Motions toward the closing of a year…
Since it’s been awhile since I’ve posted some pictures, here are some super cute ones of my students.
Last week was the big entrance exam for University that the 3rd grade students have been preparing for all year. It has been described to me as an equivalent of the SAT, though I’m certain that comparison is made only for lack of anything in America with greater equivalency.
Cluster of students with sign.
In Korea, the entire community is aware which day is testing day. Every effort is made to keep silence in the vicinity of the school. First and second grade high school students get the day off. The middle school next to me got the day off, for they would be too loud and consequently distracting to the third grade test- takers.
The third grade students spend the entire year preparing for this exam: they study vocabulary in mass quantities. They take practice exams every week. They are constantly testing, constantly studying, constantly preparing for this exam. Keep in mind that Korean high school student do very little other than study: many of them live on campus and only get to go home every other weekend. From what I understand, there are no after school clubs or sports. Instead of spending time in track and field, or in the National Honor Society or playing four square or playing in the pit orchestra for the school musical, Korean students will attend extra classes. Sometimes students have to leave extra classes early in order to go to Academie, which is basically private, expensive, concentrated school.
Waiting for the 3rd graders to exit the building....
What do Korean students do on the weekends? They sleep, watch drama or variety show on TV (Korea is famous throughout Asia for their television shows), or study. Many students attend Academie class on Saturday evening and take exams for Academie on Sunday. Korean students are expert study-ers and test- takers.
So basically, this University exam is the pinnacle of years and years of studying. If they do poorly on this exam (which, I feel, is unlikely), they may not be able to attend their University of choice, consequently losing the opportunity to prepare for and get their job of choice, consequently losing their lifestyle of choice. It’s a big deal. Stress levels are high, to say the least.
Two days before the exam, the first and second graders piled the third graders high with gifts and chocolates. The day before the big exam, many of the younger students made a cheer line outside of the school while the third graders filtered out to go home. It was really sweet, lots of cheering and laughing and freezing, but a very happy event. I’m so happy I brought my camera along and manage to catch some shots– also, while these students may all look similar to you, and their faces blend together with their uniforms as they once did for me, it’s really neat for me to realize that I recognize them. These are my students. They already have stolen a warm part of my heart– I see their smiles, their squirming faces as they try to communicate to me on a daily basis, their cheerful hellos in the hallways, their giggling Korean that I cannot understand… they’re my students. I’m proud of them. It’s an incredibly special feeling to have, and I’m grateful to the experiences that have led me here.
Bashful, giggling third graders as they are cheered to by their younger classmates.
A couple students grabbed me and yelled, "Teacher, teacher, picture, you!" These two are super giggly happy girls that are always giddy to see me. <3
While we’re on this sentimental note, I’ll just end with this last thought. I have been teaching extra classes after school, and three nights a week I teach in two- hour blocks to anywhere from six to twelve students. Every other week the classes swap, and occasionally I have a new student or two trickle in. It’s amazing some days, how I leave class and though I am exhausted, and oftentimes go home and immediately collapse in bed only to wake early in the morning again…. it’s really amazing, the warmth in my heart I feel towards these girls. They try so hard for me, and I try for them, and though some days we only play games, other days we work really really hard to find words to express what they want to say. It’s incredible.
Some days it’s really tough, but I’m blessed to be here and I’m grateful for their eager hearts.