Teaching at the Hagwon

I am teaching at a private academy, or hagwon in Songpa, Seoul. Hagwons are not like private schools in the States or in the West. Hagwons may specialize in subjects such as math, science, writing skills, music, sports and English (enter: me!). In Korea, there is a great push for English-learning (just as in many other countries) and therefore, there are many English hagwons throughout the country.

My school building (yes, same building as the Mercedes-Benz dealership):

I am teaching at Seoul English Academy in Songpa, Seoul. It is a fairly new school that opened in 2008. It is a private academy (or Hagwon) that specializes in teaching English to little children. There are 24 students total in the school. There are three different levels in my school and the school hours are from 9:30 until 2:30.
The Koala Group: age 4-5: Youngest and first introduction to English
The Panda Group: ages 5-6: Middle Group and can have basic conversations in English
The Giraffe Group: ages 6-7: Oldest group and they are reading and writing

Yes, these kids are THAT small:

This age group is very new to me as I'm used to teaching middle schoolers. I am missing my middle schoolers because I love working with that age group but these little kids are cute, too. It's definitely an adjustment but I'm learning a lot as I go. I definitely have a new admiration for early childhood educators  (all the prep time involved and all that clapping and singing!). Also, it's so different having students that constantly say, "Help me zip up my pants," or "Help me blow my nose." :)

These kids are very hard-working! This is not the usual preschool or kindergarten schooling that most of us have in the West. Not only are they learning a second language, but these kids are reading short books and writing stories by the time they enter the "Giraffe" group (I know you love the names;)). Now, I'm not saying that all I did in preschool and kindergarten was sing and nap, but I don't remember working as hard as these little kiddos.

The kindergarten kids leave at 2:30 and then I have elementary students from 3:00pm until 5:00pm. Many of my students are graduates of SEA so they are familiar with the school. These kids have been in regular school during the day and then they come to SEA for English practice. After they leave SEA, many of them go to Korean writing hagwon, violin hagwon, Taekwondo hagwon, etc. So, needless to say, these kids are very hardworking.

Korea is a country that is very obsessed with education and this is evident already in the lives of my little kindergartners.  Many people complain about this manic pursuit, but to get into top Korean universities, high schoolers go through a very difficult examination process, studying about 14 hours a day for an annual shot at a college entrance exam! Their parents are probably just instilling that high work ethic from a young age.

I was telling some of my after-school kids about my schedule as an elementary student. I told them that I was usually done with school by 3pm and then I would go home, do my homework and watch TV (Saved by the Bell reruns on TBS). :) They were so surprised that I didn't go to various schools after regular school. :)

A few interesting comments/stories from my students:

My first day, one of the kids' first question was: "How old are you and are you married?" (Did Liberty send him???) :)

Alex: "Miss Ellie, may I go to the restroom?"
Me: "No, but you may go later."
Alex: "But Miss Ellie, POOP!"  ----> I laughed and told him to hurry up (again, very different from middle schoolers!)

(Alex is also the little boy that wears Burberry outfits).

"Miss Ellie, look" (shows me his used kleenex)

"Miss Ellie, you look like a grandma and you are big." (Gee, thanks)

"Miss Ellie, say _______ in Korean." (And then I say it and they laugh).

I've also had some of the boys in the Koala class try to look up my skirt/dress. Awkward.

I'm sure I'll have lots and lots of stories....