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This week (posted a few weeks late) I’ve started my language exchange sessions at Soonchunghyang University; therefore, I will begin keeping a journal of my thoughts and experiences at the request of my teaching methodology teacher.  I have the hope that some of this will be helpful to not only myself but also to others who are wishing to become better teachers or language learners.  At this time I am both a teacher and a learner of languages, so I can relate to both sides.  I also have over two years of teaching experience from Vancouver of which I’ll be able to contrast my new experiences against.  This journal will not only include the language exchange program, but also my own Korean classes and immersion.

My first classes Tuesday 16^th 2008 and Wednesday 17^th 2008 felt quite similar to my previous experience of teaching in Vancouver; however, I am a bit rusty.  I’ve lost the flow that allows me to either jump from topic to topic or ask the right questions from the student’s response.  I pause longer and more often than a while ago.  Still, I do not what to use the usual topics that the students are used to being asked such as about school, family, and work. 

One of the questions on my mind now is if the students really get a good deal with the student exchange program.  After talking to some of the students, it seems that even though they pay more for English Village benefits, they do not gain much opportunity to improve their English.

The main problem that I’ve been aware of for a while, even in Vancouver, is that groups generally stick to their own.  Here, at SCH, we live at an International Village; however, there is way too much segregation of which hinders unity and communication.  The Koreans, the Chinese, and the other Internationals remain in their own groups with little mingling.  From an international point of view, I find this hard to understand.  Personally, I’ve come to Korea to learn about the culture and the language; therefore, I have little reason to be too involved with the other international students.  I’m sure I hold some resentment from some of the other international students; however, I am sure most understand my position and understand that high school clique mentality is outdated.

My Korean students in Vancouver suffered from the same problem of being stuck within their own culture when their higher goal was to break out into diverse cultures.  So many of them spent so much money to go to Vancouver; however, they were so disappointed when it came time to leave because they had spent so much time with other Koreans instead of mingling with Vancouver culture.  Yes, they were shy and it is uncomfortable to be a stranger in a strange land; however, from my experience I’ve come to understand that if one does not make the sacrifice of a little comfort, one may lose the best opportunities.  Ideally, I’d like to see the international students at SCH to break away from their homogeneous group and become more involved with predominantly Korean groups.  I’d like to see the ratios reversed.

I’m looking forward to further experiences.  I’ve already gained so much and made so many friends just by jumping into the deep end and breaking the ice even when I feel uncomfortable and shy.  It’s always worth it.