This week I’m helping out at Brain Educations first Jr. Do Tong Camp at a Buddhist-run educational center near Cheonan, Korea. We have a dozen-or-so staff, about the same number of student-teacher-mentors from some of the country’s top universities, and 280 middle school students. The week’s program includes study skills in math and reading, English Speech time, Poongyudo (풍류도), ChunBuShinGong (천부신공), Kookhak studies (Korean history/culture) and vision meditation.
This week my job is to work with 14 kids and help them write a ‘Korean Spirit’ speech. Out of the 280, 14 students have ‘volunteered’ to work with a native English speaking teacher and do their speeches from scratch. The other students will practice a pre-written speech based on their level.
Here is my favorite quote from today. I added a few words to try and clarify what she wants to say in the first sentence, but I haven’t edited it otherwise.
Why [is the concept of] Koreans working together [with] one mind something to take as our [national] pride? If you know what harmony truly means deep down in your heart, and know how to work together in groups, you first know how much it means to be around people when you are happy, sad and also angry. I believe that all human beings share their emotions even depression. Even if your friend is not angry, that friend will be angry at someone if you’re angry. That friend will be happy if you being happy.
I always want to help inspire my students, but just like this…my students more often than not surprise and inspire me by what’s going on inside their heads. It’s often not very clear—the thoughts get all mixed up when they try to get them out in English—but I can see and feel what they’re working at and where they’re trying to go. It’s one of my greatest joys to try and help them get wherever they’re going.
This week my job is to work with 14 kids and help them write a ‘Korean Spirit’ speech. Out of the 280, 14 students have ‘volunteered’ to work with a native English speaking teacher and do their speeches from scratch. The other students will practice a pre-written speech based on their level. My students’ task is to write, revise, and be ready to give their speech by Saturday. We spent Monday brain storming. Today (Tuesday) we focused on the first drafts. For me, it was a chance to see ‘where they’re really at’ as far as writing in English. I learned they have a wide variety of skills in writing...and an equally diverse view of how to describe/define what ‘Korean Spirit’ means to them. We still have a long way to go—I can feel what they want to say, but many of the ideas are still all over the place. There is a LOT of work to do in the next three days. Yet, I was surprised how deep some of them were willing to try and go…
Here is my favorite quote from today. I added a few words to try and clarify what she wants to say in the first sentence, but I haven’t edited it otherwise.
Why [is the concept of] Koreans working together [with] one mind something to take as our [national] pride? If you know what harmony truly means deep down in your heart, and know how to work together in groups, you first know how much it means to be around people when you are happy, sad and also angry. I believe that all human beings share their emotions even depression. Even if your friend is not angry, that friend will be angry at someone if you’re angry. That friend will be happy if you being happy.
I always want to help inspire my students, but just like this…my students more often than not surprise and inspire me by what’s going on inside their heads. It’s often not very clear—the thoughts get all mixed up when they try to get them out in English—but I can see and feel what they’re working at and where they’re trying to go. It’s one of my greatest joys to try and help them get wherever they’re going.
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