Stories that shook Korea in 2010

Read the article here: Stories that shook Korea in 2010

*Korea-US Reach Deal on FTA

*North Korea Shells Yeonpyeong Island

*North Korea Unveils Uranium Enrichment Facility

*Seoul Hosts G20 Summit

*N.Korea Makes 3rd-Generation Succession Official

*46 Sailors Dead in N.Korean Torpedo Attack

*Kim Yu-na Rewrites Figure Skating History

Update 2

I have accepted a position with Pagoda Junior in Eungam-dong, Eunpyeong-gu. I'll be living in Eungam-dong again about a block from where I used to live.


I will start on March 1st.

South Korea schools get robot English teachers

Read the article here: Robot English Teachers

About 30 English teaching robots have been teaching children in South Korea. They are part of a pilot program to test how well robots will work in English education.

The robot named Engkey, a white, egg shaped robot,  is being used at 21 elementary schools in Daegu. The robots are about 3.3 feet high with a TV display for a face. They are wheeled around the classroom speaking to students, reading books, and dancing by moving their head and arms.

The robots show a picture of a Caucasion woman. They are controlled remotely by English teachers in the Philippines. The teachers in the Philippines can see and hear the children through a remote control system.The cameras detect the Flipino teacher's facial expressions and they show up on the computer's face.

They are using Flipino teachers because they are cheaper than other teachers.

The robots are in the testing mode right now. They might consider hiring them full time if they are upgraded and less expensive. The robots currently lost 10 million won each. The pilot lasts 4 months and the government invested 1.58 billion won (1.37 million dollars).

They aren't going to replace human teachers. They are using the robots as an extra resource because they think that children won't be as nervous with the robots as they would be talking to a foreigner.

I loved this quote: "Plus, they won't complain about health insurance, sick leave and severance package, or leave in three months for a better-paying job in Japan... all you need is a repair and upgrade every once in a while."

**(And they won't give your child AIDS)

***I think it would be interesting to actually see how they work in person.I'd like to see how it works and how the kids interact with them. I asked my students last year what they thought of robot teachers and they all thought it was a cool idea.

South Korea: Should Foreign Teachers Be Tested for HIV?

This was an article in TIME magazine about mandatory HIV testing for foreign English teachers.

I personally think its crazy, but I didn't protest it when I had to do it twice. Why is it only for foreigners? And why are "Entertainment" Visas and migrant workers exempt? Are English teachers the only ones who spread around HIV/AIDS?

In 2007 a former English teacher was charged with sex crimes with children in other countries. Parents got upset and demanded that English teachers be screened more carefully. Then HIV testing and criminal background checks were required for English teachers.

Most people think the practice is ineffective and discriminatory. There have been no known cases of a Teacher-Student infection.

A health official said that "We've decided to ease the rules as HIV is not transmitted through air or water but through human contact most of the time." (regarding why E6 visas don't have to get tested)

Another official from the Ministry of Education also gave a reason for keeping the teacher tests: Mandatory HIV/AIDS testing for foreign English teachers "does not mean the government regards foreign teachers to be HIV positive or have the potential of transmission," he said. "It is just intended to assure the parents."

**Who are all these teachers who are sleeping with students??? Shouldn't there be a stricter system to make sure child molesters don't gain entry into Korea? And why aren't Koreans who teach tested? There's no possible way they could have HIV? Do only foreigners have AIDS? Koreans can't have it?

Here's the link to the article: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2039281,00.html

update 1

I'm planning on arriving in Seoul on or before March 1st. Only 68 days till March 1st!!! I have been counting down the whole year and I finally feel like its getting close!

I regret coming home, but I did have some good experiences while I was back at home. I had my share of bad experiences also. I'm so glad that I have the opportunity to come back to Korea.

Right now Im currently getting my documents together. I just got my FBI background check back last week. This week I sent off a copy of my diploma and FBI background check to get an apostille.

Today I applied to a hagwon in Eunpyeong-gu. I'll give more information after I actually get the job. A friend referred me there so she said I have first dibs on the job. She had nothing but great things to say about the school. I read over the contract and asked her tons of questions before applying. I think its going to be a great experience for round 2.

I get a raise which will be nice. It will be about an extra 100 dollars a month. My housing would be smaller than my last place. My old hagwon spoiled me with an awesome apartment. I asked my friend's boss if I could live in that place again but he said the security deposit was twice as much as the school was paying on the current place they give to students.

update: Dec 25----I have a phone interview on Monday!!

Korean Lullaby

Here's the youtube link (embedding disabled): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOV2TcmgEns

멍멍개야 짖지마라 (mong mong geya jitjimara) (Hey doggie, don’t bark)

우리아기 잘도잔다 (uri agi jaldo janda) (Our baby sleeps so well)
꼬꼬닭아 울지마라 (ggoggo dakah ulgimara) (Hey chickie, don’t bark)
우리아기 단잠 깬다 (uri agi danjam ggenda) (You’ll wake our child’s sweet sleep)
자장자장 우리 아가 (jajang jajang uri aga) (Hush hush our baby)
잘도 잔다 우리 아가 (jaldo janda uri aga) (Our baby sleeps so well)

Verse 1



달보다도 고운 아가 (dalbodado goun aga) (A baby more beautiful than the moon)
별보다도 빛난 아가 (byul bodado bitnan aga) (A baby more beautiful than the stars )
자장자장 우리 아가 (jajang jajang uri aga) (Hush hush our baby)
잘도 잔다 우리 아가 (jaldo janda uri aga) (Our baby sleeps so well)

Chorus (look above)

Verse 2
곷보다도 예쁜 아가 (kotbodado yebbun aga) (A baby more beautiful than flowers)
금보다도 귀한 아가 (gumbodado guihan aga) (A baby more precious than gold)
자장자장 우리 아가 (jajang jajang our baby) (Hush hush our baby)
잘도 잔다 우리 아가 (jaldo janda uri aga) (jaldo janda uri aga) (Our baby sleeps so well)

Music Video: GD & Top "High High"

South Korean artist creates wearable food collection

An article from Yahoo: Dresses Good Enough To Eat
In the yahoo article you can see pictures from her collection.

Yeonju's website : http://www.yeonju.me/

Yeonju Sung lives and works in Seoul, South Korea.

Yeonju Sung has been creating clothing using food items for the past 2 years. The clothing is part of her 'wearable food' series.

Yeonju's work will be shown in an upcoming Korean Contemporary Art exhibition in January of 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

Music Video: Sistar "How Dare You"