My sister Doodles sent me a little how-to guide on teaching kindergarten kids from her current station in Korea [click to enlarge]. I especially like the implication in the last panel that she is thinking wistfully about those golden days of corporal punishment.
What have those kids done to you, Doodles?!?!And also: "Hmm... " you ask. "What is a post on teaching Korean kindergarteners doing on a blog about living in the South," you ask? Well, rest assured, she is living in
South Korea. (I would double-underline the word "South" if I knew how, for extra emphasis.) So count it!
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7 comments:
Oh. My. Gosh.
Most of my own Korean wee-wahs (or "Koree-wahs") are older--between first and fifth grade--but I do teach two kindergarten classes every week. And I can COMPLETELY IDENTIFY with your sister's cartoon. Brilliant.
My favorite parts:
--The kid inexplicably crying in the second frame. I HAVE BEEN THERE. It's really fun with a language barrier!
--The power of stickers. My kids will mug each other in the halls for them.
--The stare of death. So useful! Some teachers think yelling at the kids is good for them, but I prefer to lecture. I just speak sternly, use lots of pregnant pauses, and never. break. eye contact. And if THAT doesn't whip the kid into shape, they're probably a sociopath. :c)
I must meet your sister. Where does she live?
Hey by the way: do you (does she) mind if I put that cartoon on my blog, too? It's quite brilliant!
Hmmm...that's very similar to how I taught my college dance classes. I utilized the stare of death quite often, too.
life in forsyth cites y'all today...
I gave my sister a heads-up about the cartoon -- I haven't heard back from her, but I think you could probably put a link to it. Korean elementary-school teachers unite, right?
She's down in Kwanju... apparently the 3rd or 4th biggest city in the nation or some such thing, but one I've never heard of! Seoul gets all the publicity...
perfect sums it up!! Actually I found this page because I was looking for a cartoonist to do some work I want to publish... would she be interested.. please get her to email me on lj_stephenson@hotmail.com... again, loved it... thanks big brother!!
Sure Lori, go ahead and post it. Lisa, I will be in touch:) Thanks for all the feedback. Teaching kindergarten has made me feel like I can do anything! The kids I'm teaching this year are a little bit older, and a lovely mess of new problems.
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