Adult Classes

The story is one of my colleagues got caught private tutoring and was sent back to America. I took over his morning classes.

Here's an excerpt from an e-mail I received from Martin Watts:

"It's a shame about your colleagues getting caught doing private lessons - but then, I thought the vast majority of people did that? I have heard that the only time it is ever an issue is when someone, be it a school or a pupil or whatever, develops a vendetta against a teacher and informs on them to Immigration - which is just so unfair! Korea is so determined, it alleges, to become an advanced nation, but it has such restrictive immigration rules - and not just restrictive, but arbitrary as well."

He's right. There are numerous reasons why Immigration was informed. The guy was chronically late and invested little in his classes. He was also rather friendly with the girls. Suwon is so desperate for foreign English teachers that it isn't easy to get shipped home.

Teaching adults has been fun. I have a class of 12 and they're all over the map. One is an architect who's moving to Chigago. One has plans to open his own hagwan business, "so he'll make lots of money and have free time." One is a masters student majoring in tourism, and one is a housewife looking to start a career late in life.

Their English is advanced so we discuss heavier topics: law, politics, divorce etc. I've also brought in material from my blog so they could say, "no, no, no you're misinformed here," or, "let me help you better understand this custom." They've applauded my curiosity. We laugh and have a good time.

Here are some funny/interesting things my students have said in class:

"Koreans often hang up without saying goodbye, like on soap operas. Sometimes Westerners are insulted, but it's the norm. Only in business dealings should you stay on the phone until the other party hangs up."

"In the beginning, I spent a lot of money on my girlfriend- hundreds of dollars on clothes and jewelry, but now the tables have turned and she buys me lots of stuff, so I'd say it was a good investment."

"Water is set out for ancestors on Lunar New Years because it suggests a pure spirit."

"The day before we do traditional bowing at the graves of our ancestors, we mow the grass because the site is considered their home."

"Usually wives control the finances, in Korea. My wife pays the bills and gives me an allowance from my own paycheck."

"Parents in Korea feel great affection towards their children, but invest too much. We want them to enter a prestigious school. We'd do anything to make that happen. Many Mothers are consumed by their children and have no life apart from parenting."

"It's true- most women nowadays don't know how to make their own kimchi. We buy it from the store. But we recall our Mother's kimchi with nostalgia. We helped her make it, and bury jars of it in soil to ferment, for two weeks, along with bean paste."

"I don't agree that friendship is usually the bud of romance in Korea. That has never been the case with me. Blind dates are very popular here, among youth. Friends constantly introduce friends. Friendship is what develops if there's no chemistry."

"Koreans don't bow anymore- only to elders. And only the very traditional would be insulted by a wave."