How it all began in South Korea
It was started by a group of Red Cross youth team who visited their former teachers who were sick or retired. Since 1963, it has become a day for Korean students to appreciate their teachers. Traditionally, teachers are given carnations and cards, and are presented with a program in school.
My Experience of Teacher's Day @ KISP
I was told that there used to be just a program for the teachers in the past years. However this year, classes were held for three periods before the program commenced.
After three periods of teaching, students gathered in the gymnasium and teachers were called to join them. We stood at the back while a program went on in Korean language. We watched as the emcee called a select number of students from each year level to receive certificates, of which nature are unbeknownst to non-Korean natives like us.
After about 15 minutes, we were called to sit along a line of chairs on opposite sides of the gymnasium. We figured the program for the teachers was about to start.
A Korean song was rendered by the whole student body for the teachers. We figured it would be about thanking the teachers. During the song, a student from each year level gave the traditional carnation to their respective homeroom advisers and sub-homeroom advisers. A video presentation was shown with each teacher receiving a message from a student. It was just unfortunate that we could hardly hear what was being said in the video. Nonetheless, we appreciated the effort.
Then there was another set of message for all teachers given by student representatives from Elementary, Middle School and High School. The final tribute came from a Middle School student who sang for all the teachers.
The whole program took about 20 minutes. After the photo-ops, the day was over.
After three periods of teaching, students gathered in the gymnasium and teachers were called to join them. We stood at the back while a program went on in Korean language. We watched as the emcee called a select number of students from each year level to receive certificates, of which nature are unbeknownst to non-Korean natives like us.
After about 15 minutes, we were called to sit along a line of chairs on opposite sides of the gymnasium. We figured the program for the teachers was about to start.
A Korean song was rendered by the whole student body for the teachers. We figured it would be about thanking the teachers. During the song, a student from each year level gave the traditional carnation to their respective homeroom advisers and sub-homeroom advisers. A video presentation was shown with each teacher receiving a message from a student. It was just unfortunate that we could hardly hear what was being said in the video. Nonetheless, we appreciated the effort.
Then there was another set of message for all teachers given by student representatives from Elementary, Middle School and High School. The final tribute came from a Middle School student who sang for all the teachers.
The whole program took about 20 minutes. After the photo-ops, the day was over.
It is the Thought that Counts
Being lost in translation every time there is a program is something that I have come to accept to live with. We stand or sit through programs taking cue from everyone else when to stand, sit, clap or even leave the gymnasium. I expected that this program should at least have been different, that in this program, we would not be left behind figuring out what was happening, and what was being said. After all, this is ONCE in a YEAR occasion.
But God has His ways of reminding us that teaching is a noble profession, and that we are NOT to expect anything in return... even during Teacher's Day.
After celebrating a half-hour program of Teacher's Day in KISP, I was reminded that the gesture of teacher appreciation goes above and beyond language barrier. That even if I did not understand most of what was said, the mere thought that there was a 30-minute program for us was something that I should be grateful for. I reminded myself during Teacher's Day that it is always the thought that counts.
Still I wondered if all Korean International Schools around the world celebrate their teacher's day this way. I am not keen to find out though.
But God has His ways of reminding us that teaching is a noble profession, and that we are NOT to expect anything in return... even during Teacher's Day.
After celebrating a half-hour program of Teacher's Day in KISP, I was reminded that the gesture of teacher appreciation goes above and beyond language barrier. That even if I did not understand most of what was said, the mere thought that there was a 30-minute program for us was something that I should be grateful for. I reminded myself during Teacher's Day that it is always the thought that counts.
Still I wondered if all Korean International Schools around the world celebrate their teacher's day this way. I am not keen to find out though.
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| KISP teachers led by Principal Hwang Soon Tae (seated 6th from L) |
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