieun, Ms Choi Minyoung and MS lee Danbi.

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First,we registered in Network for School and Teachers (NEST) website. This will be used to submit our Bi-weekly Report and lesson report. We carried out a survey about our current perception on teaching before we go to our respective schools.

Then, APCEIU managed our sim card and opening our bank accounts.

Then we had an ice breaking session where we introduce our selves and mingled with other people. Everyone responded that they were excited and looking forward to go through the programme. We were expressed how grateful we were as the APCEIU officers were very warm and welcoming.

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Then, we had a briefing on “Introduction to GCED and APCEIU” given by MS. Eom Jiong Min. The purpose of this program mme os to exchange ideas, methodologies and knowledge. GCED is Global Education  To have mutual understanding on Asia and Asia. All teachers are advised to be adaptive and flexible in the new modern environment. Educators are linked to one another. Hence, we have to prepare the next generation for global education. We were introduced to Sustainable Development Goals (achieved by 2030) and our focus is the 4^th goal, that is equity and sustainability in education.

Hence, education is a global agenda.

So, exchange programme is to find similarities and issues and always remind ourselves why we do this. 

4th Goal: 

4.7 ... promotion of culture of peace and non-violance, global citizenship and appreciaiton of cultural diversity and of culture's contribution to sustainable development. 

We are global educators.  

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After that, the APCEIU officer brough for dinner. We had Thai food. It was delicious.

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Then, we practiced our traditional dance performance for almost 4 hours, leaded by our talented choreographers, Lina, Tracy and Parthiban. It was tiring but were determined to make the whole performances looking excellent.

Our first day adventure ended with the dance practice as our final group activity. We are looking forward for tomorrow’s session for more input and other activities for more global sharing. 

Written by,
Alia Nur Dodgson