Build Us A Rocket Then

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Wed, 15 May 2013 18:04:22 +0100

hi. I came across your tumblr from searching chungdahm tags. are you still in korea teaching? do you like it? how is it working with chungdahm?

Wed, 15 May 2013 08:17:31 +0100

I’m not, no. Miss it like hell though. I was out there for about 9 months, left my contract early to come back to Grad school in England. I loved being in Korea. Working in Korea, s’alright. I’m pretty sure i don’t like ‘working’ anywhere, so that’s not so bad.

With chungdahm, i would say it felt at first like being thrown in the deep end. You get 5 days training and then are straight off to classes. For the first few weeks, i felt like i was just kinda bluffing my way through it and hoping nobody noticed, but it all settled into place pretty quick. What helped with that is Chungdahms’ adherence to a set syllabus, rather than some other academies where all the content is teacher-generated. Having the knowledge that i would be doing this chapter with this class at this time did take a lot of stress off. Note that this is mainly true for the middle-ish classes they offer, and that at the higher levels then there is more room for class content input from teachers.

The kids… well, they’re kids. If you can get along with most children, then it’s fine. Of all the kids i taught, only a small minority were purposefully bad or trouble makers. This may be influenced by me being in Seoul, as other teachers outside of the capital have had fewer brats.

The problem is that, if their parents can pay for them to be in Chungdahm, then their parents will continue to pay for them to be in Chungdahm, and Chungdahm will almost always take their money and try to smooth things over. They’re a business, not going to turn away customers. But it does mean that, around 13~14, some kids start to realise that it’s glorified day care, and that they’ll probably never get expelled. At this point they can start acting out, because the educational system in Korea is rough as hell on the kids.

It’s like this: By the time a student is in highschool, and this is for a ‘good’ student mind, they’ll be waking up at 6am to study ahead for 9 o clock classes, where they’ll be lectured at in school with hardly any room for interaction or self expression. Just teachers stood reading from a textbook. After 6 hours of that, then they may have enough time to grab a can of iced coffee before heading to academies from 4 till 10pm. This is when Chungdahm operates, two 3hr classes per teacher. After that, some go to rented booths/desks to keep studying till the A.M, then maybe get some sleep and start all over again. Being a part of that system… it’s a bit of a moral minefield. You’ll have to find your own way of getting along with that.

Chungdahm as a company, i got along pretty well with. There’re some horror stories floating about the internet, class action lawsuits and accusations of leaving people stranded, but i didn’t see anything like that. My recruiter, while i was still in England, was Misty Crooks, and she couldn’t have been more helpful. Every step of the way, she was just great. Even called me at home the night before i flew out. Lovely.

Depending on where you are posted, you’ll get different kinds of schedules with classes. Being at a pretty small branch in the capital, i worked 4-10 (get in at 3 to set up) on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday. Wednesdays were free, except for in the summer when some extra classes were shared between me and the coteachers. My friends out in Incheon work Wednesdays, and even some Saturdays to make up for holidays missed midweek. Theirs is a huge academy though, and they’re on hourly contract opposed to mine, which was monthly. So, the more they work, the more they get paid. I had a set monthly wage which was more than enough, especially seeing as rent was paid for by the school. In 9 months, i saved $5,000 effortlessly. I lived like a goddamn king, and came back with half my earnings left over.

So, that’s been kind of a long and rambling answer, but the main thing is: I got money, I came home at the end of each day (/night out), and I got to be in Korea. I will happily do it all again.

No, but seriously, the Tumblr health diet. ARE you using it as well?

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:29:21 +0100

It’s so hard to find the time to get all the ingredients you need, to get rid of all the stuff in cupboards i can’t have any more… I’m terrible with temptation. I mean, i’ve heard all the good things and seen all these before and after pictures (Which you’re one of now! Congratulations!), and clearly it works. But maybe it’s just not the time for me right now. Still super-proud of you though. One day, i’ll be right there with you, and we’ll both be super proud of eachother together.

Yeah.

WOW, I just lost a bunch of weight using the OFFICIAL TUMBLR DIET!! Are u using it as well? Tumblr won't let me post links but check it out at TumblrHealthDiet[d0t]com

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:23:25 +0100

I am so proud. You did it. You worked hard, put the effort in, and we’re all here to congratulate you. There are banners and streamers, a small bandstand in the corner and cake made with health-conscious ingredients already divided into appropriate portion sizes for those having cheat days. Your mum and dad are skyping in later, i talked to them on the phone and they say they can’t wait to see you.
Well done. Well done you. You got there. You made it. Yeah.

New Sharks album. Hells yes.

Sat, 11 May 2013 17:00:32 +0100

New Sharks album. Hells yes.

"Consent age should be 13" says child abuse - defending lawyer

Thu, 09 May 2013 22:06:30 +0100

"Consent age should be 13" says child abuse - defending lawyer:

In order to prevent child abuse, legalise it!

I HAVE SET ETERNITY IN YOUR HEART no, you have set badly painted...

Wed, 08 May 2013 21:43:33 +0100

I HAVE SET ETERNITY IN YOUR HEART

no, you have set badly painted litter in my street

“Why can’t we duplicate people through...

Wed, 08 May 2013 21:40:53 +0100

“Why can’t we duplicate people through cloning?”
I don’t need to. I have a twin, and as a result i don’t think cloning will be a very good idea.

When was the last time you watched Dude, Where's My Car?

Wed, 08 May 2013 21:29:11 +0100

Will: how are you?
Kat:Very very tired. I have worked 11 12-hour shifts in a row
W:jeezychreezy. how long have you got left on that schedule?
K: I get a day off on Sunday
W: and then?
K: Back to it *single tear*
W: and then
K: Death will come swiftly, I imagine
W:and then
K: In 12 weeks, be reborn as a qualified nurse
W: and then
K:Pirates. Karate

: #thebetteruniverse

Mon, 06 May 2013 23:22:00 +0100

: #thebetteruniverse:

kaseycarroll:

We’d all be cruising on rollerskates and listening to ABBA on weekends. All cats would be friends with Lil’ Bub. The Fannings would have their own reality show and/or country. Brunch would be the most important meal of the day. Kissing booths would be a very lucrative business. Coffee and tea would somehow never get cold. Jennifer Lawrence would become immortal. Gay marriage would be legal everywhere. All continents would form Pangea once a year, and there’d be a festival that day with the Tupac hologram. Wifi would be free and global. Pregnancy would be a wish granted by Tilda Swinton. There would be no traffic. University would not only be free, but would also come with unlimited access to free coffee. Hate crimes wouldn’t be a thing. Tina Fey would be in charge of everything. More people would wear Heelys. Every town would have a dance crew made up of 5-12 year olds. I’d be married to Carey Mulligan. WORLD PEACE.

So, i’m 24 now. Which is nice. How are you?

Thu, 02 May 2013 00:03:08 +0100

So, i’m 24 now. Which is nice. How are you?

Birthday potter round camden then an evening of gypsy jazz. Lovely.

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:25:09 +0100

Birthday potter round camden then an evening of gypsy jazz. Lovely.

The Slow and Painful Death of Freedom in Canada

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 21:39:58 +0100

The Slow and Painful Death of Freedom in Canada:

Canada, i love you but you’re getting me down.

rjkoehler: Mt. Namsan, N Seoul Tower and Seongsu Bridge,...

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:07:53 +0100

rjkoehler:

Mt. Namsan, N Seoul Tower and Seongsu Bridge, Seoul.

Midnight pre-exam stomach-flu online banking tango.

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 00:45:37 +0100

Midnight pre-exam stomach-flu online banking tango.

A glass of water i was sure was empty is sat beside me, full. I have no memory of that happening. At...

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 23:14:02 +0100

A glass of water i was sure was empty is sat beside me, full. I have no memory of that happening. At all.

Sometimes life is hard. So here’s Gavin Free.

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:34:43 +0100

Sometimes life is hard. So here’s Gavin Free.

In The AbstractA slightly more serious show in which i forget...

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:05:42 +0100

In The Abstract
A slightly more serious show in which i forget social cues like hello and goodbye. Whoops.

My flatmate is still mad at me for threatening to slap him when he kept making rape jokes in Straw...

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:25:00 +0100

My flatmate is still mad at me for threatening to slap him when he kept making rape jokes in Straw Dogs last night.

Standard DeviationMe and friends from my course fooling about as...

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:39:00 +0100

Standard Deviation
Me and friends from my course fooling about as a podcast. Jokes, so much as they are about science, society and socks.

What do you think?