Frustrations with this school

This week has absolutely been horrible. Between things going on back home in the states and the insanity here at this school, I’m shocked I haven’t locked myself away from the world.

Not even going to talk about the things going on back home, I can write a series on that alone.

Here, it’s mostly work. This has to be some cruel twisted fate of life. Kids don’t know how to behave if a shark was staring them in the face and asked them to be quiet for a second and it won’t eat them. They are rude little kids. Most have no manners. Talking about body parts, it got to the point I wished and prayed I couldn’t understand the Korean that I do so I wouldn’t know what they are saying. I felt absolutely violated by some things that were said. Like they were talking about private areas and stuff.

Co-workers don’t even try to help 99% of the time and let kids do whatever they please. Like is that the standard now? I will tolerate but so much before I lift a kid out of the class myself and tell them as well as their teacher I don’t want them in my class the rest of the day so keep them away.

My co-teacher is absolutely useless. There’s no need to try to talk to him about anything. He says he understands and goes and does the exact thing I told him I didn’t want to happen. Or better yet, he does nothing whatsoever. I know not to put him as my “in-case of emergency” contact because I’d have a better chance with no one down. That way, at least I won’t be hoping someone will come help only for them to never even call/message until it’s too late.

Then, there’s an English contest in less than 3 weeks. Was told yesterday, exactly 3 weeks from the date what the kids “have” to do. So, that means everything I was doing since March was tossed out the window after getting the ok. What contest makes you do certain things? It would be different if it was a contest for just a few things or one thing. Like a reading contest or a dancing contest. This is just an English contest in which they should be able to do whatever they want as long as it’s in English.

Is that the case here? Nope, it’s basically let me tell you what they have to do but I’m going to make sure you are the one making them do it. Like, wait what? You are forcing them to do certain things like read books in a circle? A lot of these kids can’t read “Billy threw the ball.” how on earth are they going to read books? Or as my co-teacher says “They can read one sentence. Then, express how it makes them feel.” Most of these kids cannot do one sentence let alone express themselves in English. *sighs*

When, I was telling him today, like fine let the kids do what he and the other teachers want them to do, but let the kids if they want do other things. Sing a song, read a poem, or anything else. So they won’t feel like they are forced to do everything. It’s should be fun and creative at least a little.

co-teacher: “I understand *says something that’s totally opposite*”

-.- Makes absolutely no sense.

Then, on top of all that, kids still come to me like I am the nurse. Even when the nurse is here! I’m all “*looks and points to the nurse* she’s right there. I am the English teacher, not the nurse.”

While she was here I took care of more kids than she did. It’s crazy, that is not my job, and I am not getting paid for that.

AND~~~ this school’s standard of cleaning makes me question so many things…So many.

I give up. I have 8 more months left. I’ll teach these kids the way they want it I guess and then pack up and leave. I am not staying here. Nope, no freaking way. It’s already driving me partially mad, I wouldn’t be able to survive 2 years here. I like the town/city and all but this school? Nope.

Bleh, my head hurts. Going to end this post now.

Until next time.

My question for today is: When creativity and freedom are taken away, what’s left?