Winter English Camp!

 Right now I am at school showing Toy Story II as part of my Winter English Camp, giving me a chance to post about the camp itself.  The students are on a 6 week vacation, during which the school is holding a 3 week English camp that my co-teacher Eunji and I teach.  We work normal hours (9-5) but have more classes, so we are getting paid a nice bit of overtime (financing my next little vacation) before regular classes start up again February 1st.

Students drawing their friends (during Family week)

My drawing of my friend Walter!

Their drawings!

It is the end of the 2nd week of camp today, and it has been going amazingly so far!  I get to teach on my own, since there is a high level (group A) and a low level (group B) that Eunji and I trade off on.  At first that was a little scary since I don't really speak Korean, and I wasn't sure if the students would go rouge on me, but they've been really good!  It's really cool because I get to essentially teach whatever I want instead of exactly what the textbook says.  The first week was a family theme.  This week has been "Around the World" where we used Google Earth a few times and learned a lot about Western vs Eastern culture.  Next week will be food themed, which is good coming off of this week's theme, looking at cuisine and etiquette from around the world.

Students with masks for role playing!

Role play for introducing your friends (from week 1)

Every Wednesday is sports day, and they created a really cool sport a couple days ago.  I introduced them to American Dodgeball the first week, and they made one up where you have to kick the ball at the other team (like soccer).  I didn't think that it would really work but it did!  It was great times!

Friday is Market/Movie Day.  We watched Toy Story last week, Toy Story II today, and we will watch Toy Story III next week.  I show it in English, with Korean subtitles for the lower level students, even though the higher level students don't really need them.

Eunji setting up the Teacher's Market

The market is really cool.  I give out fake monopoly money throughout the week for participation, correct answers and prizes for games.  The students collect money throughout the week, and then have to spend it all at the market on Friday.  First there is an open market where the students can bring things in and sell them between themselves.  After that round we open up the "Teacher's Market" where the students can buy candy for "$5" or any number of things.  For $75 they can 'buy' lunch with the teachers.  I believe 3-4 students had enough for this last Friday, but only 2 of them opted to go to lunch with us.  So on Monday Eunji and I took the two boys out to a fried chicken place down the street, truly a win-win!

Round 1 of the market, students bartering for their toys and fake cash!

Eunji with some of our awesome students!

It has been really fun so far, and I'm excited for today's market.  However it is a lot more work than I normally have to do (6 lessons plans a day as opposed to 5 per week), but it is worth it.  By the time regular classes start again, life will seem a little less exciting, and a lot easier.