Intrinsic Motivation...

There is none. One of the biggest challenges I have found from what minimal teaching experience I have had as an intern, is that it is borderline impossible to get students to do something because they really want to. It is always for a prize. Do the work, get the grades. It is completely extrinsic.

What is even more difficult and frustrating is that when teaching students ESL, the entire system is based off of reward. Because there is such an impeding language barrier, the reward system has to be broken down to the most elementary level. If you are my student and your performance is excellent for that one class period in which I have you, I will give you 5 stamps ("lemons") in your stamp book, and whenever you decide to, you can cash in that stamp book for a prize. A CD, a coloring book, or, for the ones with the most self control, a portable DVD/TV/Internet device. If your behavior is bad or if you act out in my class, I am supposed to give you anywhere between 0-4 stamps for the day. So how am I supposed to teach my students to care about something when they get points based on good behavior? I know this system is implemented in thousands of schools internationally, but it's so defeating when you know that they're only doing it so that at the end of the day, they can take home some free music. And what about the kids who don't even care about the stamps? It's not like I can call their parents and tell them that their child needs to put more effort into their English education. I am consistently reminded of my lack of control as an ESL teacher. The most I can do is send a student out in the hall if they don't do their homework, so that they can then copy their homework from a friend whilst sitting in the office, undoubtedly enjoying their time more outside of class than they would inside of it anyway.

I wanted to become a teacher because I wanted to have the ability to motivate my students to want to learn. Simple enough. I can do that with students whose first language is English. I have not been able to strike a chord or ignite any sort of affinity for education doing what I am doing now. There is a reason I spent my time getting a degree in secondary education rather than elementary education. As cute as my kids are, I want to be able to hold a real conversation with them rather than spend half of my class singing heads, shoulders, knees and toes. I want to be able to relate to them and joke with them and get them to love knowledge and the pursuit of having an active mind.

Le sigh. Some day.

Quick Update

My internet has to be validated in my apartment, so I am using the computer at work as well as Diane's computer at her apartment. Even though I don't have internet, I can still Skype, so if you get a phone call from "unavailable", that may be me. :)

I wrote some entries and saved them on Word back at home, and the moment my internet is up and running (hopefully tomorrow, cross your fingers!) I will put them up.

Today is my first day of teaching, I start in about 2 hours. From 2:30-8:00 I am teaching eleven 25 minute classes. Holy eff. Hopefully they don't wear me out! Whatev though, if I can handle high schoolers, I don't think the Korean kidlets will be able to take me down. Unless they attack me in high numbers, which they may.

Lastly, I know you all had a time change, so I am now 13 hours ahead of you, instead of 14. So it's 12:35 p.m. here, making it 11:35 p.m. there. Catching on yet? ;)

I will post again ASAP! Promise. :)