gestures

it's really funny when you meet a boy who keeps making hand gestures for obvious words and asking "do you understand?" every few minutes in the conversation.  sure signs he's been dating korean girls since he's arrived.

i give killer tattoos

VH.HK

Ruins of St. Paul in Macau

Muuido Island

Spent the weekend here.
Needless to say, it was great.

29

I forgot to mention but I had a BIRTHDAY this month.  It was the second birthday I've ever worked and the first time I've ever forgotten it was my birthday mid-day.  My friends sue, elizabeth and my brother have historically been really really good at making a big deal about celebrating.  It's always been the best day and so fun and full of surprises.  It was weird this year to be around mostly a lot of strangers who don't even think my birthday is the best day in the whole entire world.  What is wrong with them?  But, now I understand why some people don't like their birthdays and I also think I would like a job being people's birthday-friend.  I mean, I don't want to jump out of a cake, or take off any clothes or do anything weird.  But I think someone should be there to remind you it is your birthday throughout the day and clap and sing and smile real big and plan something super fun that you wouldn't have thought of but would love to do.   How do I make this a career?  Maybe i need to start as a volunteer service to spread the word...  

future figured out.

binge and purge

i really don't like this blog.  and i want to get rid of it and start a different one.  actually, i have an old one from last summer that i discovered and like much more than this one.  probably because it has a theme.  the thing is, everyone living in korea feels that their blog needs to be informational for their family back home.  but my family doesn't read this.  they don't even email me on my birthday.  i'm not sure why i've kept up that stupid telling/informing format with my blog - out of habit i suppose.  i'm going to change that. i will either be moving or changing.  historically i move.  a fresh start, right?  but well, for the sake of the five of you who read this i will try and change. 

Get Specific

So I started reading this book.  It's called "Switch" and it's about the psychology behind change.  I really like it thus far.  There's a lot about different case studies or examples of successful change in various life or business situations but it is (surprisingly) keeping my attention. I just want to talk about one thing from it.

Outside of my classroom, I know that it must be difficult for my students who are in classes too advanced for them.  Inside of the classroom, it's frustrating to have students who have no idea what I'm saying when I'm giving simple instructions that they should have learned years before. 

"What looks like resistance if often a lack of clarity."

Since reading this, this sentence has been on repeat in my head when I'm at work.  It's helping me to slow down, and to set very specific goals for my students.   Instead of telling them to 'use proper grammar'  I've set a concrete goal for them -  every answer to a question should be said in a complete sentence.  I now have a chart, and I keep track of every time they reply in a full sentence.  If they do it so many times by September they will get a small prize.  My kids improved immediately.  Also, the number I set was really high and the prize one of them suggested was a dollar.  I nearly burst out laughing.   Kids are so great!