Word-Search....... Taxis........Korean Study (Lack of)

My most desirable past time, at work, is giving the kids a word-search. The words I give are usually of relevance to the unit they’re studying. It has become a kind of ‘in’ joke between myself and the other foreign teachers (Anthony and Chris), we seem to teach the same level books around 3/4 times a year, and we come across the same vocabulary often. Example, Anthony and I have both taught ‘Herald Leaders, B2’, on numerous occasions. Vocab – Tall, short, fat, thin, pretty and ugly makes up unit 2 of the book. We could create a whole workbook/workpack for B2 with our eyes closed and our brains set to low.

Within the 15-20 minutes it takes the kids to find everything, as their eyes go into overdrive, and their mindsets frantically and competitively search for that elusive word, I am able to sit back and enjoy a well deserved, and more often than not, essential rest bite. ‘Everyone wins’ during word-search time. The kids enjoy the challenge of finding the words (I add an extra incentive of, “Whoever finds ‘November’ first, gets 20 stickers….. GO, GO, GO!!”), I, as I just mentioned, get a well deserved break, and finally my boss has been convinced that doing a word-search is beneficial to their vocabulary and spelling. Some days I prepare a bumper word-search (I might consist of around 15-10 words, and even some of the words might be backwards), knowing that it will take them the entire class to complete. It’s also common practice to prepare a word-search for each and every afternoon class. So, from 2:30 to 5:30, I do nothing but sit back and say the odd sentence (to reassure my boss that all is ok), and enjoy my afternoon.

You can create your own word-searches, very easily, online. The day I discovered the website was like inventing the wheel. An over zealous remark maybe!! But I’m in the teaching game, I’m not a philosopher, or a geeky scientific genius sitting in my lab mixing chemicals, components, compounds and shapes (wheels are round right???), I’m looking to enhance the education of the kids and ease my work load. So!! discovering the word-search creator, levels with the invention of the wheel, for me.

Moving away from the collation of random letters into a square shape and mysteriously hiding words within, I want to talk about Korean taxis.

‘The Korean Taxi’, is a pretty interesting subject. Like in most cities they are all the same. New York you have your infamous Yellow Cab, distinctive in colour, foremost, and then distinctive in shape. The London Taxi’s shape is worldly recognised, as is its colour. In Korea, it’s the same, kind of. They’re all grey in colour. Not as outstanding as yellow, so you would have thought they would back up the dull colour but implementing an outstanding, or unique, shape. Nope! The Korean Taxi, is the same model, and colour, as about 90% of cars on the road. The single thing, that alienates them from other road users, is that they stop to pick you up, where as Kim and Lee, don’t, they drive past (rightly so). Koreans, in general, along with most Asian cultures, seem to be ‘streets’ (nice) ahead, of the rest of the world, when it comes to inventions of gadgets, convenient lifestyle living, and more importantly, being able to have a hugely populated city ticking along nicely. They’re basically 10-20 years head of us lazy lot. But when it comes to cars, they suck!! At times, I walk down any street and I am amazed at how many cars are the same colour, shape and if they had personalities, then they would match too. If ‘Herbie goes Bananas, part 8’ is set in Korea. Don’t watch it. If Pixar, do Cars 2, Streets of Seoul’, don’t watch it. I get excited when I see a bus coming down the high street. Buses are either Green, Blue, Red, White and Turquoise or another variation of the colours mentioned. They also come in many different sizes, shapes and personalities. My boss is obsessed with me getting a car. Anthony teacher bought one and is now my bosses best friend. I won’t be buying a car just yet, but never say never.

The exterior to a taxi is, as I’ve mentioned, horrific. Once you get inside, all is well. The language barrier, is pure genius once you get in the taxi. As long as you can say where you want to go, which I can, then you can sit back and enjoy the ride, knowing that he won’t be asking you any small talk questions. I don’t miss taxis from back home. Overpriced!! and to compensate for the over pricing, they seem to want to befriend you, maybe to make them feel better about charging you obscene amounts of money for short distances. I have had a number of conversations with Koreans, but they’re short lived and very rare. One conversation, which I shared with a couple of friends in the taxi, was centred around the drivers ability to cheat on his three girlfriends and wife at the same time. We found it rather amusing, so did he. We had labelled him an ‘odd ball’ on first entering the taxi. He was wearing a Kangol cap. Do you remember Samuel L Jackson’s fashion disaster??? Same!!!!

I have sadly been sick, out of the window, in a Korean taxi, maybe 2/3 times. But, this was in my first 6 months in Korea, so I make no excuses. I just did. Oh well.

To summarise, Korean taxis are disgusting to look at, but generously cheap and all round an efficient mode of transportation.

I have been very slack with my Korean studying. Since I got back from UK, I have focused my intentions on being able to stay in the country (Visa issues). Once that was sorted, I managed to pick up some extra classes. One of my kids needed some extra help, so I obliged. This is taking up my downtime, which was usually set aside for blog writing and Korean study. With new schedules and new routines comes a period of familiarisation. I’m there now and to celebrate I bought myself a new notebook, as a motivational incentive, so hopefully my self teaching of Korean can and will continue, next week, I need to have a relaxing weekend first, then I will continue, I promise, I can feel the urge, it’s there, I think…………..

I have created a word-search for you. Please find, Tobyteacher, Koreantaxis and wordsearch. Also, the image above proves that all cars are grey. OK, ok, the image is in black and white, but you will have to just trust me.

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