Teacher Training with Native English Speakers from Across the Globe!

Hi Everybody!

   thanks for reading. I have much to catch you up on.  Two weeks ago, (Sept. 1-6) I went to an Orientation/Teacher Training program for the English speaking people that have come to South Korea to teach English in Seoul.  The orientation was put on by our employers, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.  The week was well done.  I learned a lot of creative teaching ideas that I can actually use in my classroom with my Korean students.  I was very grateful for this, because I will not be using any of the school's curriculum to plan my lessons.  They want me to create all of my lessons on my own, which means I will be searching the internet for many useful lesson plans and other resources for those teaching English as a foreign language.  At the orientation, we spent many hours listening to speakers, and attending other training sessions.

    I could not talk about the orientation without mentioning the food.  We ate "cafeteria food"  all week at our training center.  For most people, this is their introduction into Korean food.  I, however, had already been in Seoul for a week, and knew a bit more about what to expect with Korean food.  Many Koreans love spicy food, like kimchi.  Kimchi is the national dish. There are many types of kimchi, but most often it is pickled/fermented, spiced cabbage.  I am getting used to eating more spicy foods than ever before.  I do have to say though, I'm very thankful for rice to balance out all the spicy food!  During that week we ate a lot of rice, kimchi, many forms of radishes, other vegetables, various types of fish, some salad, a bit of squid, among other things.  On the first night at orientation, Holly and I and a few friends of ours decided to visit the convenience store at the orientation center to buy some chocolate.  I don't mind the food here, and I really do like most of it.  It's just that I miss other things sometimes.  We had a chocolate party that evening...yum.

    My favorite part of our week of orientation was meeting the other English teachers from around the world!  We all share the common bond of living in a foreign country, teaching our native language to Korean students, and spending the next year of our lives in the city of Seoul. I met people from all over the USA, Canada, Ireland, England, and Australia.  During that week I had an awesome time making friends with these unique people.  I see the potential for friendships with some of them...we will be meeting up throughout the year for some fun times in Seoul!  God totally answered my prayers on this one. I'm thankful for these people.  I'm thankful for Facebook too, because it's easy to stay connected with these people.  Most of them dont' have cell phones yet. 

    Do let me know about your whereabouts and happenings!

Sara