Just another ordinary day ....
Monday, June 22, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Truth &Responsibility leads to our own Acknowledgement
I know it's been quite sometime that I have written, but here's a random thought, perhaps even a start in more blogs to come....I shan't promise, but hopefully it's in the cards.
Every day I teach my students three vocabulary words and they must write one sentence for each word. These words are something that have been used throughout the unit, or a lesson from the previous day. Today I gave them words that I randomly taught them from the previous day; 'Truth' and 'Responsibility'.
Here's how it started. I've run into this problem where the students were consistently speaking Korean and I could not find any form of discipline where I didn't have to always stop the class to explain that speaking Korean is not conducive to their learning habits. The other day I was told of a secret that permits students to monitor one another when they speak Korean during class time, and because this situation was getting completely out of hand in my classroom I needed to no longer waste my time on unnecessary discipline. There were days where I would fine myself overwhelmed by these little children speaking a language I don't yet fully understand, and they're not taking in this valuable time to put forth an effort of learning a second language that can be vital for their own future. In any case, this secret has completely led me to peaceful bliss...
I came in on Monday afternoon ready to set precedent for a new month, and I came in with a set of chopsticks still in it's paper wrapping. I asked my fellow students what these were. They answered in a perplexed air, as if to say that I am the half whit; "They're chopsticks!"
I concurred and I said, "Yes, but from here on in they are 'Korean speaking chopsticks', and for every time someone speaks Korean they ought to be handed these fine sticks."
I proceeded to explain that at any time anyone utters a word of Korean they must be handed the 'Korean speaking chopstick', and at the end of the day whomever has them in hand I would mark their name on a sheet of paper. They quickly understood and the 'game' began. The tension rose betwixt and between one another as they all had their Korean ears on overdrive. Although some classes seemed stress due to the lack of awareness of how much English they really know, others found other ways to communicate. As for me, my time was perfect. No more screaming Korean speaking children...other than the one class that muttered English songs all 45minutes of class time. They could not sit still even if you paid them, and with the 'Korean speaking chopsticks' they were actually muttering English songs and still could not sit still but for one minute unless I had them doing written work. It actually put a smile on my face that they were really putting an effort of using their English skills, and being funny in the meanwhile.
At the end of the month most of my students, if not all with receive an incentive for having kept up with their English. Those who have received the 'Korean speaking chopsticks' more than 5 times throughout the month will have nothing. As you can see, the fact that they must receive what their peers are getting entices a stronger sense of competition. (They don't like embarrassment, and not being the same as their peers is something considered quite humiliating.)
What really put a smile on my face is teaching them about truth and responsibility. Two important words that foretell each one of their character. How deceiving they become or how honest they actually are. The 'Korean speaking chopsticks' have really brought out a form of individuality and although it has been a few days no real big fight has emerged because they know that I am not the one who has the 'responsibility' to call upon them or make the decision, but it's their own 'truths' that submerge them into defining the two languages.
These children, as well as myself, are becoming knowledgeable about how much English they really do know. Furthermore, an awareness of how much they can improve without really knowing it.
When we utter truths in our own lives and take responsibility of our own actions there's an instantaneous form of acknowledgment of what lies before us and around us. We become more aware of what really exists around us and fully acknowledge what we ought to do to move forward.
Every day I teach my students three vocabulary words and they must write one sentence for each word. These words are something that have been used throughout the unit, or a lesson from the previous day. Today I gave them words that I randomly taught them from the previous day; 'Truth' and 'Responsibility'.
Here's how it started. I've run into this problem where the students were consistently speaking Korean and I could not find any form of discipline where I didn't have to always stop the class to explain that speaking Korean is not conducive to their learning habits. The other day I was told of a secret that permits students to monitor one another when they speak Korean during class time, and because this situation was getting completely out of hand in my classroom I needed to no longer waste my time on unnecessary discipline. There were days where I would fine myself overwhelmed by these little children speaking a language I don't yet fully understand, and they're not taking in this valuable time to put forth an effort of learning a second language that can be vital for their own future. In any case, this secret has completely led me to peaceful bliss...
I came in on Monday afternoon ready to set precedent for a new month, and I came in with a set of chopsticks still in it's paper wrapping. I asked my fellow students what these were. They answered in a perplexed air, as if to say that I am the half whit; "They're chopsticks!"
I concurred and I said, "Yes, but from here on in they are 'Korean speaking chopsticks', and for every time someone speaks Korean they ought to be handed these fine sticks."
I proceeded to explain that at any time anyone utters a word of Korean they must be handed the 'Korean speaking chopstick', and at the end of the day whomever has them in hand I would mark their name on a sheet of paper. They quickly understood and the 'game' began. The tension rose betwixt and between one another as they all had their Korean ears on overdrive. Although some classes seemed stress due to the lack of awareness of how much English they really know, others found other ways to communicate. As for me, my time was perfect. No more screaming Korean speaking children...other than the one class that muttered English songs all 45minutes of class time. They could not sit still even if you paid them, and with the 'Korean speaking chopsticks' they were actually muttering English songs and still could not sit still but for one minute unless I had them doing written work. It actually put a smile on my face that they were really putting an effort of using their English skills, and being funny in the meanwhile.
At the end of the month most of my students, if not all with receive an incentive for having kept up with their English. Those who have received the 'Korean speaking chopsticks' more than 5 times throughout the month will have nothing. As you can see, the fact that they must receive what their peers are getting entices a stronger sense of competition. (They don't like embarrassment, and not being the same as their peers is something considered quite humiliating.)
What really put a smile on my face is teaching them about truth and responsibility. Two important words that foretell each one of their character. How deceiving they become or how honest they actually are. The 'Korean speaking chopsticks' have really brought out a form of individuality and although it has been a few days no real big fight has emerged because they know that I am not the one who has the 'responsibility' to call upon them or make the decision, but it's their own 'truths' that submerge them into defining the two languages.
These children, as well as myself, are becoming knowledgeable about how much English they really do know. Furthermore, an awareness of how much they can improve without really knowing it.
When we utter truths in our own lives and take responsibility of our own actions there's an instantaneous form of acknowledgment of what lies before us and around us. We become more aware of what really exists around us and fully acknowledge what we ought to do to move forward.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Playing Around
In the beginning 'play' is merely but an action in life.
Over time, and through experiences, we become inspired to make a great move in the game of life. One that sets precedent and thus in the end makes us change into what we think about the word 'play'. Some of us in the beginning of adulthood play too seriously and continue this way for an eternity. Others play far too much. But few know that playing around while being conscious of our own actions cannot only inspire others, but make the most profound of changes withing ourselves.
Earth Bound
Over time, and through experiences, we become inspired to make a great move in the game of life. One that sets precedent and thus in the end makes us change into what we think about the word 'play'. Some of us in the beginning of adulthood play too seriously and continue this way for an eternity. Others play far too much. But few know that playing around while being conscious of our own actions cannot only inspire others, but make the most profound of changes withing ourselves.
Earth Bound
Sunday, April 5, 2009
A Hike To The Mountains, & Chillin' By The Beach
A Sunday not like the rest. We climbed the mountain and checked out a small temple, and walked back down and headed toward the beach. It was a beautiful day where we saw everything we could have only hoped for. The cherry blossoms looked wonderful, the flowers smelled sweet, and the sun and moon shone all at once.
Cherry blossoms in full bloom
Up Jangsan Mountain sitting in silence basking in the sun and watching passersby enjoy their walk...
Gorgeous flowers on our walk to the beach...
A perfect view of more cherry blossoms along the way!
Nice relaxing day with a good company...
how have i made it without the net for so long....
So I have been without the internet for quite sometime now....and it's obvious by this post that I have been sneaking in some 'saved posts' while at school for date purposes. However, I only had the time to accumulate a few words from my thoughts at home on the computer. There isn't much time for me to blog at work, plus I wouldn't think it would be appreciated.
In any case, as of March 12th, I believe, is when the 'mysterious' posts have been quasi submitted onto my blog, hence why they have appeared all of a sudden!
In any case, as of March 12th, I believe, is when the 'mysterious' posts have been quasi submitted onto my blog, hence why they have appeared all of a sudden!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
As the days keep turning into night...
Play while reading.....
Commitment, one leap of faith you need to take with yourself first.
Having a committal relationship with yourself...the best thing you can do for you. This can be strangely difficult, but all so true. The most important person to have a commitment with is yourself, and if you don't have honesty, trust, strength, joy, integrity, respect and above all love for yourself; even through times of loss, ill regret or impetuosity, then you won't have such a strong hold on commitment with anyone else. Whether it be with your parents, siblings, friends, lovers or in life adventures; and let's face it- everyday is an adventure. A friend once told me that everyday is like a test to see what you can handle, no matter how big or how small.
So, how committed are we with ourselves?
Let me clarify how I see the meaning of the word 'commit'...
Of course the dictionary meaning would probably include such words as; an assurance, an obligation, un devoir, a duty, a liability, a must, a promise, a responsibility, a vow, an undertaking etc. The list goes on I am sure.
Being committed to your life will bring forth an even strong confidence towards a committal relationship with others. It'll also bring peace and comfort in your own minds eye, thus bringing in peace and comfort to all things around you. It's not to say that everything will be perfect, but at most you won't have a world of a difference when the going gets tough....
An excerpt of a letter to a friend from a few weeks ago:
Titled: ...and the beat goes on
Dear Friend,
It took a little longer to send out this missive.... I wrote, and have re-written all these missives in my mind and on computer, because not one of them came out as positive as I can remember myself being. I also have been sick these past few days and actually took a sick day. I am not normally sick and can generally work through it, but this time I lost my voice and the whole shebang.
Since I've been here it's like I truly warped into some maniac who can't think anything but the negative aspects this life has to offer, hence why I haven't been writing a post on my blog about my thoughts. I am honestly embarrassed of the way my thinking pattern has become so murky and gloomy. I feel, perhaps I was ill in my body because my mind and soul could have been uneasy about a few things...okay many things....I mean, I it's not to say that this life is all about butterscotch lollipops and pockets full of sunshine, but it isn't about constant thunderstorms either.
What I am getting at is, although things are out of place for me...[and as an aside I am born an earth sign- I learned that this is something I must be patient with]it takes time for me to adjust to things more than most. I do love change, but with it comes my logical thoughts tormenting my poor heart. Being out place is something that I need, but is so difficult to endure.
As I return to one of my oldest posts in my mind, I wrote about how rain and such things are a reflection or representation about change in our own mind, body and soul. It's a difficult task and perhaps most easily seen overall by others, or by yourself after all has cleared up. I know that this perhaps the most difficult of situations I have put myself in, as I have secluded myself into a place that is unknown to me, and there is no getting used to it no matter how many travel guides I read, or culture shock books I take in. I am away from the people that I am used to seeing regularly and from the things that make me feel 'comfortable'.
So what is this comfort I speak of...it can't really be about things and people all the time, can it? Should it not come from within?
.... Walking on the wild side...
EarthBound
[and the reply...]
So if you'll pardon a paragraph or two of pontification; your last missive contained a couple of no-holds-barred truths about joy, sorrow and humanity that I can't not babble about.
To quote you . . . hehe =)
"not one of them came out as positive as I can remember myself being"
You were speaking of trying to write a missive, but you could paste that one across actions, mental states, attempts to sing `Hooray for the Day' despite the fact that all you want to do is go back to bed and check the forecast tomorrow.
I won't pretend to know the details of the shadows that occasionally survey you, except to say that I also have shadows which will occasionally camp out atop my location.
The kicker is in where the will gets focused.
"Being out of place is something that I need, but so difficult to endure," you wrote.
And that is absolutely true, especially since you can speak intellectually about the enigma, and put the whole thing down clearly. The road you want to be walking is under your feet; it's just not always bliss.
If it was, it wouldn't be worth walking.
But, and I so loved how you closed your letter,
"Walking on the wild side..."
Perfect! Fantastic! The girl seems to get it.
....Your Friend
So my prerogative is to commit to yourself and trust that your actions are what is best for you. It may seem a little selfish at the time, but I think we all are trying to do the best we can for ourselves in hopes to do some good around us.
We get to really go home when we decide that home IS where the heart lies, and when we're aware of our own heart. Most importantly....that it's always right!
EarthBound
Lyrics to song above!
Well I have been searching all of my days
All of my days
Many a road, you know
I’ve been walking on
All of my days
And I’ve been trying to find
What’s been in my mind
As the days keep turning into night
Well I have been quietly standing in the shade
All of my days
Watch the sky breaking on the promise that we made
All of this rain
And I’ve been trying to find
What’s been in my mind
As the days keep turning into night
Well many a night I found myself with no friends standing near
All of my days
I cried aloud
I shook my hands
What am I doing here
All of these days
For I look around me
And my eyes confound me
And it’s just too bright
As the days keep turning into night
Now I see clearly
It’s you I’m looking for
All of my days
Soon I’ll smile
I know I’ll feel this loneliness no more
All of my days
For I look around me
And it seems He found me
And it’s coming into sight
As the days keep turning into night
As the days keep turning into night
And even breathing feels all right
Yes, even breathing feels all right
Now even breathing feels all right
It’s even breathing
Feels all right
Commitment, one leap of faith you need to take with yourself first.
Having a committal relationship with yourself...the best thing you can do for you. This can be strangely difficult, but all so true. The most important person to have a commitment with is yourself, and if you don't have honesty, trust, strength, joy, integrity, respect and above all love for yourself; even through times of loss, ill regret or impetuosity, then you won't have such a strong hold on commitment with anyone else. Whether it be with your parents, siblings, friends, lovers or in life adventures; and let's face it- everyday is an adventure. A friend once told me that everyday is like a test to see what you can handle, no matter how big or how small.
So, how committed are we with ourselves?
Let me clarify how I see the meaning of the word 'commit'...
Of course the dictionary meaning would probably include such words as; an assurance, an obligation, un devoir, a duty, a liability, a must, a promise, a responsibility, a vow, an undertaking etc. The list goes on I am sure.
Being committed to your life will bring forth an even strong confidence towards a committal relationship with others. It'll also bring peace and comfort in your own minds eye, thus bringing in peace and comfort to all things around you. It's not to say that everything will be perfect, but at most you won't have a world of a difference when the going gets tough....
An excerpt of a letter to a friend from a few weeks ago:
Titled: ...and the beat goes on
Dear Friend,
It took a little longer to send out this missive.... I wrote, and have re-written all these missives in my mind and on computer, because not one of them came out as positive as I can remember myself being. I also have been sick these past few days and actually took a sick day. I am not normally sick and can generally work through it, but this time I lost my voice and the whole shebang.
Since I've been here it's like I truly warped into some maniac who can't think anything but the negative aspects this life has to offer, hence why I haven't been writing a post on my blog about my thoughts. I am honestly embarrassed of the way my thinking pattern has become so murky and gloomy. I feel, perhaps I was ill in my body because my mind and soul could have been uneasy about a few things...okay many things....I mean, I it's not to say that this life is all about butterscotch lollipops and pockets full of sunshine, but it isn't about constant thunderstorms either.
What I am getting at is, although things are out of place for me...[and as an aside I am born an earth sign- I learned that this is something I must be patient with]it takes time for me to adjust to things more than most. I do love change, but with it comes my logical thoughts tormenting my poor heart. Being out place is something that I need, but is so difficult to endure.
As I return to one of my oldest posts in my mind, I wrote about how rain and such things are a reflection or representation about change in our own mind, body and soul. It's a difficult task and perhaps most easily seen overall by others, or by yourself after all has cleared up. I know that this perhaps the most difficult of situations I have put myself in, as I have secluded myself into a place that is unknown to me, and there is no getting used to it no matter how many travel guides I read, or culture shock books I take in. I am away from the people that I am used to seeing regularly and from the things that make me feel 'comfortable'.
So what is this comfort I speak of...it can't really be about things and people all the time, can it? Should it not come from within?
.... Walking on the wild side...
EarthBound
[and the reply...]
So if you'll pardon a paragraph or two of pontification; your last missive contained a couple of no-holds-barred truths about joy, sorrow and humanity that I can't not babble about.
To quote you . . . hehe =)
"not one of them came out as positive as I can remember myself being"
You were speaking of trying to write a missive, but you could paste that one across actions, mental states, attempts to sing `Hooray for the Day' despite the fact that all you want to do is go back to bed and check the forecast tomorrow.
I won't pretend to know the details of the shadows that occasionally survey you, except to say that I also have shadows which will occasionally camp out atop my location.
The kicker is in where the will gets focused.
"Being out of place is something that I need, but so difficult to endure," you wrote.
And that is absolutely true, especially since you can speak intellectually about the enigma, and put the whole thing down clearly. The road you want to be walking is under your feet; it's just not always bliss.
If it was, it wouldn't be worth walking.
But, and I so loved how you closed your letter,
"Walking on the wild side..."
Perfect! Fantastic! The girl seems to get it.
....Your Friend
So my prerogative is to commit to yourself and trust that your actions are what is best for you. It may seem a little selfish at the time, but I think we all are trying to do the best we can for ourselves in hopes to do some good around us.
We get to really go home when we decide that home IS where the heart lies, and when we're aware of our own heart. Most importantly....that it's always right!
EarthBound
Lyrics to song above!
Well I have been searching all of my days
All of my days
Many a road, you know
I’ve been walking on
All of my days
And I’ve been trying to find
What’s been in my mind
As the days keep turning into night
Well I have been quietly standing in the shade
All of my days
Watch the sky breaking on the promise that we made
All of this rain
And I’ve been trying to find
What’s been in my mind
As the days keep turning into night
Well many a night I found myself with no friends standing near
All of my days
I cried aloud
I shook my hands
What am I doing here
All of these days
For I look around me
And my eyes confound me
And it’s just too bright
As the days keep turning into night
Now I see clearly
It’s you I’m looking for
All of my days
Soon I’ll smile
I know I’ll feel this loneliness no more
All of my days
For I look around me
And it seems He found me
And it’s coming into sight
As the days keep turning into night
As the days keep turning into night
And even breathing feels all right
Yes, even breathing feels all right
Now even breathing feels all right
It’s even breathing
Feels all right
Thursday, February 26, 2009
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