My first level test here...

 Wow, I usually level test kids on a regular basis. That is not the case here. Reasons for this I suspect is that my schedule is quite full.

What a mess! You see level testing allows a school to place a kid in the right class. We have to test speaking, reading, vocabulary range, and listening. It is possible if you do it right you can learn a bit more about the student.

I always demanded that if I am going to level test, Moms or Dads could not be present in the same room. Also NO OTHER KOREAN teachers. You see in Korea there is a way that Koreans talk when they speak to kids. It is a sort of a fake high toned voice. I always use my normal voice. Kids can feel the fakeness. The teacher I was with was using that "voice" in spades. The mom was there looking embarrassed. Her reseaon? Her child studied overseas in Vietnam. Likely this mother failed where many others have failed when is comes to teaching a second language to a child. First, just like my exercising make it a lifestyle choice. Use English in and around the home along with your native tougue. The brain is incredibly plastic. It will make new language circuits that will last for a lifetime. Instead many language schools including the one I am at produce kids that talk in a very strange ways for someone who has been studying English for 5 to 6 years.

There is a reason Yogita is envied where she works. Why many Academy owners want to work with her. Actually, they do not care about the why of it, they just want students to bother follow her to thier schools, while having kids that quit come back. It is only about the short term profit.

I can say this, if this mother chooses this school she made the best choice. Her kid will likely speak using one word responses, but her ability to read, and her range of vocabulary will be the most advanced. 

I guess my next topic will be titled: Forena.

Ok time to go. Hopefully, Yogita and I are in the siege tonight.

/tata

The delta strain is in South Korea

 So it has finally reached South Korea. It was inevitable. Traveling was restarted all over the globe with a few places not allowing tourists. Here in South Korea, more and more people have started traveling again. We are going into a 2-week lockdown. No restaurants or gathering with friends. This means that we will save more money LOL. When we finish work on Saturday we will likely chill at home venturing out to an isolated area in a park later. Just Yogita and I no one else. I will instruct my boys to maintain more distance when walking Oskar. 

As we predicted it would hit Seoul and surrounding areas first. Then it would spread to the lower provinces as many people in our area love to visit Seoul for entertainment. Seoul is great for everything entertainment-related. Family fun, gastronomy, adult fun, couples, site seeing. Seoul has it all in spades. We got some very good exercise just walking during past visits to the capital.

It is no surprise that Seoul would be an epicenter yet again. 

Yesterday at work it was hunky-dory. I was asked to "air out" my class between classes. My goodness if it is so serious "airing" a room out with no active airflow OUT of the room...means nothing is happening to air particles within the room. I comply because first I would not be understood if I tried to explain why "airing a room with no active airflow is blah blah blah..". A waste of time that would only lead to conflict.

Cleaning surfaces, washing hands wearing masks, this is effective. Actually, in this order washing hands, cleaning surfaces, and finally wearing a mask together helps prevent the spread of disease. As a teacher, I wash my hands two to three times a class. I need to wash surfaces more though. So tomorrow and for the next few weeks, I will be doing that. 

I should note that I still have not gotten sick with a cold or flu since I started wearing a mask along with washing my hands. I would say the washing of the hands was something I was sorely lacking. You would be surprised at how many times we touch our faces!

Ok time to head into the next topic!

/tata

Sometimes people think we are not listening...

 It has been my experience that since I listened to my mothers advice I have gained very good powers of observation. No I am not a dectective. I can get a vibe from people just because I "shut up and listen". Case in point I had a friend who for some reason didn't like my wife. He would make snide remarks, to which Yogi would respond with a smart witty reply. 

He decided (at a very bad time), to open an English academy. I really wonder what goes through peoples mind when they open a business with no proper plan or team in place. The new business was failing to put it simply. They needed a proper team. They knew how good my wife is at not only running a school, but as an awesome teacher as well. The night in question this friend was very polite and friendly to my Yogi. This struck me as very odd, but it felt so welcoming because I had love for this person.

Well Yogita is no fool either. She also felt odd. I still remember we were in a grilled pork resturant when Yogita asked: "You are never this nice to me, what is up with you?". At this moment I looked his wife  right away. The look on her face said "Do not screw this up!". Josh promply answered "I have to be nice to you if I want your help." His wife looked annoyed which told me his true feelings. He has always hated her. I should have known about this since my previous employer and very good friend showed how she felt about Yogita making one teacher a little embarrassed, and Josh then stating "She fucking loves Yogita". Of  course he was not smiling as he said this. I was distracted as I could not stop laughing. I was observing Mrs Choi the entire night and knew her intentions as she got up to leave. I am leaving out certain details on pourpose. 

I heard other things as well that led me to sever ties with certain people. The end result, I am happier, less stressed, and can focus on the people that truly matter. I have learned some very valuable lessons. I have also shown a remarkable amount of self-control. 

Even where I am currently employed, I listen very carefully. It has helped me in so many ways. The bible says to be Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;. 

The result is that when I do get angry my words have far more of a postive impact, I need to work more on this, MUCH MUCH more. But to the other reader of this blog...it is so funny when people do not realize you silence means you are actually listening very closely, and learning things.

/tata