![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
My school's head office is sending someone to interview me for our "featured teacher" spot in the monthly newsletter and they sent me the questions in advance. I just spent a good hour typing up my answers, so here they are in what is likely their completly irrelevant glory to anyone who isn't a teacher, posted here mostly for my own perusal when I am "old and grey and nodding by the fire," questioning whether I did anything worthwhile with my life. Jury still out.
Name, country or region you were born, and teaching experience
My name is Lauren Walton. I was born in America. I earned my TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate in Corinth, Greece through ViaLingua. I taught for 5 months in Rizhao, China and I have been teaching in Korea for about 2 years.
Special teaching techniques or know-how you can offer fellow teachers regarding teaching at POLY
Learn the systems. POLY has a lot of great resources that other schools lack. Use the library, the computer lab, ePoly, and especially the network of other experienced teachers whose advice and expertise can spare you the necessity of reinventing the wheel. Always approach everything you do with the question, “How can I make this a more effective learning experience?” Always keep a learning agenda. Even mundane tasks like taking attendance can be transformed into a skill-building experience. In my class, I quiz the students on spelling, math, vocabulary, etc. during attendance-checking time: “I say your name, you say __________” Accept no routine that you haven’t investigated for learning potential. Improve wherever possible.
Your educational/teaching philosophy
The most valuable resource I’ve found as a teacher has been Rafe Esquith’s books about teaching economically disadvantaged 5th graders in Los Angeles. His books are called There Are No Shortcuts and Teach Like Your Hair’s On Fire. I’ve adapted his approach a great deal for an ESL classroom, but the fundamentals remain the same: 1) character is important and 2) there are no shortcuts! This applies equally to the teacher. You must embody the values you’re trying to teach. If you want your students to be nice and respectful, always demonstrate what kindness and respect are. If you want them to work hard, you’d better work hard, too. If you want them to be excited about learning, show them that you’re excited, too. Keep your promises, be someone they can trust and count on, and always hold each student to his/her (individual) highest standard.
Another less obvious lesson that I’ve gleaned from these books is that our students can astound us with what they’re capable of when they’ve been adequately prepared. What we as teachers perceive as lack of interest or ability is often just confusion arising from being ill-prepared to benefit fully from a lesson. We have to think backwards and conceptualize our lessons in terms of stepping stones to larger ideas, guide our kids over those stepping stones carefully and thoroughly, then stand back and let them make the final leap. Case in point: during the U.S. election last year, I walked a GT2C2 class through a mini-lesson on the U.S. electoral process, presidential history, current events, and problems facing the nation. We devoted the entire day to this Social Studies supplementary lesson and took 2 full classes to learn adequate vocabulary and background, then we watched Obama’s Democratic nomination acceptance speech. At the beginning of the speech, I paused every few minutes to ask CCQs (Concept Check Questions), but after I’d done this several times the kids raised their hands and requested that I, “Just let it play and ask questions after!” – so eager were they to hear the full speech uninterrupted. My second graders raptly listened to the full 18+ minutes of the speech in English, and clapped with joy at the end. It was something that – before we attempted it – I never would have thought them capable of doing. Prepare your students carefully, but don’t underestimate them!
What do you enjoy the most while teaching at POLY? What was the most memorable moment?
That’s a difficult question! I have learned a great deal about myself and about the human developmental and learning process by teaching. That’s the best part of teaching – you never stop learning! I’ve enjoyed a great many things, most of all the opportunity to get to know my students and allow them to amaze me. Some memorable moments are: 1) when one of my GT1 students quizzed me on phosphorescent living things and then demanded to know how to spell bioluminescence (talk about a jaw-dropper!), 2) teaching at GT1 Prep class from the ground up and watching them go from knowing only their ABCs to being able to read fluently through a reading textbook, and 3) reading through an Oxford Bookworms text with a study club that had never ventured past picture books in the library, 4) coaching an intensive class through an original production of an adapted Treasure Island, and 5) my GT2C2 class exchanging penpal letters with my mom and dad in America – at one point my mom sent two of my students things they’d requested without even a letter for me! It was great to see both sides loving the experience so much that my participation was secondary.
What is your personal long term goal/plan?
As regards teaching, I’d eventually like to earn a PhD and be a college professor, preferably in English Literature.
What advice would you give to teachers at POLY who have little teaching experience?
First and foremost (and I’m sure it’s been said a hundred times) – classroom management! A class that is out of control is a room full of children who will not learn at their full potential. The hardest thing for me has been to remember that my students (especially the older, highly articulate ones) are just kids. They don’t have a fully developed sense of morality, and they don’t do things just because they’re the right things to do. Generally their behavior depends on the rewards they get or the punishment they risk. Teaching is essentially an assertiveness course – you have to be the boss! The key to good classroom management is developing a sense of trust with the students. They have to know what to expect of you, and they have to see you behaving consistently and fairly. If you can control your students and earn their trust and respect, you’re 2/3 of the way to being a fantastic teacher.
What advice would you give to the students at POLY?
It’s easy to say, “Work hard,” but students in Korea hear that a LOT. The advice I’d offer to our students is not something that they can fully understand just by reading the words. The best way to go about following my advice is to find someone who embodies the idea (a teacher, a fellow student, an older sibling, a parent) and emulate. My advice is this: love the process of learning. Learning is a kind of magic that allows you to put the pieces of life together into a cohesive picture. It allows you to peel away the layers of the onion. It ties together things that seem random and unconnected, and gives life richness and meaning. A lifetime student – someone who sees the learning potential of every experience and who opens his/her heart and mind to the classroom of the world – is a happy, fulfilled person. It is very easy, especially in Korea, which is a very competitive place, to focus on the results of learning (test scores, leveling up, the prestige of Magnet or the gratification of winning the speaking contest) – and those things are certainly great and absolutely worth being proud of! But achieving those things is not the ultimate goal of going to school. The ultimate goal is to equip yourself with the things that will allow you to live happily and productively. I’ve found that the students who are most successful are those who both work hard and truly love the process of learning. I don’t mean, of course, that those students always enjoy studying – sometimes it’s just drudgery and that’s all there is to it! But the love carries them through the more difficult times, and makes them proud of what they’ve done even if they don’t win every time, as long as they’ve done their best. It gives them the courage and energy to try again. And again. And again. And again….
What do you think of Korea? How do you spend your free time?
I love Korea! It’s a great place, full of history, culture, and interesting things to see and do. In my free time, I tour palaces and museums and other “touristy” places, bike ride along the Han River, go out to eat and dance with my friends and fellow teachers, read, write (including a travel blog), travel in Asia (I’ve been to Malaysia and Vietnam and plan to visit Thailand this summer), and try to teach myself guitar, piano, and (very) basic Korean!
Have you traveled around in Korea before? How do you like Korean food?
I had never visited Korea before I came to teach for POLY, but I’ve traveled quite a bit in Korea since I moved here in 2007. My favorite places have been the islands off of Incheon and Seoraksan National Park, but I haven’t been to Jeju yet!
I LOVE Korean food! It helps that I’ve always liked spicy food, so the more red pepper paste, the better! I will definitely be shopping at the Korean grocery story in any city that I move to in the future.
How often do you keep in touch with your family?
On the phone – rarely. I hate the phone and so does my family! But we email and write letters on a regular basis.
Name, country or region you were born, and teaching experience
My name is Lauren Walton. I was born in America. I earned my TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate in Corinth, Greece through ViaLingua. I taught for 5 months in Rizhao, China and I have been teaching in Korea for about 2 years.
Special teaching techniques or know-how you can offer fellow teachers regarding teaching at POLY
Learn the systems. POLY has a lot of great resources that other schools lack. Use the library, the computer lab, ePoly, and especially the network of other experienced teachers whose advice and expertise can spare you the necessity of reinventing the wheel. Always approach everything you do with the question, “How can I make this a more effective learning experience?” Always keep a learning agenda. Even mundane tasks like taking attendance can be transformed into a skill-building experience. In my class, I quiz the students on spelling, math, vocabulary, etc. during attendance-checking time: “I say your name, you say __________” Accept no routine that you haven’t investigated for learning potential. Improve wherever possible.
Your educational/teaching philosophy
The most valuable resource I’ve found as a teacher has been Rafe Esquith’s books about teaching economically disadvantaged 5th graders in Los Angeles. His books are called There Are No Shortcuts and Teach Like Your Hair’s On Fire. I’ve adapted his approach a great deal for an ESL classroom, but the fundamentals remain the same: 1) character is important and 2) there are no shortcuts! This applies equally to the teacher. You must embody the values you’re trying to teach. If you want your students to be nice and respectful, always demonstrate what kindness and respect are. If you want them to work hard, you’d better work hard, too. If you want them to be excited about learning, show them that you’re excited, too. Keep your promises, be someone they can trust and count on, and always hold each student to his/her (individual) highest standard.
Another less obvious lesson that I’ve gleaned from these books is that our students can astound us with what they’re capable of when they’ve been adequately prepared. What we as teachers perceive as lack of interest or ability is often just confusion arising from being ill-prepared to benefit fully from a lesson. We have to think backwards and conceptualize our lessons in terms of stepping stones to larger ideas, guide our kids over those stepping stones carefully and thoroughly, then stand back and let them make the final leap. Case in point: during the U.S. election last year, I walked a GT2C2 class through a mini-lesson on the U.S. electoral process, presidential history, current events, and problems facing the nation. We devoted the entire day to this Social Studies supplementary lesson and took 2 full classes to learn adequate vocabulary and background, then we watched Obama’s Democratic nomination acceptance speech. At the beginning of the speech, I paused every few minutes to ask CCQs (Concept Check Questions), but after I’d done this several times the kids raised their hands and requested that I, “Just let it play and ask questions after!” – so eager were they to hear the full speech uninterrupted. My second graders raptly listened to the full 18+ minutes of the speech in English, and clapped with joy at the end. It was something that – before we attempted it – I never would have thought them capable of doing. Prepare your students carefully, but don’t underestimate them!
What do you enjoy the most while teaching at POLY? What was the most memorable moment?
That’s a difficult question! I have learned a great deal about myself and about the human developmental and learning process by teaching. That’s the best part of teaching – you never stop learning! I’ve enjoyed a great many things, most of all the opportunity to get to know my students and allow them to amaze me. Some memorable moments are: 1) when one of my GT1 students quizzed me on phosphorescent living things and then demanded to know how to spell bioluminescence (talk about a jaw-dropper!), 2) teaching at GT1 Prep class from the ground up and watching them go from knowing only their ABCs to being able to read fluently through a reading textbook, and 3) reading through an Oxford Bookworms text with a study club that had never ventured past picture books in the library, 4) coaching an intensive class through an original production of an adapted Treasure Island, and 5) my GT2C2 class exchanging penpal letters with my mom and dad in America – at one point my mom sent two of my students things they’d requested without even a letter for me! It was great to see both sides loving the experience so much that my participation was secondary.
What is your personal long term goal/plan?
As regards teaching, I’d eventually like to earn a PhD and be a college professor, preferably in English Literature.
What advice would you give to teachers at POLY who have little teaching experience?
First and foremost (and I’m sure it’s been said a hundred times) – classroom management! A class that is out of control is a room full of children who will not learn at their full potential. The hardest thing for me has been to remember that my students (especially the older, highly articulate ones) are just kids. They don’t have a fully developed sense of morality, and they don’t do things just because they’re the right things to do. Generally their behavior depends on the rewards they get or the punishment they risk. Teaching is essentially an assertiveness course – you have to be the boss! The key to good classroom management is developing a sense of trust with the students. They have to know what to expect of you, and they have to see you behaving consistently and fairly. If you can control your students and earn their trust and respect, you’re 2/3 of the way to being a fantastic teacher.
What advice would you give to the students at POLY?
It’s easy to say, “Work hard,” but students in Korea hear that a LOT. The advice I’d offer to our students is not something that they can fully understand just by reading the words. The best way to go about following my advice is to find someone who embodies the idea (a teacher, a fellow student, an older sibling, a parent) and emulate. My advice is this: love the process of learning. Learning is a kind of magic that allows you to put the pieces of life together into a cohesive picture. It allows you to peel away the layers of the onion. It ties together things that seem random and unconnected, and gives life richness and meaning. A lifetime student – someone who sees the learning potential of every experience and who opens his/her heart and mind to the classroom of the world – is a happy, fulfilled person. It is very easy, especially in Korea, which is a very competitive place, to focus on the results of learning (test scores, leveling up, the prestige of Magnet or the gratification of winning the speaking contest) – and those things are certainly great and absolutely worth being proud of! But achieving those things is not the ultimate goal of going to school. The ultimate goal is to equip yourself with the things that will allow you to live happily and productively. I’ve found that the students who are most successful are those who both work hard and truly love the process of learning. I don’t mean, of course, that those students always enjoy studying – sometimes it’s just drudgery and that’s all there is to it! But the love carries them through the more difficult times, and makes them proud of what they’ve done even if they don’t win every time, as long as they’ve done their best. It gives them the courage and energy to try again. And again. And again. And again….
What do you think of Korea? How do you spend your free time?
I love Korea! It’s a great place, full of history, culture, and interesting things to see and do. In my free time, I tour palaces and museums and other “touristy” places, bike ride along the Han River, go out to eat and dance with my friends and fellow teachers, read, write (including a travel blog), travel in Asia (I’ve been to Malaysia and Vietnam and plan to visit Thailand this summer), and try to teach myself guitar, piano, and (very) basic Korean!
Have you traveled around in Korea before? How do you like Korean food?
I had never visited Korea before I came to teach for POLY, but I’ve traveled quite a bit in Korea since I moved here in 2007. My favorite places have been the islands off of Incheon and Seoraksan National Park, but I haven’t been to Jeju yet!
I LOVE Korean food! It helps that I’ve always liked spicy food, so the more red pepper paste, the better! I will definitely be shopping at the Korean grocery story in any city that I move to in the future.
How often do you keep in touch with your family?
On the phone – rarely. I hate the phone and so does my family! But we email and write letters on a regular basis.
Current Location: Seoul, South Korea
Current Music: The Duhks
1 comment | Leave a comment