Vacation is over and we are back at school, so I thought I would create a few more posts about school life. Something to be expected on any given week is a schedule change. Usually these schedule changes are last minute.
Mostly the change is that a class was canceled due to sports day rehearsal, graduation rehearsal, exam studying, or special programming. When a class is canceled I just tuck the lesson away and plan future lessons with my new found time. Sometimes my co-teachers will let me know in advance that classes will be canceled. Even if this forewarning occurs, I always have a plan in hand because it’s also possible that the cancelation will be voided and teaching will be expected.
Mostly it’s harmless that schedules get changed last minute. How could it be upsetting to do less work than planned? But sometimes these changes are as disappointing as they are thrilling. The disappointments come when I plan something extra special like Halloween, or a graduation party. I ask permission in advance and follow up with constant reminders, yet schedule changes may still swoop in. Halloween carried on with a little added stress, but the graduation party has been reduced to, “Have a snack! Congratulations!”
These “surprise” schedule changes are part of the school culture in Korea, but it’s exasperated by the language barrier. Mostly I smile with a shrug and carry on. At the end of the day it really doesn’t matter.
Here is a photo from Wednesdays schedule change. The fourth grade teacher recommended that instead of English, we throw snowballs at each other. It’s the last week of the school year, I couldn’t be a downer. Fortunately when the play resulted in a giant rip in my slacks he had extra sweats for me to wear. Thanks for reading!
Mostly the change is that a class was canceled due to sports day rehearsal, graduation rehearsal, exam studying, or special programming. When a class is canceled I just tuck the lesson away and plan future lessons with my new found time. Sometimes my co-teachers will let me know in advance that classes will be canceled. Even if this forewarning occurs, I always have a plan in hand because it’s also possible that the cancelation will be voided and teaching will be expected.
Mostly it’s harmless that schedules get changed last minute. How could it be upsetting to do less work than planned? But sometimes these changes are as disappointing as they are thrilling. The disappointments come when I plan something extra special like Halloween, or a graduation party. I ask permission in advance and follow up with constant reminders, yet schedule changes may still swoop in. Halloween carried on with a little added stress, but the graduation party has been reduced to, “Have a snack! Congratulations!”
These “surprise” schedule changes are part of the school culture in Korea, but it’s exasperated by the language barrier. Mostly I smile with a shrug and carry on. At the end of the day it really doesn’t matter.
Here is a photo from Wednesdays schedule change. The fourth grade teacher recommended that instead of English, we throw snowballs at each other. It’s the last week of the school year, I couldn’t be a downer. Fortunately when the play resulted in a giant rip in my slacks he had extra sweats for me to wear. Thanks for reading!
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