Screenshots of my online English classes

I am an online English teacher and have been so for the last five years. I am happy that technology has allowed to have such a wonderful job and that I am able to help people even if they are far away. My students are in South Korea and are taking these classes in the comforts of their own homes, their offices during break times, and in the case of group classes, in their schools.

We have a very good software that is installed on students’ computers so that classes can be conducted. This is our online classroom. Both the teacher and the student/s can use a webcam to see each other:

We also have a “whiteboard” where I upload powerpoint slides of the day’s lesson. Both the teacher and the student can type words or use the pen tool to write and doodle on the screen. 

We have students as young as six and as old as sixty. The absolute beginners take  a phonics class wheren they learn about the alphabet, and sounds of letters and letter combinations, and eventually, reading.

This is Ji Eun learning the /sh/ and /ch/ sounds.

Those who can already read enter into Junior classes. In these classes we study story books. Here’s a small group of students studying the book called “This is Ping.”

Here’s Jun Hyun. He is taking up Junior classes in the intermediate level. This day we were talking about holidays and seasons:

Here’s Jong. He’s an English professor and he takes online classes just for the sake of having a straight English conversation every day.

As we all know, one must constantly practice speaking English in order not to “lose it.” There’s little opportunity for South Koreans to practice speaking English in their country, so many professionals take online English classes. We have professors, teachers, executives, engineers, businessmen, and even housewives studying with us.

As of the moment, the company has about 1300 students. We are located in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

Hello Morning!

Today is my first day of working in a morning shift after almost five years of getting up at 11am and working in the afternoons until evening.  Today I had to be at work by 5am so I left home at 4:15. Travelling in the morning, I noticed some things:

• People have wet hair. This is the country where going out with wet hair is okay because it is actually proof that you take showers daily.  The person next to me was exuding the luscious scent of Rejoice.

• Jeepneys are crammed.  While in the afternoon I had the luxury of choosing jeepneys, this morning I had to beat thirty other commuters in a battle for a ride and jump at the first one that came along just to squeeze into a space meant for a five-year-old.

• Barya lang po sa umaga. This adage must be taken seriously to avoid hassle. It is practically a crime to give Manong a 100-peso bill at 4 in the morning.

• To the marketplace. You will most probably share a ride with someone who has got buckets with ice and fish, baskets of vegetables, big plastic bags filled with chicharon,  aluminum containers for taho, filled with taho, a bilao of puto and other rice cakes and many, many more. It’s nice to have a warm cup of taho while on a jeep in the early morning.

• The Fast and the Furious. Drivers drive lighting fast, taking advantage of the still-spacious roads. People walk and move quickly as well, trying to make it on time for school or work.

• Optimus Prime . Trucks of Transformers proportions are present in the roads early in the morning, leaving a trail of hot air and sometimes, cracks on the pavement.

• No Babies. Having been a victim of an infant with a gastronomic problem while inside a jeepney, I generally avoid sitting next to, or directly in front of, people with babies.  There don’t seem to be many travelling with their tiny bundles of joy on early mornings,  so all is good.

• Screaming Radio DJs. So yes, its morning. And yes, people need to wake up. And that seems to be the reason why radio DJs think it is proper to scream greetings and laugh when nothing’s funny, and then play upbeat music appropriate for a town fiesta. The drivers seem to be enjoying this kind of morning entertainment, as other jeepneys nearby are also tuned to the same annoying radio station.

I made it to work early and managed to arrive in the office still looking fresh, as opposed to commuting at 1pm and arriving at work looking like a dried prune. I think, I’m starting to really like mornings.

 

Kat is Back!

In my new morning shift work station, with my nice aquatic backdrop.