Melanie's Mostly Writing

Published by

Melanie Lewicka

on

Today is Teacher’s Day in South Korea, a day when us educators are celebrated. It’s a really nice idea and I appreciated every single hand written letter, flower, chocolate, Starbucks card and gift voucher I was given by my kids. We don’t teach to get rewards. As cliched as it may sound, we teach because we love the children and to see them progress and grow.

Being a teacher is not without challanges though. It takes quite a lot of mental strength somedays to deal with students. As well as educating, you are part mum, social worker, disciplinarian, comedian and striking the right balance is hard at times. Yesterday, I had a boy throw a major tantrum because I wouldn’t sign his reward chart after his bad behaviour. He threatened to quit the academy. I tried not to laugh at this tiny tyrant. Anyway, he came back today and was better behaved.

Leave a comment

Recent posts

  • Of Changes and Cheese

    There are big changes going on at the academy. The other three foreign teachers are all leaving this weekend! I have enjoyed working with them all so much and am sad to see them go. But, I wish them well in what they do next. The new teachers arrived yesterday and seem very nice. It’s…

  • Night fishing

  • Bridge at sunset

  • Of Reservations and Rainstorms

    My fiance, very nicely, made a reservation in a pension for us for this weekend, on the West coast of South Korea. It was a little surprise so that I could paddle in the sea and we could try fishing again. We came to a place near Taean and, since we couldn’t check in until…

  • West Sea

  • Of Control and Characters

    I didn’t know it, but it seems like I’m a control freak! Perhaps it’s because, like so many women, I’ve been in positions in the past where I’ve had no control over events, and that was immensely frustrating and damaging. I have discovered I hate getting massages. I just can’t surrender to it and relax,…