You Wanna Talk Healthcare

Warning: This one is kind of personal. So just to sum up I am for reform.

Let's talk healthcare! PPO this and HMO that. Hey I worked at an insurance company before becoming an English robot here in Korea. It's a mess folks and the way it is set up now doesn't help EVERYBODY.

Roboseyo has made a post on his blog. But I have to say if you are American than this subject has to ring inside your head. If you are in America right now it is all over the news. If not it must be on your loved ones' lips when you talk to them over the phone or skype. Even if you aren't American I am sure this is of some interest to you, especially if the country you are from has it's health coverage figured out.

I have my own personal take on this based upon the fact that I have endured what a poor person goes through when they are very ill. Let me just say it's awful. In October of 2006 I became severely ill with intestinal problems. Let's just say it was like the stomach flu but 10x worse. I couldn't eat or drink without feeling pain down there. I became dehydrated because it was too painful for me to get up and get a glass of water. So I was rushed to the ER. After 12 hours in there I was diagnosed with depression, despite the fact that (WARNING: DISGUSTING) I had blood coming out of my a**. It even stained their beautiful bleach white hospital sheets. But was I rushed to the GI part of the hospital? No. I was sent home with a huge ass bill, because I had no insurance. Let me tell you folks you too would be depressed if your life was slowly and painfully dwindling away from you for unexplainable reasons. (I am still paying off this hospital.)

It wasn't till 4.5 months later that I was properly diagnosed. And this was because my primary doctor at the San Francisco General Hospital realized that I was in need of urgent care and pleaded with the GI doctors at the hospital to move me up to the top of the list. Since I wasn't a senior I was put at the bottom.

They diagnosed me with Ulcerative Colitis borderline Crohn's disease. I was given a fist full of drugs to take everyday and I recovered while at the same time managed to graduate college in the spring of 2007. So it is that I know what it is like to be poor, uninsured and processed like cattle at a hospital.

But, I bet my last penny or Won that there are other worse case scenarios out there and that hospitals in many parts of the world lack the basic necessities needed to just check someones temperature.

Therefore I am all for Reform and to get it done quickly.

Here is what I wrote in response to Rob's post, in case you don't understand my little tirade here anyways.

I think this reflects a frame of mind regarding health care amongst Americans. (which I am one...as you know Rob...just letting others know.)

It is sad to admit but I think for most in America they view health care and coverage as a privilege. I am sure for some of these folks who don't want reform they are thinking of why should they pay for other peoples expenses when those people can't survive the "proper" way in society to begin with.

When I was deathly ill I was finally taken care of at a General Hospital in San Francisco. This was no HMO PPO place. It was for the poor, criminals and uninsured.

I would be waiting in line to get my blood drawn while a felons were brought in wearing orange jump suits and handcuffs. They got to go first.

The waiting area was shared with homeless crack addicts who were jerking and yelling as they waited for their refill of methadone..or whatever it is.

I have lived through poor healthcare and healthcare that is for the poor. My health insurance at that hospital ended up being the poor peoples insurance provided by the city.

So I have to say that America needs to solve this healthcare problem by not just making it socialized but making sure that equality is present inside the hospitals.

Because I know how slow and stubborn hospitals and nurses can be I can only imagine that when these changes take present the transition period will be a nightmare for Doctors and patients alike.


All in all, it is this frame of mind that the privileged deserve health care and the poor deserve to wait in long lines at dirty hospitals where no one gives a crap about you, needs to go away too.

In the meantime people are dieing and unable to pay for their pills because some idiots want to yell at other idiots in Town Hall meetings.

But I have to say I do feel hopeful with Obama in the seat. I just wish he would put his foot down and get this over with.

DEEP Breath........ a fun liberal type cartoon to get your blood boiling...

.....if your still with me... I posted a more light hearted fun post below this one...

Olleh: The new expression

When the kids came back from summer vacation I noticed that there was a new expression on their lips.

Typically the kids like to repeat what they hear on TV, especially if it is something catchy and that is fun. I am sure this is the same for school kids in America and elsewhere.

So this seasons latest "in" expression is "Olleh!" Taken from one of these commercials:



As the native teacher you get use to hearing these oddities being spouted out. Usually, not till later on that you realize where it is coming from. Indeed, after watching my TV for a few hours I had sat through a few of these commercials and thus realized why the kids were so ecstatic about saying it.

The "Olleh" campaign is part of KT's new ad campaign:

After its recent merge with its mobile phone subsidiary KTF, KT adopted yesterday new corporate identity and new logo : ” Olleh KT”. Exit the corporate neutral blue, KT endorses now a passionate red and an intriguing motto aiming to stimulate creativity. Reversed Hello, “Let’s come [the future]” in Korean or Jeju dialect for “Good way”, make your own idea about it.

So they came up with "olleh" after making "hello" backwards, and I don't think they were the first to do it. I hate to say this but to me it sounds like the kids are speaking Spanish or whatever language says something close to this. It's as if they are saying "hola", so it's a little strange. And for some bloggers they feel like they are watching a football game.

While the logo is an improvement, I am just not that thrilled about the ‘olleh’. Feels like I am watching a football game… I suppose that’s where cultural factors come in.

The kids say it most often when something either breaks on the TV screen, for example a program crashes. Or when we are going to start something, like singing. I wonder how long this fad will last...and what will replace it.

All in all, those commercials are pretty wacky. Got to love the one with the fathers jumping up and down when their kids and wife get on the bus. Which one is your favorite? Or do you just hate/dislike these ad campaigns (considering the tall blonde in the last one)?

Wash Your Hands Song

"Ok Kids~! We are going to learn how to wash our hands."

"Teacher! Teeeeeeeeeeeeeecher!!??" "Billy picked his nose and touched my arm."

"Ah Sharon well I guess you are going to have to wash your arm too." "Let's learn the washing hands song, everyone!" "Are you ready?"

"Yes we are ready!"
"Silly Sally Soap goes on your hands"
"Rub, rub, rub, it around"
"Wacky Willy Water gets turned on"
"Splish splash splish our hands go under...Willy Water"
"Rub, rub, rub, it around"
"Turn off Wacky Willy Water."
"Take Tami the Towel and dry, dry, dry your hands!"

"One more time!"

inspiration

Simple Weekend

Last weekend JH and I just did simple stuff, so on Saturday we went to Insadong and Samcheondong for some good eating and artsy viewing.

There is one particular place we like eating at and so went there again. I love their dol sot bulgolgi.

JH mixes the rice with the bulgolgi.

While we were in Insadong we saw what we assumed was a Japanese tourist, based upon her outfit. I only managed to get a back shot.

Then we went up into Samcheondong and I took JH to what is now my favorite cafe there. It is quiet and oh so artsy. We played travel scrabble and I have to say that he is pretty good, but I won in the end.

Later on Sunday I helped him study English at a cafe where we had a waffle for a treat.

Job Hunt Update: That recruiter was merely just telling me his game plan for helping me. I have an offer in Paju but I told him it is not my number one choice. So he told me to go ahead and have an interview with them but tell them to wait. In the meantime more positions will come in. I may get a position in Seoul as an after school teacher. But again, I am not signing anything unless I see the house and it agrees with me.

Teacher Survey

Because of all this ruckus with the reasons why I wasn't rehired and now having to hunt for a new job I thought I would survey my pool of local Elementary school teachers to get their feedback on teaching.

So using the email list that the city government gave to us around March I sent out a survey to see if I could get the opinion and details of other Elementary school teachers.

The responses have been thin so far but still worth noting.

Here for you will be the questions I asked on the survey and an anonymous listing of the responses I received.

Questions:

1. How many regular classes do you teach? (These are the ones that go by the standard curriculum, usually taught in the morning)
2. How many after school or special classes do you teach?
3. How much time are you given to plan everything? Do you feel it is enough time?
   
4. How did you first communicate with your coteacher? Were they open or close minded about your ideas?
5. What percentage do you feel you teach in the classroom when you are coteaching with your coteacher? (I was suppose to do 80% as my coteacher finally told me)
6. What is your style of teaching?
7. How did you figure out your style of teaching?
8. Class management: Who does it you or the coteacher or both? How successful has it been?
9. Do you receive helpful criticism or critiquing for your teaching style?
10. Any advice or story you can tell that you think would be important to future teachers.

Response #1:

1. 22
2.2
3. i believe so, but i just got them off my butt so i can do things myself.
4.i let them play boss and when one wanted me to do more the other was a controll freak, i then declared that this semester was mine, and i was doing the lesson plans and if there were things they wanted to put in there , that was fine, but they had to give me a little notice. Over all my main co teacher is still boss.
5. 50-50 - 80-20
6. old school, I think power point is a flashy ploy that wastes time and the kids stare at screens enough in their life. I follow a modified city syllibus, some songs, old school or self invented games. board work consisting of repitision and some note taking.
7. i did a little in the US. If they work with me, i do more things they like if they work against me i get more authoritan. I dont bribe or deal and nor do I pretend I am Barney.
I just always try to take it from their point of view and see what i can do with in reason. It is school not romper room.
8.Both, both my teachers are pretty fluent. One is in grad school the other has been teaching for a while.
9.yes, i talk too fast, some time too big words, useing more present tense in my questions. There have been some pointless and incorrect ball breaking as well. But we are helpful to eachother.
10. At first, they are always right, just go with the flow, but once they start contradictiing themselves you take a stance at one point or another. There are small things that you think you may but you dont. I have heard people who have done esl for three or four years and do things...differently. I only subed for two or so years, but different schools, subjects, age levels, economic area, and had picked a lot of brains and observed alot. Because of that i know some things even my co teachers should but dont. At the same time I know I am not a edu major, and even though I have experienced myself the sublties of the classroom. I will still take the position of someone who has never taught before that has a non education degree. I keep a open mind when any teachers talk about their experiences. Knowing that you do not know is a great thing to......know.

Response #2:

I think you would be more successful if you asked people that you know these questions in person.

Response #3:

I teach 21 regular classes a week. I teach four special classes a week. I basically plan evrything out whilst not in class. I generally have plenty of time. My co-teacher is very receptive to any new ideas but can change the direction that any class is going in on a whim. Sometimes frustrating but not all that bad.

In reality, the teaching should be 50/50 but my co-teacher isn't even in the classroom for a good majority of the time (she's insanely busy with daft paperwork), so there is no easy answer there. I always start each class with an English song, use a little bit of the book, use plenty of group activities and play lots of games. I figured out my style of teaching through trial and error.

Class management has not been easy. My co-teacher has gotten a bit too strict for my liking but then again, she isn't in the classroom most of the time. So, I basically banish an unruly student to a corner, with her/his arms up, if she/he is continually messing. It's had mixed results.

My co-teacher gives mostly positive feedback and rarely criticizes me. That's nice. The main thing that future teachers have to remember is that you have to be extremely patient and understand that you co-teaching with somebody with a totally different mindset.

As you can see it is truly random as to what ends up happening at each school. I sent this out to about 20 teachers and so far just 3 responses have come in. I am hopeful more will respond but I can understand if some people don't want to spend their time on this.

As for you dear readers if you are a public Elementary school teacher in Korea I would love to hear your responses.
Edit: If you are a public school teacher in GENERAL and in Korea then please volunteer your knowledge!

Job Hunt Update: Nothing to talk about just yet. I have a phone call with a recruiter this afternoon, which I am kind of nervous about because it was asked for all of a sudden. Basically I asked the recruiter some questions (in regards to the recent SMOE firings) and their response was "Let's talk on the phone." So I hope I won't be chewed out or something. All in all I think it is still too early because I am getting the impression schools don't scout for a new teacher until the month before. We will see!~

Call for Help

Hello teachers out there. I have a dear friend of mine who owns her own hagwon in Bundang. But she is having a family crisis in her home country so needs to swiftly go back home for a while.

This means she urgently needs a few teachers to substitute for her while she is out of the country. I am still gathering the details but I would consider this as part time work.

• Kindy hakwon ages = 5 -8
  
• Time needed M - F from 2 - 6 pm
• Classes are 40 min long
• I am unsure of the pay or other details but I would say if you are interested email me or leave a comment so that we can work something out.

This is something that if you know anyone who is looking for short term work it would be great.

I will update with more details later.