Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Featuring two languages and two fonts

At the bottom of the pile of things on my desk (in front of me now, starting from the shallowest and working deeper: a colour brochure(?) that I cannot read, (the picture suggests buffet or memorial service), helpful hints so that the children might understand Sponge Bob's musical 'Atlantis Squarepantis' episode, a copy of the school's annual English newspaper, two dozen laminated cards meant to represent the floors of a building, a yellow folder, a trio of recipes, scotch tape, a paper ball, 'Kid-O' brand 'creamy butter cracker sandwich' that I refuse to open due to a strong moral objection centered around how awful I imagine it tastes and ad infinitum)... where was I? Ah yes, the bottom of the pile. At the bottom is my schedule, where I have my classes for the week printed out and notes about what went on in them. Mostly though there are "   " marks under each class which means "the same as the last one", random things that might have piqued my interest and things that I am informing myself I should get done.  Last week of interest was:

왜 내 말 씹어요? 

Which sounds like [Way nay mal sheep ah yo?] 

and means: "why my saying you ignore respect older person?"

or if I'm a less literal obtuse jerk: "why are you ignoring what I say?"

Now I know what the children are shouting at me, and even though they add that little respect on the end there, it's still mocking - god bless 'em.  

On that list of things to get done for the rest of this week is to create a listening activity for the 8th grade. Now I have created a listening activity every other week for the 8th grade for the entire year. I do not feel like I am being too intimate if I tell you I am bored and sick of creating listening activities for the 8th grade. Recently, they have begun to drive me mad. Here is the listening activity from two weeks ago:

Jonny stood in the super market with an egg in each hand.
“My hands,” he thought to himself, “are full.”

A woman walked by with a large orange hat. Jonny waved an egg at her.

“Hello,” Jonny said. “Could you do me a favour? I am going to make a cake. Could you carry that bag of flour for me?” Jonny pointed at a big bag of flour on a table.

The woman in the large orange hat looked confused. “Can’t you pick up the flour by yourself?”

“No, I’m afraid not,” said Jonny. “Look, my hands are full.” Jonny showed the woman with the large orange hat the egg in his right hand and the egg in his left hand.

“Oh, alright then,” the woman with the large orange hat said and picked up the bag of floor. Jonny started walking and she followed behind him, carrying the sack of flour like a baby.

End of Part 1

A man walked by in a nice brown jacket. Jonny waved an egg at him. “Would you do me a favor sir?”
“What is it? I’m afraid I’m very busy,” said the man with the nice brown jacket. “I need to get ready for my grandson’s birthday.”

“Well, I am going to make a cake,” said Jonny. “Would you pick up that bag of sugar on that table?” Jonny pointed with his nose at the sugar.

“Why don’t you pick it up?” said the man with the nice jacket.

“My hands are full,” said Jonny, and he showed the man in the nice jacket the egg in his left hand and the egg in his right hand.

“Oh, well alright. But you better hurry,” said the man in the nice jacket. “I have lots of things to do today. My grandson is turning seven.” The man picked up the bag of sugar and held it far away from himself like it was very dirty or smelly.

Jonny walked up to the cashier at the front of the store. She wore a name tag that said “Sue”. Jonny looked at Sue, Sue looked at Jonny.  Jonny turned around and said to the woman with the orange hat and the man with the nice brown jacket “let’s go!” and walked past the cashier. The man and the woman followed him.

“Hey,” said Sue. “You forgot something.”

“What did I forget?” asked Jonny.

“You forgot to pay me.”

“I didn’t forget,” said Jonny.  “I can’t get my wallet out. Look.” Jonny showed Sue the egg in his left hand and the egg in his right hand. “My hands are full.” Jonny turned and left the store, the man with the nice brown coat and the woman with the orange hat followed him.  

Would you like the questions?

Grade 2 Chapter 8
Listening

  1. What does Jonny want to make?
_____________________________
  1. What are Jonny’s hands full of?
_____________________________
  1. Complete the dialogue:
Woman with the orange hat: “Can’t you pick up the flour by yourself?”
Jonny: “No, _____   _________    ____”
  1. How does the woman hold the flower?
______________________________
  1. Why is the man with the nice brown jacket busy?
______________________________
  1. Why can’t Jonny pick up the sugar?
______________________________
  1. How did the man hold the bag of sugar?
______________________________
  1. What does Jonny do wrong at the end of the story?
______________________________
  1. What word/s could you use to describe Jonny?
______________________________


Number 9 is my favourite. I encourage you to answer it below.


I didn't complete "create a listening activity" on my list of things to do today. Do you know what else was on my list though?  Blog post.

Monday, October 10, 2011

I just accepted a new internet provider on a whim but I'd already written this


After school on another Monday I stand and watch some boys play soccer before I leave. Korea has admitted it was Fall about three times now only to take it back and crank the heat up. Today it is gorgeous at 4:30 in the afternoon. I decide to leave, but before I make it through the main gate I’m called over by a teacher. There is a truck full of apples in the parking lot, heavy boxes of apples. I’m handed four because “they’re not good enough to sell.” They are fine, just a few black spots. I pocket them and say 'thank you' and leave. Across the street two boys sit outside of an English cram school. They are young, no older than fourth grade. 

"Hello!" one says. He does not wear glasses.

"Hi," I respond.

"Where are you from?" he asks.

"I'm from Canada." 

A car drives between us and all I hear is "outer space."

"I'm not from outer space," I say. "I'm from Canada."

"I'm from outer space," the boy without glasses says. The boy sitting beside him elbows him in the ribs. He is wearing glasses.

"You're an alien?" I ask the boy without glasses.

"He's a monster," glasses replies. 

"What planet are you from?"

"Fuck you," he says. He hoists up his middle finger to complete the package. "I'm from planet fuck you."

"That's not a nice planet," I tell him. Glasses elbows him again. I turn and head down the street.

"Goodbye!" he shouts.