Elementary Summer Camp: Seongchon and Bongam

An experience in photos and video. Dear THT Readers, enjoy a glimpse of English Summer Camp Seongchon and Bongam style!

Good-bye Dear Seongchon, It's been a Year!

Seongchon 4th Grade Students

Seongchon 6th Grade Students

Seongchon Grade 5 Students

Seongchon Grade 3 Students

A few days back, the Harrington Times presented a list of reasons that Melissa Teacher will be missing her co-workers and students at Bongam Elementary school. Having presented her final lessons to the students of Seongchon via a Dear Diary activity and summer camp activities ranging from a lesson on animals, hobbies and ice cream sundaes, the end has finally arrived. Before moving into a middle school setting, Melissa Teacher has taken another moment to jot down some favorite memories and lessons from her year at Seongchon Elementary School:

• Paris Baguette Hamburgers with primary co-teacher Miyeong.
• First day teaching jitters and eager faces of my first students in South Korea.
• Opportunity to teach phonics and develop a teaching style for phonics
• Leading games, games and more games
• Reading about Doggy Poo
• 5th grade students committed to teaching Melissa Teacher their names (Korean AND English)
• Afternoon hikes and melt your mouth spicy squid, octopus and bean sprouts
• Winter Camp and freezing toes
• Peppero Day
• From Head to Toe - Open Class
• Sex Iron Tiger - co-workers with a sense of humor and dose of boldness
• A relaxing, non-stressful summer camp

Dear Diary: A gift for the replacement GET

In transitioning out of her two elementary schools, Melissa Teacher wanted to create a lesson that would honor her students need to know she would no longer be teaching them in the fall while also providing some potentially valuable information for the Guest English Teacher (GET) who will come into this position next. The solution? A 'Dear Diary' activity where students read/listened to the diary entries of SpongeBob, Homer Simpson and Melissa Teacher then answered some questions about what they had heard. Students who answered questions or remembered a word from the diary, had the chance to throw a 'ball' into a a 'basket' Following the reading and listening activity, students were instructed to create their own 'Diary' entry that would tip the new GET off to student interests as well as language abilities. The folowing excerpts are some Melissa Teacher's favorites from Seongchon Elementary Schools students.

Story Time: Doggy Poo

Some days in the English language classroom/career provide more chuckles than others. Having received the request to assist both her elementary schools with their Reading Contest this Spring, Melissa Harrington sat down to read a number of stories ranging from Alice in Wonderland to The Little Prince. One title however, caught Melissa Teacher's attention and the story was far from disappointing. Even better than the story, were the accompanying pictures of the stories main character: Doggy Poo.

Doggy Poo

Once upon a time, there lived little Doggy Poo. He felt all alone. He felt no one wanted him. A bird poked Doggy Poo. "What’s this? Poo! Poo! This is Doggy Poo! Dirty!" said the bird. "What? I am dirty?" asked Doggy Poo. He was bitter, and he cried.

A lump of clay laughed at Doggy Poo. "What’s so funny?" asked Doggy Poo. "You. You are a doggy poo, the worst kind!" said the clay. Doggy Poo was hurt and cried aloud. "I am really sorry," said the clay. The lump of clay paused. "I may be more of out luck," said the clay. "I am from far away. In summer, I used to grow white potato flowers there," said the clay. "Why are you here?" asked Doggy Poo. "In my homeland, rain had not come for a long time. Everything dried out so fast. I was growing chillies, but I let them die. Now I am being punished," said the clay.

"Oh! Isn’t this from my land? I guess I dropped it along the way. I will take it back home," said a farmer. The
farmer put the lump of clay in his cart. The lump of clay was happy.
"
What am I good for?" asked Doggy Poo. "I’m just Doggy Poo," he wept alone. Winter passed and spring came. A hen and her chicks passed by and looked at Doggy Poo. "This is nothing. You can’t eat it," said the hen. "I’m not even good to eat," said Doggy Poo.

It was raining. In front of Doggy Poo, there was a sprout. "Hello star, what are you?" asked Doggy Poo. "Hello, I'm a sprout. I will become a beautiful dandelion flower one day," said the sprout. "Will you be beautiful like the stars in the sky?" asked Doggy Poo. "Yes, I will shine like them too," said the sprout. "How will you become like those stars?" asked Doggy Poo. "I will use rain from the sky and the warm sun," said the sprout. "I see," sighed Doggy Poo.

"But I need one more thing," said the sprout. "What’s that?" asked Doggy Poo. "I need you!" said the sprout.
"Me? How can that be?" asked Doggy Poo. "I need you to join me. Together we can become a
beautiful dandelion flower," said the sprout. "Really? Wow!" said Doggy Poo. "You need me to become a beautiful dandelion flower," said Doggy Poo.

Doggy Poo was full of joy. "I will join you!" said Doggy Poo. The Doggy Poo squeezed the sprout and gave it a big hug. "I am good for something!" said Doggy Poo. Everyone is always needed for something.

Seongchon Elementary Winter English Camp

The Harrington Times recently brought you the story of Mike Harrington's Survivor themed English Winter camp. We now continue the report on English Winter Camps by highlighting one of Melissa Harrington's two English camps during the winter holiday, the one conducted at Seongchon Elementary School. With the assistance of a Korean Conversation Teacher, Melissa planned an assortment of activities for 3rd and 4th grade students to enjoy while using the English Language the last week of January. Lacking a theme, Melissa pulled in some activities she hoped would be winners, teamed with her spunky personality and numerous examples from the talented pool of elementary teachers in Laramie, Wyoming to pull off a few lessons which were 'less-than-perfect' in their organization and to generally create an atmosphere of fun and engaging learning for a couple sets of adorable Korean Elementary students. Highlights can be seen in the following videos and photos which showcase Melissa's 'Phonics/Ryhme' teaching style, the Ostrich Game, singing Head Shoulders Knees and Toes - part of the body parts lesson which included the all-time favorite ELL activitiy: Hilarious Body Part game, as well as other exceptional moments in this winters English camp.

Adorable and Fabulous Korean students + Their Fearless Melissa Teacher

Ostrich Game

Odds and Ends of English Camp

Merry Christmas! With Love from South Korea

The Harrington Times would like to take a moment to wish all their readers a very Merry Christmas. The Harrington's are beyond honored and blessed by your readership, friendship and kinship. The couple would love to thank of you each personally for the joy you've added to their lives, the support you've shown, the effort you've made to stay in touch and keep connected. This journey would more difficult, less rewarding and nearly impossible without the community which has challenged, nurtured, encouraged and loved this couple.

To the community of family, the Harrington's say "thank you for life, values, strength and a support that allows miles to separate us during many special and important moments on the home front. We miss you terribly and love you deeply, we would not and could not be the individuals or the couple we are were it not for your support."

To the community of friends 'stateside', the Harrington's say "we miss you, more than is expressable in words alone. You too are the reason we can take on this adventure and lifestyle with confidence and comfort. You have commented, messaged, emailed and updated us keeping us connected to these freindships which are so dear to us. You are forever on our hearts and in our minds."

To the community of 'expat' friends, the Harrington's say "we couldn't do this without you. Our Korean experience exceeds our expectations because you are here, you are wonderful and you are willing to love us like long-time friends and family in the times we need it most. If we came to Korea, only to meet you, the journey would have been worth it."

To the community of readers and stumble-uponers and such, the Harrington's say "thanks. Thanks for caring. Thanks for researching what you may get yourself into, thanks for increasing our page views because it just feels nice. Thanks for occassional comments and letting us know we've presented something that is useful for you in your planning and preperations."

To the community as a whole, the Harrington's say: "Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Rest assured that All is Merry and Bright in Daejeon, South Korea! With Love, The Harringtons"



Merry Christmas Michael Teacher - from Nameson Middle School Students



One students interpretation of Michael Teacher and the 'rendition'

 

Students grades: 3, 4 and 5 wishing you a Merry Christmas with a little

Seoul Christmas Light Show in the middle. Merry Christmas from the ROK!