Last year, my teaching was greatly restricted to the confines of the English textbook.  We had 8 or 16 chapters (depending on the grade level) and we were expected to complete everything, leaving only a a couple of odd days leftover, which were inevitably eaten up during the course of the semester by the school sports day or a field trip or some other special occurrence.
 
This year is a completely different situation and I enjoy the freedom of being able to devote the bulk of a lesson to teaching the students about Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the like.
 
For most of the year we play games and I try to re-enforce what is covered in their textbook English classes, but this year I decided to give my voice a break and devote our last two classes before the Winter Break to the Christmas holiday. (Unlike the current United States, I don't have to worry about being politically correct over here so I can actually call it Christmas...isn't that nice!) 
 
The students usually just listen and repeat or copy something into their notebook and there is really very little free thinking.
 
It took me weeks to break them of the terrible E.S.L. (English as a Second Language) habit of answering "How are you?" with the tape recorder-esque answer of "I'm fine thank you, and you?"  Now, after months of repeated efforts at the beginning of each class my students answer me with a multitude of answers based on how they TRULY feel.  (Thank gosh!)
 
So in my continued question for a more free-thinking group of students I threw the proverbial ball to them and said "show me what you've got!"
 
I began by telling them my sad story of leaving my friends and family behind in the U.S. to come to Korea, where I am sad and lonely (not really but it earned me sympathy points from the students).  I told them that in the U.S. my friends give Christmas cards, but I don't receive any (also not true...you know who you are!~) since I'm so far away in Korea.
 
I then told them that their assignment for that class, and homework should they need more time, is to make me a Christmas card and write me a letter/note in English on the inside.
 
You should have witnessed the waves of mixed expressions of excitement and horror as the students reveled in the opportunity to do something original, yet then hit the imaginary brick wall as they suddenly discovered that expressing themselves in an English letter/note would not be so easily accomplished! 
 
To assist them, I showed them a variety of examples of Christmas cards which I had picked off the value rack at the Home Plus store.  I also wrote several key words and expressions on the board which they would surely want to know for the card.
 
i.e.
You are the greatest Chris Teacher!
You are my best teacher ever!
I want to be like you when I grow up!
 
Ok, so maybe not.  Instead, I wrote things like:
 
Merry Christmas
Happy New Year
and Santa Claus

The project was a great test for their young minds.  They were not being asked regurgitate the day's lesson.  They had to offer up something fresh on their own.  I didn't care what the letter said.  It could have been autobiographical or simply contained a few short expressions (depending on the student's ability).  But whatever they wrote, it was truly 'theirs'.
 
To sweeten the deal for them a bit more, and to show them another aspect of a 'western world' Christmas, I bribed them with the promise of candy!~  Now the bribe is not the western aspect I'm showing them, as bribes are certainly nothing new in this world I currently call home.  To the students who gave me a card, I gave a candy cane.  Candy canes are not so common here in Korea, and I found a bucket of the small red and white canes at CostCo for about $7.
 
My investment of $7 proved to be very fruitful because on the last day of school before the holidays, I called for the cards, and found myself the new owner of hundreds of cards of all shapes, sizes, and styles.
 
In keeping with the idea of saving my voice before the break, I surprised the students with an English movie.  I played one of the old Christmas clay-mation classics and I sat down at my desk to read through the cards.
 
My 'sad story' and a $7 investment gave me hundreds of reasons to smile on that day.  I have hundreds of students with smiles and open arms who still show excitement every time they see, even after a year and a half.  I certainly have no reason to be sad and lonely in Seoul.

Below I have included several examples of the cards my students made.  Obviously these are some of my favorites, and there were many cards that were VERY simple, but the cards were made by students in the 3rd grade all the way to the 6th grade, so their abilities are quite varied.  Enjoy!

(I will include more photos of the cards in my Kodak Gallery.  If you are interested in viewing them and do not already receive my gallery invitations, please let me know and I can include you on the list.)

 
        
         The stock is actually an envelope of sorts!!                                                I think this card is SO cute!!


        
                        A couple of nice cards                                                                  A couple of cards.
      


                                            
            Fun pop up action in the middle of the card                                    I enjoy the half Korean and half English!~



        
        I think this card was made by a 3rd grader                                        This card was made by a 6th grader