Picking it up

Today was the first day of all new classes. Overall the kids were pretty good. There are going to be the usual problems, but thats the way it goes. There are the smart kids and the weak ones.

Often I think to myself "are these kids actually learning anything?! Am I actually a good teacher?" Its hard to really know if they're improving when you see them every other day and sometimes no matter how many times you correct them on something they'll still make the same mistatkes.

Today I had two boys in my junior 4 class who I had when I first arrived in September. They were my very first class-basic 5. They weren't too bad then, but seeing them today and hearing them speak and understand what I was saying at a much faster pace was great. They had improved SO much! I was bracing myself for John 3 to read (because he wasn't exactly strong in that area back then) but I was so shocked! He was so much better! I think they were all freaked out by the look on my face. I just kept telling him how proud I was of him and how far he's come. I'm pretty sure that he thought I was a freak.

I have so much more energy and desire to keep teaching with this proof that the hagwan system is actually working! I mean I guess anyone would improve with time and practice, but I feel like it's more than I expected. I'm very excited.

On another note...it broke my heart to see my precious angel basic 4 class in another room. I wish that there was a way I could keep them forever! I almost cried. I friggin' love those kids.