{bibimbap { A Healthy Mix of EFL Teaching Resources, Information, and Korean Culture
Winter Vacation Issue 2014
The Learning Centers Method A powerful teaching technique that engages students through multiple learning styles and abilities. See page 6
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EST. 2013 • Volume 2 • Issue 4• January 2015
For questions and comments concerning articles please contact the writer via their emails listed at the end of their articles
For general inquiries please contact: BibimbapNews@gmail.com general managment
Chris Devison chrisofficeofeducation@yahoo.com Dinh Nguyen d11nguye@gmail.com Lindsay Ross Ross6520@gmail.com copy editor
Edward Chaney edwardtchaney@gmail.com art director
Dinh Nguyen production team
Chris Devison
The Editorial Team
{bibimbap{
Chris Devison is the Provincial Coordinator for the Jeollanamdo Language Program. He has lived in South Korea for almost 10 years, and has spent six of those years in his current position. Aside from assisting public school teachers with their contract and school life, Chris has a keen interest in health and wellness. Having lived in both Western and Eastern cultures, he has strong understanding of the healthiest practices of both worlds. Before coming to South Korea, Dinh Nguyen was a Canadian journalist. He has 6 years experience as an editor, reporter, and desktop publishing designer. After obtaining his CELTA in 2012, he moved to Yeosu to follow his passion for teaching and traveling.
Copy Editor, Edward Chaney worked for the Hayden's Ferry Review, a literary journal published out of Arizona State University (ASU). He was exposed to the Jeollanamdo Language Program during an internship with ASU’s MTESOL program. Since then, he and his wife has moved to South Korea, and will be finishing up their first year come April. Heather Healey is the new food columnist for Bibimbap. She is a former travel writer turned expat turned English Teacher. She has been living in Yeosu, South Korea for over two years. Heather is passionate about yoga, reading non-fiction, baking, traveling, bubble gum and cheap bottles of red wine. Her favorite quote is “Take chances, Make mistakes and get messy!” from Ms. Frizzle on The Magic School Bus. Justin Ancheta is a science and education major who is currently in his third year of teaching in South Korea. He has taught at the elementary and middle school levels, and is interested in understanding student culture, gamification in the classroom, and ways to better engage students.
Dinh Nguyen Edward Chaney Justin Ancheta Kenny Short Lindsay Ross photographers
Joe Campbell Richard Tang front cover photo :
Dinh Nguyen
back cover photo:
Richard Tang
All non-credited photos, courtesy Wikimedia creative commons. 2
For over a year, Kenny Short has been a Native English Teacher in Yeosu. Prior to his time in South Korea, he has taught English in Colombia, Guatemala, and Seattle. He is currently completing his K-6 teaching endorsement through the online teacher training program, Teach-Now. Kenny is interested in student-centered teaching methodology, ed-tech, and ed-policy. Lindsay Ross is a Canadian teacher in South Korea. After getting her bachelor of education in 2011, she moved to South Korea, and has been living in Mokpo since. She has taught at the middle and high school levels. Among other articles, Lindsay also researches and put together the Holiday schedule and events calendar for Bibimbap. Starting off in Hong Kong with a Canon 550D, Richard Tang ventured out to experience Asian culture. 3 years later, he is now carrying his Olympus E-M10 across South Korea. As a NET and photographer, he hopes to share the views and culture he experiences with anyone who is interested.
Behind the cover 4
Upcoming holidays and events calendar
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The Learning Centers Method
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Korean Kooking: A recipe for mandu-guk
On-the-go teaching emergency kit
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Photo essay: One night in Dogapsa
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Healthy Musings : Maintaining a healthy lifestyle while on vacation
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The difference between Korean and Canadian driving
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Dear Chris: Korean pharmacies and being given too many pills
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Dear Chris: NEST mandatory training and professional development
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Upcoming holidays and events Holidays February 18 – 20
Seollal, Tết, Shōgatsu Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year) March 1
(보성차밭빛축제; Jeollanam-do)
December – February Dec 4 - Feb 22:
Seondeung Light Festival (선등문화제; Gangwon-do)
Dec 19 – Feb 1:
Boseong Green Tea Plantation Light Festival 4
Ganghwa Icefish Festival Dec 19 – Feb 25:
Yeosu Bitnoriya Light Festival(
(강화빙어축제; Incheon)
여수빛노리야; Jeollanam-do)
January – March December 20 – February 8:
Pyeongchang Trout Festival (평창송어축제; Gangwon-do)
Independence Movement Day
Dec 27– Feb 28:
Joe Campbell
Dec 24– Feb 22:
Cheongpyeong Sledding & Icefish Festival (청평눈썰매송어빙어축제;
Jan 2 – Feb 1:
Jaraseom Singsing Winter Festival (자라섬씽씽겨울축제; Gyeonggi-do)
Jan 2 – Jan 25
Surak Ice Festival
Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival (칠갑산얼음분수축제; Chungcheongnam-do)
JaraseomSingsing Winter Festival (자라섬씽씽겨울축제; Gyeonggi-do)
Jan 10 – Feb 1:
Hwacheon Sancheoneo (Mount Trout) Ice Festival (화천산천어축제; Gangwon-do)
Jan 23 – Feb 1:
Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival (태백산눈축제; Gangwon-do)
(대둔산수락계곡얼음축제; Chungcheongnam-do)
Gyeonggi-do)
Dec 24– Feb 22:
Jan 2 – Feb 1:
March 3 – 23
Jindo Miracle Sea Festival Jan 9 – Jan 18
Muju Namdaecheon Stream Ice Festival (무주남대천얼음축제; Jeollabuk-do)
(진도신비의바닷길축제; Jeollanam-do)
To list upcoming events for your organization, please contact Linsay Ross, or : Bibimbapnews@gmail.com
Korean Expressions:
Dates and Flirting girlfriend= 여자친구 (yeo-ja-chin-gu) boyfriend /남자친구 (nam-ja-chin-gu) blind date 미팅 (in a group; mee-ting), 소개팅 (just two people; so-gae-ting) couple 연인 (yeon-in) To date/become a couple 사귀다 (sa-gwi-da) Term of endearment (darling, honey, sweety) 자기 (ja-gi),여보 (yeo-bo) You are beautiful/
Want to get involved with Bibimbap? Good news, we’re accepting new writers. bibimbapnews@gmail.com
handsome 예뻐요 (yeh-beo-yo) 잘생겼어요 (jalsenggyeoss-eo-yo) Could I have your number? 전화번호좀알려주세요 (jeon-hwa-bun-ho jom alryeo-joo-sae-yo) Do you want to go on a date with me? 에시간돼요? (literally “Do you have time … ?” Do you have time on Saturday? 토요일에시간돼요? (tohyo-il-ehsi-gan-dwae-yo?) Do you have time tonight? 오늘밤에시간돼요? (ohneul bam-eh si-gan-dwaeyo?) You are my ideal type 제이상형이에요 (jaeeesang-hyeong-ee-ae-yo) I love you 사랑해요 (sa-rang-hae-yo) by lindsay ross ross6520@gmail.com
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Student Focused:
Effective teaching through learning centers kenny short writer
L
earning centers are a constructivist teaching method designed for Pre-K through 3rd grade classrooms, where students engage in independent, or cooperative self-guided work, that gear to multiple learning styles and ability levels.
The students are split into manageable groups which then rotate through different areas and different activities. The teacher acts as a facilitator, creating different stations or “centers” where groups engage in different activities that educate and stimulate them. This is a student-centered method wherein teachers provide structure via planning, modeling the activities, and guidance during the center’s rotation.
Education
The Logistics of Learning Centers
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Many NET’s in Jeollanamdo teach small groups of students in extra classes after school or work in rural areas where the class sizes are small. Learning centers are ideal for groups of fifteen students or fewer, especially if there is a wide range in ability levels and managing students is a challenge. However, learning centers are also used in large pre-K through 3rd grade classrooms of twenty or more throughout the world. There is a significant amount of work up front in the form of planning, creating materials, and modeling the activities for each center. You must also practice the rotations, reinforcing the behavior expectations for individuals or pairs at each center and ensuring that centers are accessible to all students while also providing a challenge for those able to do more.
Once you have the learning centers running, you are free to confer with students as they engage in the different activities. You can also take advantage of flexible grouping so that a lower ability level student has a strong peer model to work with at each center. However, the real benefit of establishing centers is that the teacher becomes a learning center where they can provide targeted, differentiated, one-onone (or small group) instruction to help a struggling student or encourage and challenge ones that are excelling.
dents are really responding to them and have their favorite center. They are taking responsibility for their own learning, their own behavior, the clean-up of their center before rotating to the next and they are working well with their partners. The next step is adapting and evolving the centers to respond to the learning growth and interests of the students.
The Lowdown on Learning Centers
See an expert teacher implement and manage learning centers here.
I have implemented five learning centers with my extra class of ten 3rd grade students. We meet twice a week for 40 minutes, so it took me about one month (or eight classes) to plan, model, practice, and gradually release the students to work in pairs at the five centers. I do not have a co-teacher in my extra class, so clearly and repeatedly modeling both the task and the behavior expectations was essential. I used ClassDojo (see Bibimbap, July 2014) prodigiously to reinforce both good and bad behaviors that I wanted to either encourage or discourage at the centers. Currently, my five centers activities are tiered, meaning they vary in difficulty level for the students, and are fully based off the content we have previously covered in the extra class. During the roll-out, I wanted the content of the centers’ activities to be easily accessible for the students even if the task was new. In this way, I hoped to scaffold their entry into the self-guided pair -work and set them up for success. The centers have been running for almost three weeks now. The stu-
If you would like to see my centers in action, feel free to watch a video of my extra class here.
kennyshort@gmail.com
Further Readings Wikipedia Tales From Outside the Classroom Naeyc abcteach Google Search.
11 Examples of tiered 3rd Grade English Learning Centers Activities 1
Shapes, Colors and Numbers challenges
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Letter/Sound Recognition practice
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Spelling practice with a whiteboard, a reader and a writer
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Vocabulary matching or memory game
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Number Scrolls. Students write the words numbers together using a grid visual aid, the rolled numbers papers become a scroll
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Rhyming practice. Write as many words that rhyme with ‘am’ as you can
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Body parts labeling using pictures
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Phonics sliders with vowel so students can see and hear the difference between ‘bat, bet, and bit etc.
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Word or sentence fragments that students have to put together
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Quizbean.com. Create a free visual vocabulary mastery test online at a classroom computer station
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Buddy reading, provide level appropriate texts for students to take turns reading to each other
Dinh Nguyen
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The teacher’s go bag justin ancheta staff writer
W
hether you're a nomadic classroom-roaming teacher, or someone with a consistent teaching space, it's always a good idea to be prepared for whatever comes your way by making sure that all of your teaching essentials are organized in one place. The term “Go Bag” was originally coined as a term for disaster preparation. It was a bag that held only the items needed for survival in an emergency, and can be packed and ready to go at a moment's notice. Nowadays, that term has been expanded to describe bags with everything and anything that anyone would need to survive the unpredictable nature of everyday life. A good Go Bag should be light and compact, and can easily be tossed into a messenger bag, backpack, or teaching basket. It should only contain the bare essentials that you need to get you through your teaching day. Anything that you don’t immediately need on hand is something that you can probably just leave at your desk, or potentially even leave at home. My personal “Go Bag” contains exactly 10 items. Feel free to take from and tweak it to your needs:
3M Wireless Presenter - WP-5500 Plus (31,000w, Gmarket): A simple wireless remote for PPTs with an integrated laser pointer –
perfect for being mobile in the classroom. Teaching from the back or even the middle of the classroom is an effective way to boost student engagement and interaction. Being mobile also means that you can proactively manage the classroom.
Short (10 cm) USB 2.0 A-A Cable (4,000w, Gmarket): This small extension cable is what I use with my remote’s wireless receiver. It makes use of physically larger USB drives easier (because USB ports are often too close together on classroom computers), and it helps boost the reception of the receiver. “4+1” Multicolor pen + Mechanical Pencil (1,500-3,500w, Alpha/MBM/Daiso): Because you never know when you’ll be asked to sign forms, make notes on student behavior, do on-the-spot assessments, or give written feedback to student work. Slim Permanent Marker (1,000-1,5000w, Alpha/MBM/Daiso): A general-purpose utility marker for anything other than whiteboard use. Whiteboard Marker (1,000-1,500w, Alpha/MBM/Daiso): Some of my classrooms have whiteboards, but the markers themselves may be hidden, dried up, or locked away. That’s why it’s always good to have a spare one. Chalk Holder (2,500w/2, Alpha/MBM) + Colored Chalk (Pack of 8 colors for 2,000w, Alpha MBM): Lately I’ve found myself wasting valuable class time hunting for chalk – so just in case, I bring my own. 32 GB SanDisk Cruzer Ultra USB 3.0 (30,000w, YP Books):
High-speed, high-capacity USB flash drives are expensive in Korea, but they are worth it, especially when you need to make emergency lastminute changes to PPT files.
jancheta25@gmail.com
8. 16 GB SanDisk Cruzer USB (17.000w, Alpha/MBM): I have
videos for classroom use (movies, music videos, downloaded YouTube clips and TED talks, videos for discussion, etc.) on a separate drive, as they can take up a lot of space needed for lesson materials.
Slim Pencil Case (2,000w, Alpha/MBM/Daiso): My basket of
classroom items that I lug from class to class has only a limited amount of space, so having a space-saving case that’s small, light, and durable is a definite must.
heather healey
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Dinh Nguyen
A dish for the Korean New Years : Making mandu-guk, a traditional soup filled with hearty dumplings, and rice cake
Korean Kooking with Heather Healey Ingredients Soup Broth: You can make your own like we did. Store-bought seasoning packs will work too. Mandu: You can fill your mandu with anything you like. Beef, Chicken Pork, veggies, cheeses and tofu are most common, just make sure your filling is chopped finely and mixed well. Rice cake: We used sliced rice cake because it has a similar texture to noodles rather than the usual thicker and rounder rice cakes that can leave you chewing forever. Green onions: Chopped up and added to the soup to add more flavor.
T
wo words, Rice cake. I am by no means a picky eater but those two words never seem to inspire my appetite unless covered in spicy sauce and lots of cheese. I asked my friend Hugh ( 변윤석), a culinary science major if he would teach me a traditional dish for the Korean New Year (설 날) knowing it would likely include rice cake since it is a staple around Korean holidays. He suggested we make Korean dumpling soup (manduguk, 만두국) which I can totally get on board with because I love mandu. It is one of my favorite foods because they can be filled with almost anything. Every culture seems to have some version of dumplings such as potstickers, gyoza, pierogi, empanadas, samosas, wontons and tortellini.
Making the Mandu (dumpling)
When it comes to filling the mandu remember that they are little so you don’t need much to fill them. Make sure your filling is finely chopped. We used premade Mandu dough that is perfectly cut and rolled which is so much faster and easier than making your own dough and having to roll them out. The most important step to filling the mandu is getting a good seal so they don’t open and spill out during the cooking process. You can create a good seal by dipping your finger in water and tracing the outer edge of the wrap. Once you fold it over, the dough will stick together. After that, squeeze the border, make a design or fold the two sides together to make a circular mandu. The design and appearance is totally up to you as long as there are no air openings between the yummy inside and the outside. That being said it is believed if you make a good looking mandu during the Korean New Year (설날) you will have good looking children, so make ugly mandu at your own risk. Mandu can be cooked many ways but we boiled ours since we are adding them to soup. Once your water is boiling add a few mandu at a time, when the mandus float to the surface, they are cooked and you can take them out.
Cooking the Rice Cake Now for the rice cake, for longer than I care to admit I thought the sliced rice cakes in my school lunches were noodles. I love noodles; and was excited when Hugh picked sliced rice cake for our soup. While you are filling the mandu soak your rice cake in water for 15 to 20 minutes.
Onto the Soup Now onto the soup, with any broth based soup the stock is important, we made our own by boiling beef shank, garlic and green onions; however you can buy a seasoning pack at the store for convenience. If you make your own be sure to drain it and get rid of all the meat and vegetables you used to make the broth. Then it is just a matter of combining all the ingredients. In our drained broth we just cut up more green onions then added the rice cake and mandu let it boil for 5 minutes and then it is ready to be served! This is a great soup for the wintertime when it is chilly outside. Also fun to make with a group of friends and everyone can enjoy making mandu just the way they like it. Hope you enjoy! heathersharmony1@yahoo.com
First you need to make the mandu. We filled ours with very finely minced chicken, garlic, green onion and tofu all uncooked. It is important that your filling is dry so it doesn’t slip open in the cooking process. This means your veggies should be dry when you cut them and you strain your tofu by wringing it through a thin cloth. Heather Healey
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Dogapsa Temple Stay:
Located in Yeongam, Dogapsa is a great place for those who need to clear their heads and relish the simple joys of life. First established in 881 A.D the temple houses many historic and cultural treasures, including the famous Haetalmun Gate. 10
photographer
A
temple stay is a wonderful way to ward off the stress and worries inevitably attached to teaching in Korea. For those looking for some peace and quiet, as well as some time away from civilization to put your thoughts in order, temple stays might just be your cup of tea. Temple stays are cultural experiences where you can learn to live and understand the life of a monk. The most common case is to make this an overnight trip, during which you can engage in various activities like a tea service, meditation, and prayer; just to name a few. Dogapsa Temple located in Yeongam, an hour bus ride from Gwangju, is great place for those who need to clear their head and relish the simple joys in life. The monk in charge currently, as well as the temple stay manager, also speaks English.
Tea services at Dogapsa are an excercise that transcends taste, and leads the participants into the realm of experience and mindfulness.
Inside Dogapsa lies Daeungbojeon, the main temple hall (Jeollanam-do Tangible Cultural Property No.38), dedicated to many Buddhas.
When you arrive, you will be given a set of temple clothes to wear for the duration of your stay. Once you change in your room, you will meet up with the monk/guide who will teach you how to pray, the significance of the prayer, and a small history lesson on the Buddha. You will also engage in meditation sessions and a nice walk around the Wolchulsan National Park. This area, as well as Dogapsa Temple, hosts a variety of National Treasures, which are lovely to sit next to while you listen to the birds and trees. There are a few important points to take note of before you decide to go to a temple stay. The first is the 9 pm bed time, and 4 am morning prayer. The second is the Korean vegetarian menu (which is very tasty). Last, a rather obvious rule is to be respectful, not only to the people you meet, but to the culture as well. Don’t hide meat products in your bag, don’t burn down the forest, and don’t hurt any animals you might encounter. richardtang1991@hotmail.com
photo essay
richard tang
Dogapsa Temple Left photo: The Buddhas Most, if not all, of the Buddha are meditating with a unique Mudrâs. . Right photo: Guard duty for a Buddhist monk. Protecting all living things from evil and misfortune. All photos by: Richard Tang
Doseonsumibi
Being at Dogapsa Temple at night means being under a tapestry of stars and listening the comforting sounds of the nearby forest. 11
Traveling With a Healthy Conscience: get the most out of your vacation without ruining your balanced lifestyle your trip ahead of time. First on the list is some simple research. Check out what healthier food options are available in the country you are headed. If you do your investigative work, you’ll look forward to your meals and likely enjoy it more when you finally get to eat it.
Healthy Musings with Chris Devison
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anuary is vacation time and that usually means falling off the horse in terms of our healthy lifestyles, or at least our attempts at one. For those of us intent on living a healthy existence, our vacations are often a time of luxury and overindulgence that leaves us feeling not so finely tuned. Vacation doesn’t always have to be like this. I’m not suggesting taking your vacation to a fitness related excursion, a weeklong detox, or even a yoga retreat (although all of those sound wonderful); but rather just being conscious of the choices you make while living the high life. With a little planning and some prior knowledge, you can return feeling the same as when you left or at the very least, like your months of hard work at the gym weren’t completely destroyed by a couple weeks of pure bliss. Healthy travel starts before you leave for your destination of choice. You should think about what you can do to prepare for 12
Also, look into the types of activities you can do during your visit. On my past vacations, hiking, snorkeling, horseback riding, surfing, jungle treks, yoga, kayaking, and biking were nice active and enjoyable ways to spend a day. After your initial prep, the first thing you need to contend with is the airport/plane food. By packing an apple, some nuts, or other healthy alternatives, you’ll likely save some money as well as some unwanted calories. This will get you to your destination, where healthier alternatives will be more plentiful and easily obtained. After a long flight, it’s important to rehydrate yourself. Drink lots of water and, if jet lag is an issue, some moderate or even light exercise can help. Also, to avoid traveler’s diarrhea, try eating some fresh yogurt from the country or area you are vacationing in. It has the natural bacteria of the area that can help you to fight this affliction. For many of us, traveling is a
time of indulgence, especially when we are suddenly surrounded by many of the delicacies that we are not routinely exposed to. The key when indulging is to keep our normally health-conscience thoughts in the background as a reminder, so we don’t stray too far off our normal path to health and wellbeing. Once you stray too, it can be a slippery slope to get back to where you were. The general health rules that exist in your day to day life also apply when you travel. If you don’t sleep well, eat terribly, and spend your time drinking copious amounts of alcohol; you will likely get sick during or after your vacation. Enjoy the food that those native to the country you are visiting usually eat. Typically, a country’s daily dishes are much healthier than what we may be accustomed to eating in our home countries. Koh Sumui, Thailand 2012 A healthy cafe’s fresh juice menu. They have a wide selection of fruit and vegetable combinations that includes, but not limited to: celery, broccoli, lime, cucumber, ginger, pineapple, apple, spinach, oranage, cayene pepper, carrot, mint, beet, cocoa watermelon, aloe, grapes, cabbage, ,and wheatgrass. photos:
Chris Devison
While vacationing, why not also take some time to learn about the health and well-being trends in other countries? Recently, while I was in Malaysia, I read a two-page spread on the health benefits of jumping on the trampoline. And here I thought it was just fun! What we learn at home might not always be right or there may be other methods to achieve the same desired results that we were unaware of. Check out a local health food store or frequent a well-being restaurant or cafĂŠ where likeminded individuals gather.
you: You. Dive into a nice book, take a few minutes to practice some deep breathing, get a massage, engage in conversation with a local, take a nap on the beach, or (my favorite) in a hammock. Bask in the beauty of your surroundings and appreciate the intricate artwork that nature is. See a sunset, a sunrise, look at the stars, the clouds, or listen to the meditative sound from the crashing of the surf. Take a walk up the beach and appreciate the feeling of sand between your toes.
Keep in mind that not everything concerning your well being needs to be related to food and exercise. Slow down the pace of your life and enjoy the simple things by spending time with that person that is always there for
Observe the differences and see that people with next to nothing can still be so happy and people who have been through so much can still smile. Question why this is and maybe try to put your own life into perspective in
a way that you can only do when traveling. Do some yoga on the bus, during a ferry ride, or better yet, try some deep breathing or yoga while overlooking some of the most breathtaking scenes you may experience. Take a run along a scenic coastal route or finish one with a dip in a waterfall. There is something about exercise that keeps the image of the scene and the experience alive and vibrant in our memory. Lastly try something new, just something healthy. Travel is about learning about the world and broadening our minds. Travel is experiencing life to the fullest and going outside of our comfort zone. Travel is truly living. chrisofficeofeducation@yahoo.com
Gili Trawangan, Lombok, Indonesia 2014. A sunset off the coast of the the largest of the three Gili Islands. The main means of transportation here are bicycles — a perfect way to maintain your healthy lifestyle while still enjoying everything your vacation has to offer. 13
The difference between Korean and Canadian driving etiquettes On the traveler’s road part 2 14
lindsay ross staff writer
S
o you got your driver's license and managed to score a deal on some beater of a car. Now it's time to get on the roads. If you aren't at least slightly anxious about starting to drive in Korea, then you've clearly never ridden a Korean taxi. After driving (or simply living) in Korea, there are a few differences between the general etiquette practiced on Korean roads compared to Canadian ones.
Let's start with the obvious: Korea has a lot of people and, in turn, lots of drivers. In terms of population density, Canada's has 3.4 people per squared kilometer, while Korea has 487.
Combine this with the fact that only about 30 per cent of Korea's land is habitable/drivable (with the other 70 per cent being mountainous) and you have a good idea of what to expect on Korean roads. With the amount of cars on the road, it's no surprise that drivers need to be aggressive if they plan to get where they want to go. Korean culture is also fast-paced, so drivers tend to rush. It wouldn't be wise to expect the majority of cars to yield to you; you must create a space yourself. That isn't to say, that drivers are devoid of manners; if someone cuts you off or if you do them a favour, they will usually signal an apology/appreciation by using their hazard lights. Hazard lights, while seldom used in Canada, are quite commonly used in Korea whether to signal an apology or indicate to other drivers that you are in the process of parking.
Upon experiencing parking in Korea, I was both stunned and impressed. This is one of the most difficult parts of driving in Korea. Unlike in Canada, there is little land mass for proper parking lots so cars are left to park on side streets, corners, and sidewalks. There are few places that cars can't park in. Of course there are places which are marked with "do not park here" lines but these types of rules are not always enforced in Korea. Road rules in Korea are relaxed compared to Canada. This applies to many aspects of driving, from parking illegally to running red lights. While learning to drive in Canada, I tried to be aware of how I was being perceived by other drivers and did my best not to make a wrong move. In Canada, the police emit some sense of power over drivers and drivers generally follow the same set of rules. Although I have seen Korean
police on the roads with their lights on (which is just to show that they are on duty rather than for pulling you over), I have yet to see a car be pulled over by the police. Stronger than the police force on the roads in Korea is the threat of cameras which gauge speed and monitor illegal parking. The cameras will snap a photo of your license plate and send you a ticket by mail. What's interesting about these cameras is that most of the navigation systems will alert you of them so you have time to slow down (and speed back up afterwards if you so choose). With all of these factors along with obstacles like delivery motorbikes and buses, driving in Korea can be challenging forigners. I am in no way implying that Korean people are less able to drive, but rather that their current circumstances have led them to drive the way that they do. With the limited amount of
space, people are forced to drive more aggressive and less considerate. With the lack of rules being enforced, people feel less obligated to follow them. With time, the standards and regulations will continue to progress (as
they do in all countries) and hopefully we will see some improvements which will make roads in Korea a little more safe. But, for now, as long as you exercise caution and slow down for speed cameras, you'll be just fine.
Other notable differences: Highway tollgates: When entering the highway, drive
through the gate (not hi-pass/하이패스 unless you've subscribed to it) and receive a ticket. Upon exiting the highway, hand the ticket to the operator and pay the amount. Compact cars have a 50 per cent discounted rate!
Gas prices: Lately (as of December 2014) gas prices have
been around 1670 won (1.75 CDN) per litre which is down from the 1800 won (1.88 CDN) I saw a few months ago. You can compare that to Canada, which these days seems to be hovering around 956 won (1.00 CDN).
Gas types: In Korea you’ll see three types of gas: gasoline (휘 발유), diesel (경유), and liquid propane gas (LPG). It’s a good
idea to know the Korean words just in case you come across a self-serve station. If at a full serve station, the workers will take care of it. Simply ask for a full tank [가득이요 (ga-deuk-eeyo)] or a certain amount [2만원이요 (ee-man-won-ee-yo)].
Traffic signals: Road rules in Korea are generally the same as in Canada. There are slight differences in traffic lights, with the majority of intersections in Korea allowing only left turns upon an advanced green arrow/light. There are also separate red and green light signals which indicate to cars in the right turn lane whether or not they are clear to drive across the pedestrian crosswalk. Ross6520@gmail.com
15
Q
W
hat’s the story with Korean pharmacies?
Do I really need
10
pills
for a common flu?
Chris Devison
F
rom my other column on wellbeing, you’d probably guess I’m not too keen on Western style pharmaceuticals; and you’d be absolutely right.
Western medicine serves a purpose and I feel it is needed at times. In emergencies, it is the difference between life or death. However, in our day to day lives, when you mix health and business together, business normally wins; and it’s easy to see that what’s good for business doesn’t’t always equate to what’s good for your health . What worries me most about Western medicine is the excess precriptions of pharmaceuticals. There is big money in these and the more of them we pop or the longer we take them, the more money there is to be made. As someone who worked with pharmaceuticals in the past, I am aware that for every pill prescribed, often another pill is needed to counteract the side effects of the first. The pharmaceuticals we use in the West often have many
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medicinal properties blended into one single pill. For example, you may have an anti-inflammatory mixed with a painkiller. Some of the pills will also add an ingredient to counteract a side effect of the original medicinal ingredient needed. A common example could be a stool softener given when a medicine causes constipation. In Korea, each pill often has a different medicinal property. So for every medicinal ingredient you have, there is a separate pill. This equates to the average patient taking a lot more pills than in the West, where one pill may serve multiple purposes. There is also the phenomenon of the intravenous injections (IV) here in Korea. This week alone, I’ve seen four different Facebook photos of friends hooked up to an IV. Luckily, it isn’t as bad as it appears; they were all dealing with a common cold or flu. The drip they receive is nothing more than a simple medicine and vitamins for a quick picker upper; often so the person can hightail it back to work or school.
Whenever possible, I prefer to take the route of natural cures first, then Oriental medical clinics; before finally, resorting to Western medicine, if still needed. Here in Korea, as well as many other Eastern nations, they seem to hold onto their traditions more than we do in the West. This can be seen in the medical industry through a lot of oriental medicine and the use of dietary adjustments still being used as valid cures. If you haven’t visited an Oriental clinic, check one out and you might be surprised with the results. They are also surprisingly very cheap. In terms of diet and health in Korea, we’ve all heard that so and so food is good for your health or stamina, or have been introduced to hae jang guk (hangover cure dishes) at some point. Kimchi cures all also, from what I hear. Some of these are based on valid science while others may be rooted in ancient traditions or a sense of national pride. Regardless of their roots or reasoning, each may be worth trying before medicating yourself more than you may already be doing.
Dear Chris
Can you explain about the mandatory
training we have to complete as Native English Speaker Teachers (NEST) in Korea and any possibly professional development opportunities that might be available to us?
I
n addition to orientation, the Korean government has designed a 15 hour online course which needs to be completed by every public school teacher. This is comprised of 15 short videos followed by some questions and a short quiz after completion of the course. We run these online sessions periodically so if you haven’t completed one, don’t worry; one will be coming up soon. I’ll be in touch! Keep in mind these regulations are loosely enforced. Many teachers who were hired by private public schools do not have to complete either an orientation or the online training. Our office recommends that these teachers complete these courses, but it comes down to whether the principals of these schools want to pay the money and allow the teacher to miss work to attend them. All teachers hired through our office will eventually complete the training.
Outside of these scarce opportunities, further professional development can be done in many ways, but must be done through your own initiative and at your own expense. That being said, there are some cheap ways to enhance your skills as a teacher in Korea, or any country for that matter. First, learning the language can help you as a teacher in many ways. I think the belief in an English-only language teaching approach may apply well to an ESL class where the classes are comprised of students from various cultures with different languages. However, in Korea’s EFL classroom, there is a common language and knowing this language can be a valuable teaching tool. Learning about the history and culture of a country can also help you to understand your students and colleagues better.
Outside of these, there is no other mandatory training that teachers have to complete currently. Things change quickly here and if there are further requirements to meet, I’ll be in touch about them.
Other cheap ways to help you learn about your profession is to pick up a book, do some research online, or by create a group with other likeminded individuals who can meet from time to time to discuss issues and trends in your field. Your colleagues are an asset and sharing your experiences with each other can be very helpful.
In terms of professional development, unfortunately, there are not many opportunities offered by our office. From time to time our office or a local office of education will hold meetings that provide some professional development.
Webinars are a great way to learn more about your craft and many of them will even supply certificates of completion which will help pad that CV for future opportunities. Organizations such as MacMillan, Cambridge, Oxford, and Pearson all offer free webinars on English Language Teaching (ELT).
Some may require registration, but in return you are offered a lot of valuable content on various ELT-related subjects. In addition to webinars, TED and Youtube all have some great videos on ELT teaching. A quick example are these TED talks on inspiring teachers; along with YouTube videos on almost every topic imaginable in ELT teaching. In terms of paid options, they really are endless. There are numerous TESOL courses online and almost every university now offers correspondence courses. CELTA or TESOL certification vacations are another option. Ask your school about topping up your 24-day vacation period with some unpaid days so you can attend the usual 4 weeks or so it takes to complete a course.
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Biminbap- January 2015