스승의날 (Teacher’s Day)
Friday, May 16th, 2008If hope you can wait another week or so for an orphan story. Since Thursday was Teacher’s Day (스승의날) I thought I’d share a little bit about that, since I am currently teaching in a Korean school.
스승 is kind of a fancy word or “teacher” but it means the same thing as “선생님” with some more nuance of “mentor” or “master.” Anyway, that’s what they use to name the day.
Traditionally, it was a holiday and schools were closed, but sometime in the past few years that changed….oh well! Students typically give carnations and a letter to their teachers.
I am sort of a novelty at my school, and for a variety of reasons never know what to expect on a day like 스승의날. Since I am not a homeroom teacher, there is virtually zero obligation for my students to write me a letter. If I get one, it is because that student took the time to write it (or some other adult suggested it^^)
Another reason is that my students don’t really know that I can speak and read Korean. A few think I can manage a couple sentences, but the vast majority is shocked to hear me utter “응” or the occasional “뭐?” Since most of my students think I won’t understand their Korean letter, or they can’t write a letter in English, I wasn’t expecting much this year. Last year I got maybe 2-3 letters.
It’s not that I need them to write me letters so that I feel good about myself, but it IS a really great feeling to get a sweet letter from a student. Plus, I really crave the language practice!^^
I was pleasantly surprised this year. I got a deluge of letters. A great majority from second graders say something like:
“그동안 영어를 가르쳐 주셨어 감사함니다”
(try to translate it in the comments!)
Some of them made laugh out loud:
To..Mr D.
안녕하세요. 원지에요. English teacher 영어 그르쳐 주시느라 힘드신데 떠들어서 죄송해요. 저번 1학년 때 여름특강 때 제가 지우개 드렸는데, 기억하세요? 그 지우개 아직도 가지고 계세요? 기지고 계셨으면 좋겠네요! 영어 특강 때 선냉님니 주우개 고르는 장면:
(Give this one a shot too! Some hints: 떠들다 - talking, being noisy; 저번 - last time; 특강 - special class; 아직도 가지고 계시다 (가지고 있다) - so still have something; 고르다 - to select; 장면 - scene)
So to our KClass teachers: - 늦게 스승의날 축하합니다! 열심히 한국어를 가르쳐 주셨어 감사합니다!
Posted by 오민 (Austin) in General Announcements |
May 16th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
저도 늦었지만 스승의 날 축하해요!
The picture and the letter are soooo cute
May 17th, 2008 at 9:21 am
cute cute! here in the states, it was teacher appreciation week. my kids (their parents really, my kids are under 2) and the school directors did different things every day all week! they brought flowers and food for everyone and gifts.. and today i received two starbucks gift cards!!!! exciting. but, my kids were awfulawfulawful this week….. it’s kind of funny how that works..
May 17th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Look at the handwriting on the picture…very cute
(Why is it that when adults learn to write Korean, it doesn’t look “cute” in the beginning…just illegible 
)
Holdfast, my daughter’s teacher was stressed out all week with behavioral issues in the classroom! (I volunteer there sometimes, and saw it myself.) Must be part of Teacher Appreciation Week. I gave her a necklace that I made, and she seemed to like it. But a necklace doesn’t make the kids any calmer!
May 17th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
No shots at translating it?! ^^
When I was teaching in the states, one year the PTA washed all the teachers’ cars! That was pretty unique. We also all got a Wall-mart gift card and a platter of probably 30 different cookies, all home made by different moms!
May 17th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
sorry austin! i didn’t have any problems understanding the letter - i thought i’d give someone else a shot at translating. i don’t want to give it away.. ^^
May 19th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Don’t look at me…I’m a beginner
(By the way, I just completed three months of KoreanClass.)
May 19th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Thanks Austin! 오민한테도 스승의 날 축하해요!!
근데 진짜 기엽다! 꼬마이들이… ㅎㅎㅎ
May 26th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Austin, is it something close to “thank you for teaching us english during this time”?
I’m not even gonna try understanding the long one anymore *facepalm*
May 26th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Teresa..(and anyone else who played along at home!!)^^
Great job! You’re absolutely correct on the first note. Thanks for giving it a shot!
The longer note says:
Hello, I am 원지. Teaching us English seems hard, I am sorry for talking (during class). Last year in first grade during the summer English camp, I gave you an eraser. Do you remember? Do you still have it? It would be great if you still had it. Here is a picture of you choosing the eraser during the summer English class:
^^