I'm Still Alive

Sorry about the internet-silence, but I was away on holidays from 15th-25th (blog to come later when I get a chance to upload pics and sit down to think it all through properly) and I have been tied up with other things since I got back. I have barely any teaching hours, but they have a habit of sucking up the rest of the day. That and facebook. I'm starting to kind of resent and despise facebook! What an eater of time it is... So anyways, today I just wanted to remind some people that I exist, and just generally talk about some of what has been going on of late. As Matt reminded me yesterday at work, everyone is the star of their own story...

The number one priority in my life these days SHOULD be my dissertation. I have an exam coming up on June 1st that is worth 60% of my dissertation grade, which in turn is worth a third of my final MA grade. So, it's pretty important! The problem is that I am the kind of student that has spurts of enthusiasm where I get way more done than I'm required to, followed by troughs of activity during which time I can't motivate myself to do much of worth at all. And go on, guess which one I'm in at the minute?? Either way, I've got to snap out of it as soon as possible or I'll be throwing away a few years worth of fairly consistent effort and sacrifices, as well as the thousands of pounds it has cost me... Money: the great motivator.

Work is fine these days but my mind has already switched to my new job in Nanjing, starting at the end of August. I will be extremely sad leaving Korea, the people I've met, students, the band, FC Seoul, the food, the lifestyle, etc., but I'm looking forward to what looks like a proper job that actually sets me up for what I really want to do with my life. Hopefully, I'm headed for a future of working in International Schools, being an effective teacher for teenagers in countries all over the world, really getting to know the country I'm living in, a couple of years here, a couple there, enough time off to visit home regularly and fit in plenty of travelling. Doesn't sound bad, does it? Cue Brian getting run over by a bus tomorrow!

What's coming up? Well, as you asked, we have rehearsal tomorrow in preparation for a Dead End Friends gig tomorrow night at Rocky Mountain Tavern in Itaewon with long-time friends of the band, Feed The Boats, who are coming up with a bunch of mates all the way from Gwangju. They're a great band, sporting a new drummer whom I remember seeing in a different band way back in 2007, and being mightily impressed with. If you're around Seoul this weekend and you want to hear some live rock, you know what to do.

Sandwiched between the music tomorrow will be our trip to Sangam World Cup Stadium to watch the visit of Jeju United to FC Seoul. Jeju were K-League runners-up last season, and have had a solid start again this term. Seoul have been simply horrific of late, to the extent that Hwangbo Kwon did the decent thing and stood down earlier this week. Former Seoul striker Choi Young Soo has been put in temporary charge, and hopefully things can only get better... If they get worse, I'm going to be pretty grumpy for the gig...

Opportunities

Really upbeat today. Did an interview this morning, really just for the sake of it, which turned out really well. It was with Dipont Education for an international school in China, which I had already all but written off in my mind behind the option of going to Cairo (which I have, in theory at least, accepted). As a result, I wasn't at all nervous and was really frank in explaining the incredible irregularity of my qualifications and teaching experience. Teenagers in England > elementary school kids in Korea > adults in Buenos Aires > adults in Korea > Uni students and kids in Korea. It doesn't exactly look as though it has been rationally thought through by someone who has a clear view of the desired trajectory of his career. So I just explained that I felt too young to settle down to a teaching career at 23 and wanted to work in different teaching environments whilst studying towards my MA, which is the truth! That conversation led to me telling her that, eventually, I want to be a Social Studies/History teacher, which in turn led to her lining me up for an A-Level History & ESL position at Nanjing Foreign Language School. It's by no means a done deal (both sides have things to look into) but it looks a great option if it comes through. A path back into the kind of teaching I really want to be doing, a lot earlier than I had anticipated.

So I'm in good form today because my mood is almost 100% influenced by events that happen to me rather than by my own self-control. Blue skies and snow out my window. Lots of work to get through with my students in our last two classes tonight and tomorrow because I was only about 50% all there the first week of the course this time around. Big, big, big celebrations in store for St. Patrick's Day (otherwise known as St. Patrick's Weekend over here). Will dash out of work on Friday to headline the Friday night at FF's 'Go Green' party and, if I pace myself, we'll be hosting the St. Patrick's Day party at Rocky Mountain Tavern on Saturday night. That's a big 'if'...

The End Is Nigh

Hey all, hope your weekend was as fun as mine. We headed out to Bucheon with the band on Friday night for a show at The Park. It's a bit of a funny venue in that it tends to be very polite and restrained during the first half, only to go totally nuts for the second. Jeff was in flying form and we went on for about three encores, including what seemed like a never-ending version of Born to be Wild with plenty of crowd participation. Fun times. I was staying in a really nice motel over there (they do exist) so I stayed as long as I possibly could the next day before they came up to gently insist that I get the hell outta there.

I finally gave in to peer pressure by getting a haircut in Shinchon, but it was what Jim dubbed a, "compromise cut" in that I didn't really cut it up all that short. It was one of those weird experiences we have here as foreigners: put to the front of the queue; the boss came out to cut my hair; about half a dozen staff members gathered round to watch; a generous discount for no particular reason, etc. I know I had to get it done but, I miss my out-of-control-tramp-esque hair...

A couple of our friends were having their last night out n Seoul (unless they come back...) so, after a bit of pool with Stephen and Creego, we headed over to Shamrock n' Roll for grub and a few drinks. Jes was on a no-drinking vow for the night, but this didn't seem to include any of the shots we were buying her... curiously... There were obviously a lot of farewell parties that night, because Club FF was absolutely jammed. Angry Bear were playing before us, and were quite good this time around. They are a nice bunch of blokes too - fair play to them for going down the 'originals' road so steadfastly. I had an absolute ball during our gig. Great crowd, great set, lots of energy. It was just one of those great nights where everything comes together. We were getting a lot of good feedback after the show, but we still need to do more to get our name out there on the Seoul music circuit. I'm looking into getting some posters and leaflets made up for every gig, and just take it out of whatever the kitty is.

Sunday was a lazy one. Ji and I headed to Nowon for Jimdak and watched 'Unknown', the new Liam Neeson flick. It was one of those ridiculous, intelligence-insulting films, that I always hate myself for watching when I occasionally do so. It had some redeeming features in it's action scenes, car chases, Neeson not being terrible (unlike January Jones), but if you're thinking of watching it and there is ANYTHING else on - go see that (in my humble opinion).

Yesterday marked the start of a new 'session' at work and the first day for a new batch of teachers. There was a lot more hustle and bustle in the teacher's room, with new teachers not sure what to do, and 'older' teachers trying to help them out. It seems as though they all got on fine and enjoyed their classes; it isn't a difficult job to get through at all. I'm teaching a higher level than usual this time so it took (and will take) a bit of adjusting. However, they seem like good classes, and I'm looking forward to trying out a few new things and stretching them as much as I can.

Today is a holiday in Korea so I've been studying (some Council of Europe guidelines for selecting methods, approaches and materials - directly applicable to my teaching for once), dealing with job offers (I accepted the job in Egypt...), and I'm just about to go and meet a few friends in Itaewon for dinner. I hope everyone is doing well this week. Bizarrely, it seems as though there was something on the radio at home about 'old friends', which prompted three different people to email me pretty much out of the blue. Small world we live in...

Out Cold

Didn't manage to make it to immigration this morning so I REALLY HAVE TO GO TOMORROW!! My Alien Registration Card (ARC) expires on Friday so, with lessons on Thursday and Friday, tomorrow is my last real opportunity. I should actually have the whole day off tomorrow but we have some ceremony to attend on campus and a new teachers' orientation in the afternoon. I set THREE alarms for 6:59, 7:00 and 7:01am this morning but didn't hear a thing. A few new teachers have moved in next door and across the hall. I'm sure they were loving me this morning! Never was one for the good first impressions. At least if the same thing happens tomorrow morning I might be awakened by an angry knock at the door.

I just got in the door from band practice in Hongdae. We only had two hours to go through EVERYTHING we are planning on doing this Friday and Saturday, so there was a lot of flying through things we think we already know, and a few songs we had to skip over altogether. Still, things were sounding pretty good and it'll be great to get back in action. Cheon got the venue mixed up so we were without a bassist for the first half-an-hour: 'crossed-wires' might have been an apt band name I often think.

So, tomorrow it should be immigration> interview for a school in China > campus shenanigans > teachers' meeting > cooking for Ji > collapsing in a heap. I just found out today from two of my referees that my old degree (International Politics at Magee) is being discontinued, and that the Conservatives are looking at removing Citizenship Education (what I did my teaching certificate in) from the curriculum in England. Aside from making it even harder for me to motivate myself to work on my Master's (in Citizenship Education - which has also been discontinued), it certainly is something to bear in mind as I job hunt. Where one door closes, another opens, and all that.

The Quirks

Today's blog was going to be about the single best thing about my job which, as much as I moan about it, is probably the best I've ever had (aside from handing out clubs at the Pitch n' Putt to the two customers an hour the place usually attracted): my students. This week, they have been having six classes a day in a foreign language, various evening seminars they are required to attend, a curfew that means they have to be in their rooms at 11pm (which I'm not wholly against, to be honest), and all of this whilst dealing with what is, for most of them, their first experience away from home following High School. It wouldn't be unreasonable of them to be angsty, negative, tired, unenthusiastic, even rebelliously disruptive. However, I go to class everyday to find them (after some gentle prodding) receptive, eager to work, respectful, creative, and fun. We did our first stint of conferences (one-to-one meetings) with them today. Even though it was at the end of a long day, towards the end of a long week, it's still my favourite part of DDE. It's a proper chance to get to know them, figure out their strengths and weaknesses, pick up on a few of their glaring inaccuracies that may well go undetected amongst their classmates, and make sure they're comfortable with asking questions when they need to.

I was going to write about that: their cute wee notes; the funny things they write in assignments; the times they get me tongue-tangled in class; how they make me care less about the other things at work that bug me. I was. But then I got a concrete offer from Cairo English School, started having several conversations simultaneously, got wickedly tired from not having been able to sleep all week, and realised that it has crept up near midnight without my noticing it. So it's just going to be this, for the simple fact that now I can tick 'blog' off my to-do list. That's just how cool I am. Goodnight all.

Been A While

Well here I am in Starbucks, Itaewon, finally getting around to updating this; the latest self-imposed bain upon my existence! I have been kind of off the radar since last Thursday for one reason or another, but here I am again, much the same as I was last week. Realistically, how much can change in a few days? Quite a bit, probably.

Our big, highly-anticipated (by us) 'lads not on tour' night was a bit of a messy blur last Saturday night. It was definitely fun for a good chunk of the night, before it all went off the rails for me with embarrassing consequences. Soju... Need I say more? Eden is not and never shall be my cup of tea, Sven Vath could have been a song on a CD player somewhere, and I was most comfortable at 'Gerry's' - the first time more than the second, during which time I was, apparently, pretty unresponsive! Still, there's no harm in having a bit of a blow-out once in a while: as long as it is just once in a while.

The working week thus far has been busy, busy, busy. We are back to our DDE intensive classes: six classes a day every day this week, conferences, planning, marking - it doesn't allow much time for much else. Which is unfortunate, because everything else is looming as much as it ever was/is/will be. I still have my 'other commitments', dissertation, songs to be learned, brilliant book to be finished, and band stuff. I'm actually in Itaewon because we were supposed to have practice tonight, but it was called off at short-notice, which happens. We just need a few hours to refresh our set for gigs next weekend at The Park, Bucheon (Friday 25th) and Club FF, Hongdae (Saturday, 26th). Will be great to get back on it and set up a busy March, which I'm hoping will include a gig in Daejeon, and an outdoor slot for the St. Patrick's Day celebrations in central Seoul.

On the job-hunt front, it's still much the same as ever. I'm still proceeding with the application process for Cairo English School, arranging an interview with Mt Zaagkam International School, and applying anywhere else I see fit. I had a bit of an annoying experience with an international school here in Seoul over the last couple of days, but I'll go into that tomorrow. Too tired to deal with details today: I didn't fall asleep until after 4am last night, for no particular reason.

Ireland: keep emailing me the craic about the election. I'm seeing some funny stuff on facebook. Is Enda Kenny really going to...?

Hope you're all having a good week. Back in more depth tomorrow, hopefully.

Happy New New Year

Hey all. I got back from Shanghai yesterday, tired and satisfied after a great trip. Shanghai is a fantastic city, very cosmopolitan in a lot of ways, but clearly constrained in others. My pictures are now up on facebook, and I'm sure I'll get around to talking about what we did there at some point.

Today I'm just getting back into the swing of things, trying to get as much MA work done this week as I can, applying for more jobs (will it ever end?), and so on and so forth. I have an interview coming up with Mt Zaagkam International School in Papua, Indonesia. It's for an ESL position, is in a VERY remote area, and there has been some recent 'unease' with tribal groups in the area. All in all, it's not what I had set out for, but I'll give the interview my all and see what comes of it. Cairo English School are currently contacting my referees, and the school is closed due to the political situation in the area. At this rate, I'm expecting a job offer from Baghdad any second now.

Sad, sad news that Gary Moore died yesterday in a hotel room in Spain, aged 58. A Belfast native, he was one of a rare breed in that he was successful in a variety of roles and over a prolonged period of time. Although he is best known as a guitarist, he was a great songwriter and VERY under-rated singer. I'm obviously a big Phil Lynott fan, but I think it's fair to say that the great man was outshone to an extent in this collaboration with Moore:

RIP Gary Moore... I actually heard this song today as a tribute on BBC Radio 6 music, which I've started listening to a lot more of late, and wow it is great! Such a great range of rock music, and a good way to hear some new material, which I have been neglecting now for a few... years... I discovered a few new (to me) bands from an article in 'Time' including Queen Sea Big Shark, from Beijing, who really impressed me. Their music, lyrics and style are pretty daring in China; I hope they make it to Korea sometime soon. My lunar new year's resolution? Go see more live Korean bands. My earlier resolutions are going so well and all...

More Out Of Left Field

As though pondering the prospect of moving to Egypt (ongoing) wasn't enough, I now have the possibility of moving to Kazakhstan or Papua, Indonesia, to chew on. Neither are at all concrete; both got in touch specifically to make me aware of the challenging circumstances of the locations before I proceed with my application. Confidence inspiring, it is not. Still, I am up for a challenge and an experience that I'll remember forever. I love where I live and what I do, but it appears that it takes a stronger person than me to stave off that feeling of the mundane that creeps in from time to time. Not much time on the planet, lots of things to see and so. Mind you, the email from the principal in Papua didn't paint a pretty picture. Some of it is unrepeatable on here in case my mother pays an unexpected visit!

I'm still thinking about Cairo, watching things unfold, trying to envisage what life would be like there, and trying to come to a decision that feels right, whilst still being rational! To be fair, the school is still meeting other applicants, so the decision could easily be taken out of my hands. The situation in Egypt seems to be heading towards a measure of inevitability, and with what happened in Tunisia and what's happening in Jordan, it brings to mind the snowballing revolutionary movements across Eastern Europe over the late-eighties and early-nineties. I wonder what modern-day Havels and Walesas are carving out their own and their countries' future as we go about our daily lives, unable to grasp the tension and sense of expectation they must be experiencing. I don't agree with over-playing the role of people in bringing about changes such as these (there are bigger forces at play, just as in Eastern Europe in the eighties), but it's hard not to be strengthened by images of squares full of people celebrating the ability to dissent, perhaps for the first time in their lives!

Well, this will more than likely be it from me for the next few days. Ji and I are going to Shanghai in the morning until Sunday. Looks like mild weather. I think I have packed everything I'll need. All visas and so on appear to be in order. Hopefully it will all go according to plan. Ok, a slightly merry Ji has just come in, so I better go help her pack. Did you pick that up? I have already packed, she hasn't? Did you get that? I'm great? Right? Happy lunar new year everyone, I'll write more after the weekend.

First Offer!

Amazingly, I woke up to an email offering me the primary esl job at Cairo English School, which I interviewed for last night. Although it wasn't a bad interview, I really wasn't expecting to hear anything positive back from them. The upshot of it all is that I have to seriously consider whether I should take a job that involves moving into the unknown in almost every way, or turning it down on the absolute off-chance that something more suited to what I had been hoping for, shows up. It's a tricky one, it really is.

All the same, it's encouraging that I had a successful interview, and positive that I at least now have a choice. There is a lot to think of in terms of Ji, my career, leaving Korea, the band, the 'bother' in Egypt, moving to primary education and, of course, CATHERINE! Rob - I'll be calling your Dad if you reckon that's ok with him. Smart people out there, I want to hear your pearls of wisdom. No need to tell me that it's the largest and most densely populated city in Africa - I'd be lost without you, Lisa!

We finished up the first session of DDE1 this morning with their exam, final interview, and class party. Although I've been here nearly a year, the final day is always odd and difficult to explain to those who don't work here. Mass hysteria, screaming girls, picture request after picture request, and a bunch of very ordinary, but uncomfortable, foreign teachers. I really do enjoy this job, though. There are annoying aspects (well, one - aspect), but we have a lot of freedom and the students are consistently great. My homeroom made a little poster and cake for me as a surprise. I walked in on them as they were preparing it, so had to pull out the old acting skills later. Still got it! Or not... Oh, decisions...

Going to meet a few of the other teachers to mark the end of the session with a beer or two in Suyu. For those of you who are in Korea, our Muse tribute is at Club Spot (Hongdae, the wee park thingy) at 9pm. Judging by the rehearsals, I think it should be quite good! Wherever you are, I hope you're doing well and have a great weekend.

PS Come on Murray!

First Interview...

...went ok. It was a skype video call with a the primary head at Cairo English School and one of her colleagues. Some of the questions I handled well, others I thought of a million things I should have said, the moment the call ended. What it boils down to, though, is that it's just not the job for me. I'm not a primary school teacher and my formal training isn't in ESL. And it showed. They're getting back to me in a couple of days, but I'd be amazed if they offered me something. Initially I was a bit knocked back by the realisation (again) of how difficult it will be to make the step from ESL teacher at a Uni in Korea to Social Studies teacher at an international school. I must admit that I'm still feeling a bit defeatist about it all, but I'll keep plugging away. As soon as DDE is done for this session (tomorrow), I'll sit down and figure out what I could be doing better, have a re-think and start popping those applications out again. Worst case scenario, I stay on where I am for a bit longer than I'd like. Actually, that isn't the worst case scenario, but let's pretend it is.

Being deflated won't change the situation, aside from making things worse, so I'm going to wake up tomorrow thinking about closing out a nice DDE1 program, go pick up my visa for China next week, meet the other teachers for a few 'end-of-session' drinks, and make sure my throat is right for the Muse cover gig with Cheon's band in Hongdae (Saturday at 9pm). The rehearsals this week were great and I am determined it's going to be a fun show.

Thanks for recent comments, emails, and words of wisdom. Happy birthday Rob, Jim, Lisa and Emma these days - it certainly is the season. Craig - not obsessed with 'Time', realise it's limitations, just like reading a hard copy of something from time to time and Ji has a subscription. As for Ji, well, we'll have to cross that bridge when we come to it. If any of the rest of you out there have any top tips for how to do what you want to do with your life, feel free to share. I bet this woman could sort me out...

Frickin Penalties...

If you're in Korea, and you stayed up to watch the Japan match last night, I'm sure you're feeling much the same as me today - tired and dissatisfied! Having pulled themselves back into the contest with a last-gasp equaliser at the end of extra time, they fluffed their chance of progressing to the final of the Asian Cup by missing THREE penalty kicks in the shoot-out. Much has been made of the inexperience of the three penalty takers, but I guess they are always a bit of a lottery. It pains me to say it, but Japan would have been fairly hard done by had they failed to make it through this one. Overall, encouraging tournament because of the number of young players making their mark for the national team such as Ji Dong Won, Son Heung Min, Ku Ja Cheol (their player of the tournament next to the mercurial Park Ji sung in my humble opinion), Lee Yong Rae, Yoon Bit Garam and even Jung Sung Ryeong. Still a bit worrying that they are so intent on walking the ball over the line so often and lack an out-and-out goal-scorer at the very top level.

Cross your fingers for me tomorrow as I conduct my first international school interview. It's for a primary ESL post in Cairo so, although it's not EXACTLY, what I had in mind, it represents a significant opportunity for my to get closer to doing what I really want to do. Such is the nature of a 'career', it appears. The school seems great (an IB World School, well-resourced, in a good location) and Cairo is that bit closer to home than Seoul. I don't quite know how I feel about leaving Korea and everyone and everything I know here behind. A new adventure...

Five minutes til rehearsal for our 'Muse' gig on Saturday. We met up last night and it was already sounding good. The old falsetto came through for me and the guys know their stuff, as I had predicted they would. The old ears took a battering though. I really need to invest in some earplugs... Waffle over! I'll let you know how the interview goes. And if you have any recommendations for what I should do in Shanghai (leaving next Wednesday morning), don't be shy in sharing.

In The Zone

Just a quick wee post tonight because it's coming up on midnight and I have a busy day ahead. Four DDE classes, an hour of conferences, and a kid's class with the parents in. Oh how we all love the old open classes. Still, they are a good bunch of kids and I'm too busy to worry about it too much so I'll make sure I have it well-prepared and I'm sure it'll be fine.

Looming large on the horizon is the Muse cover gig with Cheon's band in Hongdae on Saturday night. Somewhat worryingly, we haven't actually rehearsed yet, but I know the songs fairly well and we meet tomorrow night and Wednesday. The last time I played with those guys they knew everything inside out, and I'm sure it'll be the same tomorrow. I have a new desire to improve my front-man act, having witnessed a master of the trade at RMT last Saturday night. I didn't even catch their name, but those guys were just in their own bubble of euphoria and it was infectious. Mel said to me at the time, "you'll just have to up your game", and I intend to! There's a fair chance that no-one I know will be there next Saturday, so I have a chance to just get carried away and enjoy the songs.

In other news, I have my first international school interview (on skype) on Thursday evening with Cairo English School. It's an IB World School and looks like it has a good set-up, so it's nice to have at least a bit of interest. Looking at their vacancies, I'm not sure what they might even have for me, but it's a sniff, and that's better than what I had been having up until I heard from them. How does one dress for a skype interview?

Here's a video I just put up on facebook from our crazy gig in Gwangju the weekend before last. Hope all your weeks have gotten off to a good start.

What If You Wrote...?

The end of a long and tiring week. Congratulations one and all. We're there. Kick back, relax, make it a good one. It's going to be Monday again soon. Too soon.

Another TEN international school job applications sent out tonight. Who knows what they want us to say, how they differentiate between the tonnes I'm certain they receive, how a candidate can put him/herself ahead of the pack in such a limiting and limited application process. You know my approach, I've posted it on here! A lot of the time, I'd love to go along the following lines...

Dear X,

you must read hundreds of these, so I'm going to spare you the agony of repeating what you've already heard dozens of times and avoid the need for you to go reading between the lines. I am eager, nay, DESPERATE to land this job. And let's not beat about the bush, I'm applying for your school AND a bunch of others, because I know there's a fair chance I'll never hear back from any of you at all.

As a teacher, I have my pros and cons. I think my biggest pro is the fact that I know that much. I can tell you that, in your staffroom, I'll be quiet and possibly scornfully cursing some of my co-workers under my breath because I can't handle how they openly don't care about their jobs or the students they teach. This will make me popular with some, and hugely unpopular with others. The truth of the matter is, I don't care about that. The reason being, I can guarantee you that I'll be popular among the students because THEY are the ones who see how much I put in, and how much it matters to me that I'm good at my job.

I feel as though I'm pretty well-qualified, but no doubt, you'll come across applicants who blow me out of the water. In my defence, I'm young(ish), I'm hungry, I'm chomping at the bit to start putting all the things I've been studying through my undergrad, PGCE, and MA, into practice. There are LOTS of things that I'm really, really not good at. I've lived in Korea for over three years, but can barely order myself food in the language. I have sung in bands for more than a decade, but can't play an instrument. I'm on the verge of getting a first class honours MA degree in Citizenship Education, but I can never seem to remember where I last put my pen down. I am, though, a good teacher. And I want to be better.

I will move ANYWHERE in the world to get back to teaching something I'm passionate about and inspire young people to be the best they can be, and have as great an impact on their community (local, national, global) as is humanly possible. Give me the opportunity to throw myself 100% into a new and exciting phase of my life.

I wonder.... Have a great weekend everyone.

Busy Busy Busy

It's all go this week since our Duksung Dynamic English (DDE) intensive classes started. My teaching schedule is usually pretty light but, a few times a year, we have these intensive sessions during which time we are pretty much under pressure all day everyday with class, prep, marking, conferences and lesson planning. On top of that I'm still trying to apply to as many schools as I can for August (Cameroon, Honduras and Sri Lanka today), keep finding research subjects for my MA dissertation, sort out my tax return documents for Friday, learn songs for an upcoming Muse cover gig with Cheon, keep on top of my other classes, and trying to grab a few moments for myself here and there too.

The classes themselves are going very well. We are preparing our homeroom for the TOEIC Speaking test, which is fine because I have taught it before. The students don't have a textbook for that class, which is a challenge, but they are an eager bunch. This is actually their first experience out of High School (they are freshmen due to start Uni in March), so it must be a daunting experience for them all. They're doing well. It's interesting to note how much more submissive they are than the older students I taught last term. They have clearly had all their creativity drummed out of them at school and it'll take a while for some of them to claim it back, it seems. The other classes are using a new textbook created by Tom, one of the teachers here. We have only been using it since Monday, but I can already say that it's a brilliantly useful book, rich in resources, varied, cleverly linked together, and perfectly suited to it's purpose. Tom leaves in late-February, but he will certainly have left his mark here.

Last weekend was, quite simply, the best of the year so far. Eleven of us made the trip to Gwangju, in total, and it ended up being two days filled with laughter, music and card games! The gig at Speakeasy was packed and the crowd, as usual, were amazing. Cheon had a bit of a blow when his bass took a tumble and picked up a scratch. The result was that he ended up getting more hammered than I have ever seen him, and it's a credit to him that he made it through the gig, let alone pulled off some stunning solos. I'd say Jeff also had his best 'Dead End Friends' gig so far. There was a period towards the end when he just closed his eyes, tilted back his head, and was very clearly right in the zone. We don't have anything as a band until late February, but this gig was just what we needed to give us the confidence to add a bit of swagger to our step.

That's that for me tonight. Looking forward to relaxing a bit on Saturday night with a few beers and Korea V Iran in the AFC Asian Cup quarter-finals. Korea were as frustrating as ever in their 4-1 win over India last night, although Son Heung Min, Ku Ja Cheol and Ji Dong Won all impressed aside from their goalscoring contributions. Not taking more of their chances resulted in ceding top spot in the group to Australia and facing a tougher quarter-final opponent than they might have otherwise expected. I hope it isn't something they live to regret...

Casting The Net

Hey all. I took your various comments into account (thanks!), got my application together, and emailed Chadwick International yesterday. I'm not expecting to hear anything back from them (I'd imagine most schools will hire staff at the various conferences then see where they're at), but I am hopeful. And, I guess, that hope will grow with the number of schools I chance my arm with. That's why today I applied to five more schools, in: Dubai; Paraguay; Germany; Egypt; and Qatar. It takes a fair while to do a bit of research and tailor the application to the school, but I'm hoping to get another half-dozen out tomorrow and hope that something bites soon.

The more I research International Schools, the more I think of staying where I am for another 18 months+, the more research I do for my dissertation, the greater and more pressing my desire is to get something sorted as soon as possible. I'm sure I would really miss Korea if I left, and all the major ties I have here, but the way I'm thinking these days, I am kind of relishing the thought (at least) of just going somewhere completely new and seeing how it works out. Like I've said, the unfolding of events over the coming weeks and months will probably make the decision for me.

On the music side of things, we're off to Gwangju this weekend to play at the fifth birthday celebration of one of our favorite bars, Speakeasy. I'm really looking forward to it because, not only is it a great wee bar and always a busy night, there are a good few of us going down from Seoul together. We have a bit of a routine from Gwangju from over the years: same way down (good old KTX), pop into the bar to say hi, over to the same hostel, galbi in the same restaurant, back to the the bar to get things started, and keeping it going into the wee hours. Our buddy Richard text me tonight saying he has been hearing good things about us, which was a nice wee boost at the right time. I also got an email tonight from a fellow Seoul musician about a night he's putting together asking me if I'd sing a few numbers. On top of that, Cheon's other band are covering Muse in Hongdae in a couple of weeks with me at the mic. So it's a busy period coming up but with lot's of different things going on, which is just what I need.

Continuing my recent unhealthy interest in great-but-dead lead singers, I was doing a bit of reading and youtube surfing on Thin Lizzy front-man, Phil Lynott, earlier tonight. Yet another musician who died early (at 36) and left behind haunting videos of his final interviews and this, his final TV appearance. Just over 25-years ago. He really was brilliant... Some great haircuts on here too. Enjoy.

Cheers!

I got quite a few helpful comments on my cover letter yesterday, so thank you for that. I've been working on my teaching philosophy today and I'm going to stick it on the bottom of the blog again in the hope of similar pointers. Some of it is a case of obvious enough stumbles that are less apparent to the writer, but your private constructive criticism is also more than welcome. Especially you Gallagher; you're an International School teacher! Don't worry, it's not your job I'm going for... I got the whole application together as a .pdf file and, once I have checked it over again in the morning, I'm going to get it off to it's intended destination and hope it is well enough constructed to take me to the next stage. A few new jobs popped up online today, including a pretty inviting one in Egypt...

I'll be extending my visa here in Korea until the end of August once my current E2 visa expires at the end of February (assuming that my passport and ARC make it back from the Chinese embassy in Busan in one piece). There had been a lot of talk about changing visa restrictions here, so I took the precaution of getting a criminal background check and ordering signed University transcripts when I was back in Ireland. I had another look into it all today and, wow, it's a complicated mess. Just take a look at this thread at Dave's eslcafe. Talk of needing to have an apostille put on your original degree by a lawyer in the country from which you qualified, etc. Nightmare! Thankfully, Catherine is usually a step ahead of me with things like this. It turns out that this time around (because of the huge problems posed by bringing in such ringing changes so suddenly), teachers extending need only have a passport, ARC, application for extension of stay (available at immigration), employment contract, a reference (from employer) and the princely sum of W30,000. So, for now at least, I have been spared from totally-avoidable-red-tape-hell.

Further hoops to jump through in Korea, huge numbers of qualified teachers out of full-time work in the UK and Ireland, and now the growing problem of teachers being bullied by pupils and parents online. Who would be a teacher, eh? In all honesty, my time teaching in England was the most challenging yet fulfilling of my career so far. For the majority of my PGCE I got to school at 7am and was usually still there 12-hours later. My to-do list took up both sides of my wee notebook, the thought of having a mid-week meet-up with friends over a beer couldn't even enter my head. Still, I loved it. However, with each passing year in a job where I have the free time to do multiple other things, work with respectful and (mainly) hardworking students, read more and more about the growing loss of common sense in UK teaching, I'm less and less inclined to move back to the British Isles as soon as I had previously thought I would. Mind you, plenty of the people I qualified with seem to be enjoying their careers and laughing off the horror stories. On top of that, I do often miss the challenge. It's nice having good classes but on such a regular basis you can almost take them for granted. It doesn't, however, come near the feeling of cracking that tricky Monday morning class you'd been wracking your brains over for weeks. We'll see what the future brings. It's not as though going back to the UK to find a teaching job is a realistic option for me anytime soon anyhow!

A word on a neglected topic - football! I stupidly stayed up late last night to watch South Korea's opening Asian Cup match against Bahrain in Qatar, home-to-be of the 2022 World Cup! They did alright without injured striker Park Ju Young, but wound up frustratingly holding on at 2-1, having been 2-0 up and looking comfortable. Kwak Tae Hwi never deserved a red card, but there was no need for him to jostling with an opponent at that stage of the match. Ku Ja Cheol got both goals and looked decent in an all-round comfortable but cluttered midfield. It was nice to get a look at two young strikers Ji Dong Won and Son Heung Min, but it's hard to take much from this performance in terms of predicting what impact they might have overall. Australia had a convincing opening win over India, so Friday night's match-up between the Socceroos and the Red Devils might even be described as mouth-watering. Yet another occasion when Matt and I will likely be on opposing sides of the fence. Quite annoyed to see how promising Lee Yong Rae looked, considering he's another one who has just signed up with Suwon Bluewings... As the FC Seoul exodus continues (bye bye Kim Jin Kyu and your 'rocket' free kick). Stay positive, stay positive...

All right, I'll leave you with my draft teaching philosophy and an earnest request that you email me with any comments/suggestions. The application goes off tomorrow, and I want it to go with as much weight behind it as possible...

I believe that teachers should have a passion for their job that brings them beyond the normal expectations of other occupations, so that they are willing to go the extra mile for the welfare of their pupils and school. My teaching is grounded in respect for universal human rights, which are equally applicable to children and adults alike. For me, a school can act as an example of the kind of community we would like to see in existence beyond the parameters of the school grounds and it can prepare pupils for confident, informed active citizenship as fully-fledged members of society.

My teaching career thus far has involved using a broad range of skills and working in varied educational contexts. Prior to the completion of my teaching certificate, I was involved as a volunteer with a youth group and was intrigued by education for peace during my undergraduate studies. As I navigated my way through my Post-Graduate Certificate in Education, I began to fuse these ideals with the everyday demands and realities of challenging high school classes. I developed a behaviour management style that focussed on collaboration with pupils in drawing up rules that were mutually agreed and respected. I also devised pre-determined consequences for when standards were not met. In challenging circumstances, classroom discipline gradually became less and less of an issue.

My teaching experience has also involved working with a broad range of ages (from kindergarten to senior citizen) and abilities. This has allowed me to appreciate the development of learners at different levels, as well as understand the importance of acting as a facilitator in their lifelong learning. It is not my intention to merely teach within the constraints of examination preparation (although they are, of course, important), but to instil passion for learning and go beyond textbooks to enable pupils to determine their own outcomes, which will have consequences for their personal development long after they complete their formal education.

Close Your Eyes, Stick A Pin In A Map

It might not even be Christmas yet but, if you're looking for work at an International School next summer (as I am), then it's time to get on it. Next year could be a real crossroads for me, with a girlfriend and life of my own in Korea, but a niggling feeling that I'd love to try something new. There will be jobs available in Korea (and probably at Ji's school), but there's no denying the excitement of looking through the job postings in Bali, Kenya, Poland (among many, many others) and wondering, 'why not?' I don't know about you, but the place where I do my best thinking and decision-making is at home. I'm going to enjoy fourteen sweet days back in the land of my birth (beyond fourteen is generally the point where I slowly start wanting to leave again) and come back ready to face 2011 with a firm goal in mind. There'll be lists of pros and cons, chats with my nearest and dearest, beer-inspired claims that I am going to 100% definitely do x or y, only to think the exact opposite the very next morning. Words of wisdom are welcome, but with my MA finishing in the summer, my patience running out with TEFL, my desire to start really putting my training into practice by teaching something I am passionate about, and the looming job crisis for teachers best exemplified by this Scottish example, I know 2011 is the year to get on to the IS circuit. I can recommend a fairly good blog about IS teaching here, but any further links are more than welcome.

I was in Asia-Pacific International School today covering English and AP history with some forensics thrown in at the end of the day for good measure. Every day I spend there is great for my dissertation, which will focus on (as yet unselected) international schools in the research section, which I aim to begin in January. Ji is pretty keen for me to apply for the social studies position opening in the summer, but working with my girlfriend is an idea I'm just not comfortable with at the minute. She rightly pointed out earlier (girlfriends tend to be right, don't they?) that, as I'm looking for my first IS position, I'm not really in a position to be choosy. Still, I'd like to throw my hat in the ring at a few other locations first, and see what comes of that. I don't know, but sharing a workplace and a private life with something must be tough. Or maybe I just need to grow up.

I have been receiving calls and emails throughout the day from students querying their grades or asking for clarification in specific areas. As I've told them, I'm happy to answer their questions, but it is a little frustrating that I have already given them all the information in their course syllabus at the beginning of each term and as I assigned each piece of assessment. Still, it's only natural that they would pay more attention now even though, in reality, it's a bit too late. The student grades effect who gets full/partial/no bursaries for the course, so I made pretty damn sure that I put a lot of thought into finding a fair and clear evaluation method that I could justify if I had to. I'm confident that the majority of my colleagues did the same, but there was one teacher boasting about how he just made all the grades up, so you can't blame the students for questioning us in a way. Although almost all the people I work with are professional, creative and talented, the odd lost soul teaching English because they can't find anything else they can do (like the person mentioned above), does really hit the morale of those of us who think what we're doing might actually matter.

I spent like what seemed forever sorting out the final marks for my general English classes during free periods today. There was a bit of confusion when a student's paper who I've never taught showed up in one of my piles, but we soon located where it should have been so minor panic over. Once I have met my boss to go over a few things, handed in my final grades and tied up a couple of loose ends with two of my students tomorrow, I'll be officially done for the semester. Then starts the process of getting ready for home, Christmas and making sure I don't leave anything important behind. Now, where did I leave my passport...?

All Work and No Play

....you know the rest. To go on a tangent (if I can go on a tangent on the very first line of my blog), there was a discussion about proverbs on bbc radio 5 live today. Who the hell is Jack and why is he a dull boy? Who is this 'Larry' who's always so infuriatingly happy? Anyway, yeah, I definitely have fallen into the rat trap recently that I'm usually so keen to steer clear of. Go on Bob...



It's only Tuesday and I'm already living for the weekend. I cannot tell you strongly enough that that is not how I want to live my life. A big part of working in Korea is my desire to steer clear of the illusions of career, materialism, competition at work, and having to give due consideration to disgusting expressions such as 'work/life balance'. I don't want there to be a balance, I just want to have a life!

I guess my schedule has been tough since I started back after the summer holidays but it was do-able and I was feeling positive about it all. What has driven me to complain about my job (mere days after having chastised foreigners in Korea for complaining about their jobs...) is that I found out on Monday morning, from students, that I'm actually not off work next week, as I had been told by my boss. It might not seem like a big thing (and it isn't) but it's the principle of it that really bothers me. A co-worker pointed out that last-minute, inexplicably frustrating changes like this are just a part of working in Korea - and he's right. But they don't have to be. The end result is that I'll have lessons next Monday and Friday, pooping on any plans I had to get away for Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving). On top of that, I'll have classes on the eighth week of this session (originally supposed to be a holiday) so I don't have any solid time off between now and going home for Christmas. Ok, I know a lot of people have it worse, but it's still frustrating. And needless.

Of course, it's out of the question to really criticize or inquire why you couldn't have found out earlier or why you had to be told by students (making you look as though you don't know what you're doing) or why this directly contradicts what you had been told at an earlier meeting. I nearly did that a bit when I first talked to my boss about it because it was at the end of a long Monday and I was pretty ticked off, but nothing good comes of that approach here. You have to do it because what the boss say, goes, and that's it. At a time of the year when I am, genuinely, working my ass off and cutting no corners in the hope of delivering good lessons consistently, it's tempting to ask yourself why you bother. My two DDE classes last night reminded me of the answer, if I had really even doubted it. When I went back to class to collect my computer at near enough 10pm, about half-a-dozen students were sat there in silence studying their TOEIC textbooks. Absolutely unbelievably. Brilliant. As a teacher, when the powers-that-be fuck you off, you've got to remind yourself that it's the students that you're really doing it for. Ok, no more complaining about work...for now...

FC Seoul Foreigner's Day? Well, you'd have to say that it was a pretty successful day for the club. I am indebted to Matt at Hollywoods in Itaewon for four free tickets to the game. It was bizarre seeing so many foreigners in Sangam World Cup Stadium and, to mark the occasion, the club kept showing reveling non-Koreans on the big screens throughout the game. There was a nice family atmosphere where we were in the East Stand. Check out the highlights of what ended up being a comfortable 4-0 win over Daegu, the highlight being a wonder-strike by the one and only, Dejan. That's eleven goals in our last three games, with only one conceded (against Pohang). K-League fans should also check out the latest (and ever improving) 'The Outside View' podcast, greatly enhanced by Matt Burnett this week, but still a little too Suwon Bluewings flavored for my liking. I can see that it's still a work in progress, and I'm looking forward to following it over the coming weeks and months.

No much more to say today because, these days, I'm eating, sleeping, laying awake in bed thinking about and dreaming about teaching. I kid you not. In fact, my goal for the week is to care less about my job. Thinking about an escape usually does the trick. I was reading about International Schools in Poland last week. Maybe I should toy with the idea of wrapping things up in Korea (for a while) in March, which is much easier said than done...

Time, Precious Time

Ahhhhh at last I'm really enjoying the luxury of being off work and having whole days during which I can do whatever the hell I please. I know I have said before that I'm best not being left idle too long but, when I'm in the right form, there's nothing better than having no major commitments and just being able to potter about at your leisure. And I'm actually getting a lot of useful things done! The new semester will soon be upon us so I'm quite well prepared for the new TOEIC program and I've come up with few new ideas for my morning 'Brand English' class. Mostly, I have just realised that I'm going to be really busy next month with a fuller-than-normal teaching schedule and my Masters program starting back up again. As a result, I'm doing as much song learning, guitar playing, book reading, Korean studying and random time passing as I can fit in. For sure I'll miss it when term time rolls around again.

I bought a keyboard from my (departing) friend Jess last night and I'm looking forward to getting started on that again. I played piano to a decent level when I was young but haven't played a note since I was 15. I really didn't enjoy going through the motions of playing scales, learning pieces, doing grades and the humdrum practice that is the last thing on your mind when you're a teenager. Now, older and wiser, I'd love to be able to be able to play a bit at gigs or use it for song-writing (something I'll have to take more responsibility for now that John has gone). My guitar playing is gradually improving too so I'm still on course for playing live before the year is out, as my New Year's resolution requires. I just found out that I have ANOTHER song to learn for the acoustic gig tomorrow night that I'll be singing with Patricia, Zee and Kev, I presume. It seems that quite a few people are coming and I'm quite looking forward to it now. Like I said, if you're in the area...

I met up with Ji for dinner tonight in Suyu. She's pretty stressed out with her first full week at work and some extenuating circumstances that aren't helping her at all. I'm trying to be there for her as much as I can but stress is a funny thing that seems to constantly increase the size of the problem in your mind until you feel totally overwhelmed by it. Thankfully the weekend is coming for her just in time, I hope. It serves as another reminder of the work/life balance (a term I use with some discomfort). I, of course, plan and hope to get a job at an International School in 2011. When you think about it, I know that means long hours, high expectations, harder work and a certain amount of stress from time to time (something I rarely, if ever, experience in my current position). It makes you wonder why you want to do it, other than for reasons I wouldn't be too proud to admit to, such as status. Mind you, it's not as simple as that. I'd be teaching a subject I love, I would have goals and challenges, I would have more variety and work with professionals in a professional setting, and better long-term prospects to name but a few factors. It certainly is food for thought though.

Ok time is pushing on so I'm going to sign off but I plan to write more tomorrow. Also, if we are facebook friends, I'm FINALLY uploading pictures of my Eastern European trip at the end of last year as well as pictures from Christmas at home and some out and about Seoul before I had my camera cruelly STOLEN!!! Wow it takes a long time... but now that I've started I'm keen to get them all up even if only to avoid losing them altogether if something were to happen to my computer. Hope you're having a good day wherever in the world you are. I'll leave you with an oldie but goodie that I'll be singing a portion of tomorrow night.