Thursday, February 25, 2010

Kindergarten Graduation Speech

Heyy everyone!

The weather has warmed drastically - was about 50 degrees F today. No longer do I have to wear leggings under my jeans or five layers of shirts! Yipee, but even though the weather has been so awesome lately, been a little under the weather...

It's been a rough start to the new year (Lunar New Year). I lost my iTouch. I don't know how, but I'm so disappointed in myself. But anyways, I have not been able to go online anytime and everywhere, which as a result means less time to talk with family and friends back home. I miss everyone so much, it's been so long since I've been away. I've also been busy with work. It's the end of the semester and there is drama with my school (when isn't there?!).

Today was the POLY Kindergarten Gradation Ceremony. My little Kindergarten monsters graduated and are going to the first grade next week. I am really going to miss them so much. I've gotten so attached to them over the last twelve months, and I am so sad to see them go. Some are coming back to POLY for the first grade, but a good bunch of them aren't. Man, if this is what being a teacher means, I don't think I can do it! It's too hard saying goodbye. Of course, I couldn't help it and cried. Luckily, all of the students were gone by then. Except one.. she came up to me and said, "Teacher, you are sad?" I nodded, and she just said, "Awww..." and put her arms around me and hugged me. In the end, my Kindergarten student was comforting me.

So, the director asked each teacher to write a short two minute speech. I had a tough time writing my speech, and my rough draft came out to be about six minutes long. It didn't come out anything like what I wrote though. I skipped a lot of parts, mainly because it was already too long and the parents looked a little bored (or maybe they could not understand me). And not to mention that I was super nervous!!! But, I love that the kids paid attention and were interactive. Here's the rough draft:

Welcome everyone to the POLY 2010 Kindergarten Graduation.


First off, I would like to thank the parents. It is because of your love and support that your children are here today. Thank you so much! It is so encouraging to see parents who are involved and play an active role in their childs life. It was nice meeting and talking to a lot of you. Thank you for the gifts (especially on Teachers Day), or on field trips, every little thing I really appreciate it all.


I also wanted to thank my fellow teachers. Theyre all really great teachers, I really enjoy working with them, and the children are lucky to have them as teachers! Also to the Korean teachers, thank you for helping with the classroom and all that you do. You are the bridge between the parents and the native teachers; we couldn't have done it without you.


But most of all, thank you to the students. To Tulip, Rose, Lily, and Daisy class! Why thank you? Because you guys make me so happy! Every every single day, you guys make me smile and laugh! I dont think I have ever met kids as nice as you guys. You guys are so sweet - I have soooo many stickers, pencils, and erasers from you!!! You guys are all such good helpers, too. You guys always want to help carry the teachers baskets. Not only that, all of you students are so smart and learn so quickly, too! Do you know how many vocabulary words we learned in Immersion class?! More than 500!!! Only in Immersion class. Good job!


I feel so lucky to be your Immersion class teacher. It was such a fun class to teach! Our Immersion class is a mix of everything we get to watch videos, sing songs, practice role play, read books, write, and draw pictures. Everything! We got to learn so many different things, didnt we?! We learned how to describe people and introduce ourselves and our family. So when you go to the first grade, you will know what to say to your new friends. We also had a lot practice retelling stories we can use our story hands characters, setting, beginning, middle, end!


We also learned how to do so many things properly. We learned how to speak properly in a loud and clear voice, sit properly (1,2,3, good posture!), wash our hands properly! So many things - we have to do everything properly, the correct way, right?! I know you guys will remember all this when you go into grade one!


In Immersion class, we also read so many fun folktales! We learned a lot from the folktales didnt we?! We learned how to be good people. We know not to be greedy, not to tell lies, and to be nice to our friends. We dont want to be lazy, or what's going to happen? We're going to turn into a cow! We want to listen to our parents, right?! And like the salt and oil merchant, we have to keep trying and not to give up! Even though it was so hard for them - they were stuck inside a tiger and then stuck inside a whale, did they ever give up? No! I want you guys to remember that... don't give up, you always have to keep trying!


Now I want to take some time to talk about my first class. My Homeroom class. What better way to start off the day than with the smiling faces of Tulip? You guys are all so bright and enthusiastic! I am so proud of you guys you guys are all so special. Every single one of you make me so proud.


Hena, you are so sweet and your English skills are so good. I remember when you called me on the phone and we talked for 45 minutes about every single Disney princess.


Amy, you can always make me smile especially when you rub your eyes. You are also such a good speaker. You and Hena can talk about High School Musical for hours! I hope you girls get to meet Vanessa Hudgens someday!


Dorothy, you are soft-spoken, but so sweet. I remember the time I lost my voice at Everland and couldnt speak. The next day you brought me throat candy!


Victor, you are so good with the vocabulary words. Even with hard words like endorphins, you pay close attention and remember all the new words!


Thomas, you have improved soooo much since the beginning of the year and your handwriting is so neat! You are so polite, too you always remember to say please and thank you!


Jiho, you are such an angel a perfect student. You are always the first one ready for class. You help your classmates and you pay attention in class.


Christina, you are such a bright girl. You are so good at making sentences with the new vocabulary words. And you have so much love to share!


Olivia, I love your energy. Even though you were a new friend to Tulip class, you are so friendly. You always raise your hand to answer questions and help out.


Ryan, you have so much energy and enthusiasm! Your English is very good. I especially like reading your journal entries. You are clever like Fantastic Mr. Fox.


Matthew, I love that you are passionate about art. You are an incredible artist. You have also improved so much since the beginning of the year, especially your reading and writing!


Rose, Lily, and Daisy class I loved teaching you guys, too. I am so proud of you all, every single one of you. Ive seen you guys grow so much Last March, you guys were tiny and so cute. Now you guys are still so so cute, but not so tiny anymore! And now you guys are all ready to start elementary school. Ive had so many fond, good, memories, and will always remember you. All of us (your parents, teachers, and I) are so proud of you! Im not worried about you guys, I know you will be the best students in the first grade. Good job!!


Congratulations! Olleh!


I already miss them so much, getting choked up just thinking about it. I hate saying goodbye... ㅠㅠ

Sunday, January 17, 2010

What to Do?!

Hello! Hope everyone is having a good weekend so far. My weekend was pretty relaxing. Saturday - dentist, lunch with a coworker, did a little bit of shopping, got some work done at a cafe, gym, picked up dry cleaning, and McDonalds dinner (haven't had fries in about five months?!) and a whole bunch of Unstoppable High Kick episodes with Yuri. Love that show! Sunday - lunch and church with Susan, and volleyball and dinner with Justin.

Well, a lot of things have been on my mind lately. As my one year contract at POLY is coming to an end, I need to decide what to do. There are a lot of things I want to do. Some of the top things on my list include going to grad school and saving money.

First off, grad school. Believe it or not, I really really want to go back to school! But the problem is... as of now, I have no idea exactly what I want to go back to school for or where I want to go to school. I know I want to work with kids, that much has been long decided. I love teaching Kindergarten in Korea, but not so much in the states, so I'm not sure whether I would want to get a teaching certificate. If I attend school in the states, SF State has a MA in Concentration in Early Childhood Education that looks interesting. I might even possibly consider going back to grad school to study Developmental Psychology (but honestly, I'm not that interested in research).

Because I love being in Asia, I have also considered going to grad school abroad, either in Hong Kong or Korea. In Hong Kong, there are also some Master's programs in Teaching English as an International Language, a Postgraduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education, or a Postgrad Certificate in Psychology. Similarly, in Korea, there are programs for Early Childhood Education or English Language Education. But another thing I would consider is studying Social Psychology in Korea (along the lines of relationship dynamics and especially the role that culture plays). This topic has really interested me ever since I came to Korea; I wouldn't even mind doing research on it.

In addition to not knowing what to study, here's where another conflict comes in. If I do decide to go back to school in the states, I would have to apply now! It's not too late, but I do have to ask professors for letters of recommendations and look into taking some tests (i.e. CBEST if I want to get a teaching certificate). The deadline for state is in the beginning of May. But it's also a little difficult to apply while I'm in Korea. Fall semester grad school in Korea and HK starts in the beginning of Sept and the application deadline is in April. If so, I would just go back for the summer and come back in September (if accepted, that is).

Some other issues... of course, I miss my family so much! I feel like I'm missing out on seeing my younger cousins and cousins' kids grow up. I want to spend the holidays with my family, like Christmas (rather than on a date =_=). I want to eat tons of food on Chinese New Year (and get red envelopes!). I miss my grandparents and wish I could be there to drive them around and take them out to eat dimsum. That being said, I could go back to the states after my contract is over, but I didn't get to save as much money as I hoped. Honestly, it is a lot easier to save money here in Korea, and minus being away from family, I really like it here. I want to learn more Korean and if I stay in Korea longer, I could save more money (that would go towards grad school and traveling - I really want to travel while I'm still young, haha). But then how much longer would I stay in Korea?!

Sorry I'm just babbling, this is more of a personal post; there's just been a lot on my mind and you guys are all so far away... I know it's my decision, but any suggestions or advice?!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Happy New Year!

Happy 2010 to everyone!~

Only half a month into the new year, and it's been a busy year thus far. I came back from a relaxing time in Hong Kong, (here are the pictures: Hong Kong 2009) and was greeted by one the biggest snowfalls that Korea has seen in about one hundred years! That's what I heard, is it really true?! All I know is that there was so much snow, the most snow I've ever seen (besides snowboarding) in my lifetime, that's for sure! Check out some pictures:

Right outside my apartment

All white!!!

And then it gets muddy...
and now it's all icy.

Do you think I could dunk now?!

Well, now the snow has turned to ice and it's so slippery everywhere, but luckily I have not slipped... yet. The temperature just keeps getting colder. It was below zero Faranheit this morning when I walked to the gym. Madness... but I get by. It takes three times as long to get my clothes on since it's all about the layers! I wear leggings and then pants, at least three long sleeves, my heavy jacket, and my UGGs. Then it's not so bad! Haha... I can't wait til spring.

Why don't people hibernate?!

Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas!

Happy holidays to everyone!

Christmas has come and gone just like that! And now there are less than 11 hours until my flight to Hong Kong, and I just started to pack!!! Man, I am so good at procrastinating... when I taught my kids about procrastination, I used myself as an example. =_=;;

Anyways, I hope everyone has a great holiday with their loved ones. I wish I could be back to celebrate. Christmas is just not Christmas without my family and friends. I miss you all so much! XOXO

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Happy Belated Thanksgiving

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday and did some mad shopping. I miss everyone and I wish I could be at home, especially during the holidays.

I went out of town for a volleyball tournament this weekend in Gunsan. There's so many pictures that I need to post up from various trips, but I'm still super busy. I work so many hours a week, plus tutoring, and trying to have a social life. There really aren't enough hours of the day. And December's just around the corner, and I feel like I'll be even more busy! That being said, I do want to send Christmas cards, so if you want a card, please post your address or send me a message! ^^