A High School Experience

I had the chance to visit an all boys high school. I have a friend who is a grade nine English teacher and wanted me to come in to visit his special advanced English class. I really didn't know what to expect of the "advanced English students", the school or what he wanted me to do there.

The class was decent. The students' level of English was pretty good, as most of them have lived abroad at some point in their lives. I think they were shyer than usual because I was there. I guess being at the age they are and surrounded by guys most of the time and then seeing a female who is a foreigner would cause that reaction.

My friend had me come into his homeroom class of 40 to say hello before they left for the day. He told me to stand up on this pedestal thing and introduce myself. It might have been one of the strangest moments since arriving in Korea. They were cheering and clapping and generally going bazeerk. It was like Britney Spears had walked in the room. I didn't know what to do. I'm a pretty open person, so I just asked them if they had any questions....of course they were really too shy to ask anything beyond "How old are you?" All foreigners get looks and odd comments here and there from Koreans. I'm used to that after a year and a half, but this...this was just too much.

At the end of the class, before the students were dismissed, Songn had me get off the pedestal and he stepped up. Instantly all the students straightened up and their full attention on him. Then one student stood up, said something and in unison they all said something while bowing. Songn got off the stage and we walked out of the room. I think my eyes popped out of my head. It felt like something out of a movie taking place in Nazi Germany. I know this sounds terrible, but, really, that's what I thought of. I should have asked him about that.

In Korea, the students must clean the school. There are mops lined up along the wall in a neat and orderly fashion. After their class they have different duties. Some must clean the bathroom, some the windows, and some must also clean the teacher's room. I think that it's a good way to teach them some responsibility and get them to throw their garbage in the can, but I couldn't help but feel bad for them. It was, afterall, Saturday.

As we walked along the halls of the school every student would bow or "insa" to us. That is one major difference in school here and school in Canada. I can remember students blatently making fun of teachers, throwing things at them, giving them the finger and other terrible things while growing up. Here, teaching is a very good and well respected job so the students would never do such things. (in a hagwan, maybe, but not in a public school)

Maybe it's the fear of getting hit by a rod or a hand that keeps them from misbehaving too badly. I don't know, as I'm not Korean and this has been my only experience in a "real" school here.

My friend didn't hit any students, but he did pinch one on the cheek when he was wearing his indoor shoes outside. Another one got a little smack when his shirt was untucked. Songn did say that he has a rod. I couldn't understand if he actually uses it.

As we were walking around the school grounds and the area near the school the students were still bowing. They all wanted to say "hello" to me and when I responded they giggled like middle school girls and ran away. Songn said that he liked having them recognize and respect him outside of school. I felt ridiculous. I knew that they were asking him if I was his girlfriend. Maybe the whole thing was to get some attention. If it was, it certainly worked.

This experience made me realize that I DO NOT want to be the only foreign teacher in a public school here. As much as working in a hagwan has its downfalls, I'm now aware of a few more positive sides to it too.

Just another day on the ROK...