Wednesday, August 20, 2008

School

The school I work in is a hagwon. What is a hagwon? Wikipedia says:
A hagwon is a for-profit private cram school prevalent in South Korea. For families that can afford it, hagwon education usually starts at or before elementary level. It is common for Korean school children to attend one or more hagwons after their school. It is not uncommon for students to be enrolled in several hagwons of different subject areas at once (in addition to their normal school attendance). Hagwons may specialize in subjects like math, foreign language, science, art, or English.
So now you know that it is a little different than regular public school. But there are physical differences as well. Teachers don't have their own classrooms and the students don't change classrooms when the bell rings. Instead each teacher has a desk in one big room, the teachers office and we change classrooms. Also, we don't have a cafeteria. School lunch is cooked in a kitchen and then brought to each classroom.
The teachers office One hallwayThe other hallwayThe front deskRules

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

those are some sweet hallways. also, they actually have aloe juice here in the states. i think i've seen it in the pharmacy/cosmetics area at wal-mart before. I hear it's not great though. Maybe the Koreans found the secret way of making it delicious. You don't have to send any, but if you did I would drink it. <3

Anonymous said...

So how long are students at your hagwon every day? Poor children, MORE school after school! Eh, cultural differences I guess. I noticed in previous posts that you look so skinny! Have you lost weight over there?
--Maggie

Amanda Tedesco said...

E, send me your address and I will at least send you something...postcard?
Maggie, they go to school, public school for normal hours, then come here for like 2 hours, then other hagwons. Some even go to school on the weekends and have tutors at night. They are in school literally all day long, I have seen buses taking kids home at 10pm at night. Yes, I have lost weight, food is good, but I don't always eat everything on my plate (it takes me too long with the chopsticks). Plus the food is less fattening here.

Anonymous said...

Hey I love all the info you are giving. So how long of a day do you have to put in? Sounds like you are keeping busy all day and night, you are sleeping some right?
Debbie

Anonymous said...

I notice your mom isn't commenting much anymore. Guess she is busy teaching! : ) Course I haven't said much either. Miss you lots!
Debbie

Amanda Tedesco said...

Aunt Debbie, I work a 9-5 day...I have a big break in the middle of the day to plan though. I am busy but on weeknights I sleep normal hours. Yes, mom is busy with school and golf and moving her last kid out and so on and so forth...It's ok, comment when you can! Love and miss you too

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed all the school info. How many teachers in your school? It looks like a nice, cheery building. Is the teachers' office kinda noisy? If the kids are in regular school all day, what do you do until they get there, or do they come during the day?

jilllenz said...

And I was just feeling guilty for not commenting more! I have moved Kristin's computer down in the dining room so I can read the blog each morning. Its the first thing I read while making the coffee, I don't think anyone wants to hear a comment from me before at least 2 cups of coffee! :)
Tim took Matt to college yesterday and today I'm concerned because Matt hasn't called, emailed or texted me! I think I will have more trouble getting the last kid to comply with the 'at least some kind of communication each day until I'm convinced you're ok' rule. Oh well, he's close enough I will just drive up and visit him at college, I bet after the first visit he will make sure to email me!
The first week of school has been crazy, hopefully things will settle down a little bit now.

Great school! It's look very inviting. I bet the hagwons work hard at attracking students to come to their school.
I think the teacher room is neat. Since I am in a different building, I don't see the majority of teachers that I work with. I think it would be nice to be together, but I would probably spend too much time visiting! I guess that's why my mean ole supt. put me in a separate building!

Amanda Tedesco said...

There are like 20 or so teachers at our school, half Korean half native English speakers. Sometimes the teachers room is noisy...well most of the time actually, but it can get very quite during the times when almost everyone has a class. I don't have to teach at school until 10am because we only teach preschool for the first part of the day. Then they go home and we take on the elementary kids...
Mom, I knew you were gettig busy, no worries. Yes it is nice having all the teachers together. It is really nice for me anyway because since I am new and don't have a ton of experience I constantly need help and ideas. With us all in one room I don't have to track any of the teachers down to ask questions. As for Matt, you have to initiate conversation, you already know this. He will only contact you if he needs something...

Anonymous said...

so I read all the comments & completely forgot what I wanted to say!! I love the pic of the 5 Do Rules, we could use that everywhere!! everything seems so interesting I wish I had more time to look at it all. Also, congrats on losing some weight. wish i could....anywho glad to see everything!!!

Amanda Tedesco said...

Becca, thanks, I haven't really tried to lose weight...it just happens. Yeah, try to keep up with my fabulous life style! Miss you and talk to you when I can!