I know your student

Yoobin Cha on Thu May 01 2008, 00:12

Hi~Kurt.
I didn't know you had this homework already without saying to me.
Anyway,
I think your student need the time to prepare basic knowledge.
Airplanes can takeoff as taking takeoff distance and takeoff time to be ready.
In my opinion, you are with him to encourage him to fly.

kurt wrote:Dear Sam.

I have one student who have studied English so hard, but his performance has not improved yet. Whenever he took tests, his score remained the same. To see him disappointed is too much for me. What should I do for him?

Yoobin Cha on Thu May 01 2008, 00:34

When I first entered the graduate school, I thought the half of the classmates can pass the Teacher's exam.
A few days later, I realized I was wrong. Only 2 or 3 person can pass the exam accoriding to statistical records. This makes me depressed and I regret my choice to apply here.
At that time, Hyunjin and Sanghun gave me good advice that the exam is not all purpose of graduate school. They said that it is the chance to learn how to teach students more effective than before.
It was really helpful and I can find a meaning why I come to this school.
Being "good" teacher is not easy. I hope this class would be best chance to make me professional.

Kyeong-im wrote:How eagerly do you want to be a teacher, especially middle and high school?

In my case, since I was a middle school student it has been my entire dream. BUT now.. frankly speaking, i don't know well.

After failure in teacher's exam, I wonder what I want to be. Now, I just teach kindergarten students and 1st/2nd grade elementary school students English. Through this experience I could learn something which I've never learn teacher's college. Compared to preschool education, secondary education is really different one. I think, now I'm learning what education is. general concept.. It's really interesting to hear my students' English saying, "good-bye", "brush your teeth", etc.. Even they are humming in English! When they call me smiling on their face, they hug me, and their mothers send me text-message "My child is really like this English class. Teacher, thank you very much.", I think, it is worth while to keep on this work.

However, because most friends around me want to be/are teachers, sometimes it seems to me that it is the way of failure not to be a real teacher(i mean "real teacher" = pass the teacher's exam). um.. just.. confused.. nowaday...

BUT I have a dream that every children who want to study can do it without financial difficulty. the truth education.. I mean Cham education.(참교육) Someday I will make it. I expect the day and train myself now...

p.s. ; my writing.. it's a little long~ and it seems serious story. If this makes you feel down, I'm sorry. I just want to say.. Sometimes telling something gets rid of stress. hahaha... ^______________^;;

Yoobin Cha on Thu May 01 2008, 00:52

Hahaha, it's really serious problem.
You think of giving up graduate school because of your baby.
I want to stop you from taking care of your baby but it may be impossible.
Reading your writing, I want to remain single all my life.
My cousin always say that marriage is death to a love affair.
Sorry to say this.
I think it is really hard to solve the problem. How about discussing with your wife?

billy wrote:Dear Sam

Now i have a newborn baby, a little over a month now, who doesn't sleep well.. i mean he barely sleeps for more than 2 hours at a time. When i am in school, my wife and my mother-in-law takes care of my baby. But, at night i am the one who is in charge of hugging, feeding, and making him sleep, which means i have also barely slept for more than 2 hours at one time since he was released from a nursery center. Sometimes i feel i can't stand this any more and i really would like to quit my MA study right away(^^). What should i do? Help me, Sam!

Yoobin Cha on Thu May 01 2008, 01:04

The easiest way is beating him.
just a joke.

I think your student a little bit get tired to study,as you know, just staying in high school give students a lot of stress.
He may want to free time to relaxe and look after his soul.
Don't scold him. He was a good student before.

bakbann wrote:Dear Sam,

I'm tutoring a 3rd year highschool student. It's been 2 months since I tutored him. Although he is poor at English, he is polite and always respects me as a teacher. Moreover, he was such a hardworking student and did every homework I assigned. I was positive that I could improve his English soon. However, these days, he's not studying as hard as before. All of you know how hard Korean high school student should study. He is still well mannered but often miss homeworks. His mother expects me to enhance his English score in exams as soon as possible. I told him several times not to miss any homework politely but it didn't work. How can I make him study hard again without hurting our respectful relationship?

Yoobin Cha on Thu May 01 2008, 01:34

Wow~ long story.
I am sorry to get it out.

As reading your writing, I get felt I am reading my own story.
Of course, I am not second grade of school and not you.

In my case, I absent myself from school temporarily for taking ESL course and
my minor subject is economy. To get my minor, I had to take 21 units every semester and sesonal courses so there was no vacation.
I had prepared to apply financial company so I didn't have enough time to study English.

After I entered graduate school, I realize that Teacher's exam is almost impossible.
For a while, I regret my choice but I realize what I want to be.
Nowadays, I am spending a day pleasantly.

I hope you would not give yourself too much pressure to achieve goal.
I think you can do everything with your passion as fast as you can.
Fighting !! Ji-eun

Ji-eun wrote:Glad to meet you, Sam! I am a troubled girl. I'm second grade of M.A. study and this is my third semester! And since i started this study, i always have some worries about me and my future, 'cause there is nothing clear for my future, yet. After finish this study, i will apply for TEACHER's exam. I have only one years and half for this exam and it means i have to prepare for passing it. As you know, the competitive rate of this exam is getting higher and it is getting more hard to pass it and become a teacher. So i know i have to study and prepare a lot, but the problem is i don't know exactly what shall i do!! Is it right to start to study of Pedegogy now? of study just English? or what kind of study is sutiable for this time for me? I don't have any knowledge of Pedagody and my Enlgish is not good, neither. I have lots of thinkings just like i will do something blabla~ but actually i don't know what is good for me right now.

During my first year, i didn't study at all. Of course i know it's my excuse, but actually i don't have much time to invest for myself. Until now, i work from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm at English kindergarten, and after work, i go to school three time a week, so i come back home around 9:00 pm. (just like other classmates, here.^^) And I am a self-boarding student, i do some cleanings for my house, too. Of course i sincirely want to do my best for school and homework, but sometimes, i just exhasted after finish all i do. It's a kind of contracition. I came here to STUDY but during one year, i didn't study at all and just worked to make money for intuition fee, so this problem always bothers me a lot, like this, "Why did you come here? Why did you start to study M.A course? Did you forget the real reason? "

The point is that i don't want to regret anymore. The last year is enough for me to regret. So i want to live more zealously and for myself! and I want to study for me and for my teacher's exam. Whenever i go to the bookstore, there are lots of books for English, English education or pedagogy, but i can't choose books and i don't know how do i start to stdy.

Dear Sam! Please HLEP ME! What can i do for my English or preparing for my future? I will wait for your help.

Han Kyoung Jae on Thu May 01 2008, 13:59

Lee Hye Jin wrote:Sounds very tough and feel sorry about it.
I think you need some break. Don't make any plans this weekend and just spend all day for yourself and clean your room , desk and shelves. That can make you feel a little bit up lifeted.

And let's try to use between times(틈새시간?). While you wait for someone or something listen to some songs you like and read books you like and send tex messages for your friends.

And look at yoursefl in the mirror and smile. Then you may feel happy at the moment. I hope this would work for you!

See you~

Han Kyoung Jae wrote:Hi Sam. Glad to meet you here.
I have a problem now.
I'm so busy that I can't take a rest at home on weekends.
I have to study at the univeersity in the evening and I have to work during the daytime.
So I feel depressed and I get much stress.
If I quit the job or the study, I feel more free and not engaged. But I can't quit neither of them.
What should I do to feel happy and energetic without quiting these things?
Please give me good and wise advice.

from Kyoung Jae

Thank you for giving me a good piece of adivice.
After i read your advice, i looked at me through the mirror and smiled.
At first, it seemed a little bit ridiculous but i came to know that mind is very important for my attitude and has the influencing power for my behavior. Also, someone said that "If you can't avoid it, enjoy the situation."
I made up my mind to enjoy my tough situation and every morning i do it. haha^^
Now i still feel exhausted but i can endure to some degree.
I want to say thank you for your advice once again.
Give me five.^^

Han Kyoung Jae on Thu May 01 2008, 14:20

Ji-eun wrote:Glad to meet you, Sam! I am a troubled girl. I'm second grade of M.A. study and this is my third semester! And since i started this study, i always have some worries about me and my future, 'cause there is nothing clear for my future, yet. After finish this study, i will apply for TEACHER's exam. I have only one years and half for this exam and it means i have to prepare for passing it. As you know, the competitive rate of this exam is getting higher and it is getting more hard to pass it and become a teacher. So i know i have to study and prepare a lot, but the problem is i don't know exactly what shall i do!! Is it right to start to study of Pedegogy now? of study just English? or what kind of study is sutiable for this time for me? I don't have any knowledge of Pedagody and my Enlgish is not good, neither. I have lots of thinkings just like i will do something blabla~ but actually i don't know what is good for me right now.

During my first year, i didn't study at all. Of course i know it's my excuse, but actually i don't have much time to invest for myself. Until now, i work from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm at English kindergarten, and after work, i go to school three time a week, so i come back home around 9:00 pm. (just like other classmates, here.^^) And I am a self-boarding student, i do some cleanings for my house, too. Of course i sincirely want to do my best for school and homework, but sometimes, i just exhasted after finish all i do. It's a kind of contracition. I came here to STUDY but during one year, i didn't study at all and just worked to make money for intuition fee, so this problem always bothers me a lot, like this, "Why did you come here? Why did you start to study M.A course? Did you forget the real reason? "

The point is that i don't want to regret anymore. The last year is enough for me to regret. So i want to live more zealously and for myself! and I want to study for me and for my teacher's exam. Whenever i go to the bookstore, there are lots of books for English, English education or pedagogy, but i can't choose books and i don't know how do i start to stdy.

Dear Sam! Please HLEP ME! What can i do for my English or preparing for my future? I will wait for your help.

I completely understand you and your situation. I am also in the same M.A course as you. And i have the same problem as yours. I not only work at the English institute but also go to school to study every third evening. Everyday i regret not doing my best both parts. But now i can endure my situation despite all troubles because i have to study to make my dreams and goals come true. And through my career I can get the benefits and i can take advantage of the experience in my teaching later. Ji-eun, let's study hard and as you sais above there are many kinds of different useful materials for the teacher's exam. By making use of those materials, you can improve your English ability and prepare well for the exam. Above all I think self- confidence is more important than anything else. So have a confidence and concentrate on your dream. Then someday you'll enjoy your situation and find yourself to be a more competent person. Good luck to you.^^

Ji-eun on Thu Jun 05 2008, 00:09

Thank you for giving so warm solution for me! I shoud have made reply earlier.. ^^

Whenever i saw you, you look so energetin and do your best everything. I think you don't need to worry too much, too! And most of all, you have enough time than me! right? ^^ I have a lot of regrets for my whole 3 semester. At the first time in sememter, i just determined that trying to do my best at school but i couldn't keep this promise by myself. So i will change or try to change from this summer. ^^

Anyway, thank you again and i wish you will come true your dreams. Smile

New interactive practice segment: Sam's Solutions in Life...

I know your student

hi

baby

tutoring

hi

Thank you for your advice^^

Re: New interactive practice segment: Sam's Solutions in Life...

Re: New interactive practice segment: Sam's Solutions in Life...