I feel like it's been years since I've written a happy post. Which is preposterous...this blog came alive in May. It's barely been six months. And yet...this feeling persists.
So, what brings me back for my latest update?
Christmas carols.
I bet you didn't see that coming.
And yes, I know, Thanksgiving hasn't come and gone yet, but here we are anyways.
My school is hosting a festival of sorts on 11/22 (yes, Thanksgiving day), and I was asked last month to get the kids ready to sing an English song.
My reaction: Um...okay? What song?
Now, take a moment to be in my shoes. It's been some odd years since I was in Elementary School. But, I'm pretty sure we never had a festival. Maybe a Christmas pageant, but even then...it was all done in one language that a majority (if not all) of the students spoke. I was so lost on what the school was looking for.
Teacher mode flipped on and I decided that I wanted to find an easy song that also ties in the season (making decisions like a boss). I landed on, 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas'. Side note, did you know it was considered a Thanksgiving song back in the day? I didn't. And! There was a readily available ESL version. I was gonna have them all do an A Cappella version, like Christmas carolers. Being able to slide in a cultural piece, beautiful, right?
Well, I was told they needed to do more.
Brah...you want them to do two English songs?
And you want them to do Let It Go?
Somehow, I was able to scale the song back to them only having to sing a 30-second part of the song. The "easiest" part I could find.
They got it down with some struggles, but its good. Timing may be off a smidge, but they know the words.
Phew. Okay, easy breathing.
They're still struggling with We Wish You a Merry Christmas, but they're getting the hang of it. Slowly.
Mostly okay breathing, then.
This morning, when we did a final rehearsal, I was so proud of them. I sat in front of them and mouthed the words, but they did it! The whole way through without me having to fix pronunciation. Word order is still a bit off, but the pronunciation was good!
I even did a little happy squeal afterwards. That's how happy I was!
However...
The VP didn't approve...not completely. She wants to add music or a piano in the background to the song. And her reasoning, 'the timing is off'.
Honey, it's not the timing. It's their confidence in the words. It's an English song with words like 'figgy pudding' and 'good tidings' in it. And now, when they're finally getting the hang of the song, you want to introduce a piano to freak them out even more?
No.
Also, I told her I wanted to do the song in a traditional caroling way. Aka, no music, just voices.
But instead of respecting the culture that I'm introducing to your students, school, community, you'd rather add a piano because it'll make you feel better?
No.
I've recognized that for many people at the school, saying 'no' is hard to do. And sometimes, it is for me too, not wanting to disrespect them, their teaching experience, and their culture. All I ask, is the same be afforded to me.
And when it isn't...in what language do you want me to say 'no'. I got five I can give you, right here, right now.
Here's the other thing...why am I constantly told, "respect the Korean culture", when the same is not told to the workplace that has requested a foreign teacher to respect the foreigner's culture? Do they not get a training session on what to do when you have a foreigner in your office?
Perhaps this is my own privilege/entitlement coming out right now...I definitely can see how foreigners back home can feel intimidated, startled, uncomfortable, and coerced with a few words. This is definitely a learning moment for myself for when I get back home.
Moral of the story, I'm irritated. This isn't the first time I've been put in an uncomfortable situation due to cultural differences, but it is the first time I've had enough and won't let it slide.
#SaveOurToya
Curious whether I'm about to burn a bridge with the VP or not, hit the 'FOLLOW' button to find out!
No comments:
Post a Comment