Winter

Today is the Epiphany, the last real day of the Christmas season. I totally forgot until my aunt called me to wish me a happy one.

I'm in the middle of teaching winter camps. I have two, two-hour classes: the first composed of gifted middle school students. The second composed of half-mildy interested half-apathetic students.

The middle school students are a treat. Whatever I teach, they seem to make it better with their enthusiasm and openness. Plus, as an added bonus, they can understand me!

During the year I teach with a Korean co-teacher because the students' level of basic English aural comprehension is so poor that I can't communicate effectively with them. Unfortunately the fact that it's winter doesn't remedy this. Plus, by high school most Korean students have had any love of learning or curiosity sucked from their bones by excessive testing and pressure so what I thought would be several decent plans have fallen apart.

My tendency lately has been to blame the students, but that's never the answer. This is what a teacher signs up for. Motivation is half the battle when it comes to learning or living or whatever...

I'm learning though. Today I started an internet TEFL course. It'll raise my pay a little bit and hopefully give me some tools to work with.

Did I mention I'm going to Thailand in a few weeks?