Korea & IE Plus My EPIK Work-Day

Korean Air as seen by firefox

Today started out well.  I got a call from one of my schools and had my days classes canceled.   This doesn’t mean I get to go home and kick up my feet.  Rather I will spend my day  ‘lesson prepping’.  So while I was surfing the net on a break from prep I came across these little article and my day just got a little better.

http://blog.mozilla.com/gen/2010/10/01/korean-banks-starting-cross-browser-services/

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2010/09/133_73601.html

I need to use a Korean version of windows xp via vmware to run programs for my schools and for my internet banking.  While this means I’m still locked-in to xp for a lot of my day to day school stuff, the idea of Korean websites finally being well-built is welcome.  As I mentioned in a previous post Almost every Korean website is built in an Internet Explorer bubble.  This is due to laws which basically forced domestic companies to use ie to conduct their business online.

For expats living over this means you have to have ie (and preferably ie 6 at that) to book tickets on the train, or planes.  Want to buy something online from Gmarket?  You’ll need internet explorer.   While this isn’t a problem as most people have xp or vista or windows 7 it does present a challenge to people who use other operating systems or web browsers.   It’s nice to see Korea’s version of the internet (slowly) becoming more open to the outside world.

Side notes from work:

My KT just asked me about filling out some website poll about my co-teachers that’s in Korean.  But it’s OK, he’ll translate for me.  And he doesn’t seem to think looking over my shoulder as I answer questions about his teaching  is in any way or form odd.

In general life in EPIK has been routine.  At one elementary school my main partner continues his usual act of coming late or not showing up at all.  Although lately when he comes in he makes sure to let the students know exactly how he feels about being in English class.   Believe or not, most of the time there is little tension between us because we’ve both accepted our situation.   I know he’s a head teacher and consequently too busy to involve himself with most classes in a meaningful way.  He’s accepted that I need his occasional presence so the students can be aware that there is some oversight in our classes.

At my other elementary school it’s great!   I teach with homeroom teachers, and they ably jump in when needed to assist the students with comprehension issues.   I wouldn’t call it co-teaching in the sense of what I prepared for during orientation but it’s still effective.   If your school gives you lemons, make lemonade.

The sad truth is that most of the KTs I have dealt with haven’t really been trained to co-teach, and they don’t want to teach English in English next to a native speaker for sake of having their proficiency or lack thereof exposed.

My KT just came back and offered to  print the web pages and jot down some translation next to the questions so I can fill out my survey privately.  It’s a relief.    My middle school placement remains the most difficult.   My partner as I mentioned previously is a ‘professional’ who isn’t actually a licensed teacher.   I believe this has shown in the classes where we’ve spent a lot of time using poorly chosen songs and role-plays to teach questionable vocabulary and phrases using a lot of grammar-translation.    Anyways, these days I’m making the lessons, it may be more work but at the same time it’s actually less stress.