Well many people have asked "Can you use 'The Bondaygee ESL System' at Korean public schools?  And I must to tell you emphatically that Korean public schools are the most awesome place for using the 'Bondaygee ESL System'!

Guess what? I actually video recorded and documented much of my experiences in Korea.  However the best ESL Case Study I have ever documented was the time I was at Kwangnam Elementary 2007 School in Seoul 광남초등학교.  So let me tell it to you now, since I have finally found much of the old video footage that I created at that time.  Gather and listen to an amazing ESL story.

The Amazing Kwangnam ESL Story

So the year was 2007 and we had just moved from Cheongju to Seoul and I was looking for a new job.  I got an offer from a public Elementary School, but wasn't sure if I would like it or not.  These were big classes with about 40 students.  The idea was to teach ESL with their native Korean teacher there for support.  Huge classes and shared leadership, I wasn't sure, but said, "Ok let's give it a try."

I walked in there with my guitar for the initial classroom introductions, but just before introducing myself as "James Purdie," I thought, why not try my funny Korean nickname, "James Bondaygee"?  After all, I already made a 'Bondaygee Song' and movie, so it would be easy to support my funny persona with these "creative credentials" to students and maybe get a few laughs out of it at the same time. 

So I went for it.  "Hi there everybody.  It's nice to meet you.  My name is James Bondaygee, but you can call me Mr. Bondaygee." 

The students' reaction was instant laughter and disbelief as they stared at me.  I knew I was getting a response and rapport,  so I said "Yeah, you wanna hear the "Bondaygee Song?"  So I pulled out my guitar and sang my little tune, "Bondaygee  Bondaygee!"  I guess at this point I kind of realized the power of my art and creativity in general. Although I always considered it a silly little song, the reaction by the students said something far deeper in their eyes.  They weren't just looking at me as teacher, but as some kind of ESL Superhero who had come to liberate their minds and revolutionize the whole ESL World!  If you're a person who grew up watching Bugs Bunny at all, this is the exact moment in which Bugs says..."Meehhh What's up Doc?" and everybody goes nuts with a happy hysteria.  I actually showed several episodes of Bugs Bunny that year.  We laughed hysterically ourselves.  That's the best kind of laughter.

Anyways, for the teaching, naturally I was supposed to follow the Korean Text book and create a lesson plan everyday.  However, after a few months, I thought to myself, maybe my students might enjoy some of my own educational music videos as a supplemental bonus.  After all, I had made so many already including the "Very Good Words Series" and many more basic ones.  What's funny about it all is, I was actually pretty intimidated at the idea of teaching such a huge group of students and Korean teachers too, but I observed something awesome:  larger groups had more "good energy."  In every single class, there were several "superstar" students that would shine and transmit like a spiritual energy to me and it would bounce back and forth like the way a laser works (that's how lasers work by the way.  Light bounces around in a little chamber getting stronger and stronger until it pops out the tiny hole as a powerful, concentrated light beam).

So as I started teaching my own educational videos along with the regular curriculum, I was happy to see that students were quite entertained and "into it".  I share some basic videos like my "Action Easy Verb Video," and then next I tried my "Very Good Words Series".  The response was far better than I expected. "Wow!" I thought, "We've got some real potential here!  These kids are thirsty for this kind of learning-musical ESL lessons."  I proceeded to test the Very Good Words again with the other classes.  I should state clearly that I had ten identical Grade 3 Korean Classes with 40 students in each and a respective, Korean teacher.  Interestingly each Korean teacher had their own unique style and atmosphere.  Sometimes this really promoted the spirit of learning, which I could always feel.  I became so close to some of the Korean teachers, with whom I often shared 'knowing smiles' of a mysterious, spiritual connection.

Anyhow, after "testing the waters" and realizing that the potential for great learning and growth was really there, I improvised a large scale system for the entire school grade and went for it, putting my heart and soul into this passionate endeavour.

My Great Educational Experiment

I continued to teach the Korean textbook, but at the start of each class, I started with a Very Good Words Music Video. The school was very supportive.  They allowed me to print giant posters of my "Very Good Words" Word lists.  The posters were great because the students could see them at any time they wanted.  As they got familiar with the words,they would frequently browse, read and try the practice sentences below each word.  Next, we made a personal A4 Sized photo copy of each words list for all of the student in grade 3.  That makes roughly 400 students.  When we gave the word-list handouts, I always read them over one time with the students.  We always practiced the pronunciation one time, asked questions and discussed the students' favorite words. Sometimes I'd ask students to try and make sentence with any of the words.  That can be a fun game too.

So after we went over the list once, we would watch and listen to the Very Good Word Music Videos.  At first, it is best to read the word list while listening to the music video.  This helped the student memorize the words much faster.  In a very short time, students could easily remember every word and no longer needed the word lists.  And then they triumphantly sang out each word as it appeared on the big screen monitor.  The students seemed very empowered by the words and their growing new knowledge.  As we learned each Very Good Word Song (VGW1-VGW8), several students made their own booklet with the words carefully protected inside.  I was touched to see that.

The Next Level: Exponential Learning

Well it seemed like things were going so well, it was like a dream-come-true educational experience.  Could things get any better? The triumphant answer was yes! A few days later it occurred to me, why not make everything into a school wide ESL Competition using all ten grade 3 classes?  This is why it turned out to be such an amazing educational experiment, because we began with ten equal classes of 40 students.

The Korean teachers and I put it to the students: "Let's have a competition to see which class can memorize all the 'Very Good Words' first!"  The students went crazy with this idea and took to the task of memorizing all the words of each VGW Song with such a passion and fervor that we could only sit back in amazement at what we had started.  This was exponential learning.  This was profound.  This was like "spiritual ESL learning"!  Every class after that point forward was like a musical climb up Mount Everest.  I grew to love every single student at that time.  We all had the feeling of transcendence.  I dreamed at that time, I remember, of  being in the classroom and singing John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High Colorado!"

We were on such a roll at this time! To take it to another level again, higher still, we started to play a game of Very Good Words "Class Recitals/학생 발표", where students who claimed to have learned the entire word songs would come up in front of the class and sing out the words, usually very fast and nervous with their friends watching.  And I started to photograph and video tape some of these performances.  I will included below one of the funniest and coolest kids from that school.  He took a ruler and a textbook and taped them together like a guitar and he emulated me in the classroom.  This made me laugh so hard!  Check him out!  What a great student!  I also had this special T-Shirt made by one of my Korean artist friends which I gave to the first students to memorize Very Good Words#1-4.  Many students went right to VGW7.  VGW5 even has a 100 words!  That was a test to see if students could do it.  Yes they could! And so can you. 

By the way, this is how I learned Korean.  First learn all these English/Korean word associations and then a Korean/English sentence for each one.  The word lists themselves were about ten years of teaching and writing down the most commonly used words, words that you kept teaching over and over again to each class.  Or words that you found yourself always using with your friends.

The rest of the story is sweet history in my memory, but I'm sure you can get the picture.  There were several times where I and the Korean teachers had to pinch ourselves and ask if we were really teaching or dreaming?  It was really special and unforgettable.  I hope to hear more from the students in the future, which is why I'm posting this information, this story, pictures and videos.  And if you ever happen to teach at that Kwangnam School in Seoul, ask if they remember the Legend of Bondaygee Teacher? 번데기 선생님.

Here's a video with the Grade 3 Class#9.  I'm doing the song with my guitar, but you can just as easily use the "Youtube" videos with the big screen class monitors!  Take it to the next level yourselves!  Be another superstar teacher or school!

Click here to see the full Kwangnam ESL Experiment Highlights:

So, how would you like to meet Mr. Bondaygee?

Feel free to write an email or give a call or arrange a meeting if you're living in Canada. I love Korean people! It's also possible to arrange a Skype meeting if you so desire.

I currently live in Kelowna, BC, Canada, (a city with a sky-rocketing Korean population!) Kelowna is probably the most beautiful city in Canada. It's approximately 380 Kms East of Vancouver and it is situated next to the beautiful and giant Okanagan Lake, which provides gorgeous beaches throughout the city in the summer time.

Click here if you wish to get in touch. Take Care,

James

Can you imagine having a private ESL Class right from your smartphone or laptop? It's happening every day now all around us! Don't be left behind!

With technology improving so rapidly it's becoming obvious that online teaching is the way of the future. There's no need to waste time and money on transportation costs and the problem of finding a good, experienced teacher. As more and more Universities and hospitals utilize online education, so too will all types of learning be found through the internet. Education will flourish as the "right teacher" is just a few mouse clicks away.

Feel Free to Contact Me Here to Make a Class!

Or add me to SKYPE And Let's talk! ID: bondaygee

Paying for classes is easy through PayPal. You can use a credit card or a Paypal Account.

It was a great year teaching online for Sapa, Bongrim, Jayeo, Bangdong, Yumok, and Donga Elementary and Middle schools. It was a lot of fun. Although this teaching year is over. Feel free to setup more classes whether they be a group class or individual classes. I offer a very fair price at only 20$ CAN for 30 minutes or 40$ for an hourI can teach 1:1It was a great year teaching online for Sapa, Bongrim, Jayeo, Bangdong, Yumok, and Donga Elementary and Middle schools. It was a lot of fun. Although this teaching year is over. Feel free to setup more classes whether they be a group class or individual classes. I offer a very fair price at only 20$ CAN for 30 minutes or 40$ for an hour. or in larger groups. This is very convenient and comfortable in your house. I have many Korean references if you want to ask about their online ESL experiences.

Who is Mr. Bondaygee (미스터 번데기)?

(한국말 이야기 밑에보세요!)

1997: Canadian, UBC Graduate, James Purdie decided to move to Korea to teach ESL and learn about foreign culture and languages.

2000: While teaching children, English Teacher, James, has idea to make a "Bondaygee" song (번데기 송) after hearing children chant "bondaygee bondaygee" 번데기 번데기. James later shares song with children who suddenly love it.

2002: James creates an English School in Cheongju, South Korea, named "JJ's English Friends", and starts to make his own curriculum while carefully watching how students learned.

2003: James starts using video as a teaching tool, putting children right into "video dialogues" and then giving digital copies of their work so they don't forget the lessons and English dialogues.

Later in 2003: James asks middle school students what kind of video they want to make. Students cry for a "Bondaygee Song"-Musical Comedy. James agrees and transforms into larger than life, hero, "James Bondaygee" for the film. The film turns into a major success with all students. (This was also a funny coincidence since as a child idolized movie legend, James Bond 007!)

2004: James turns boring study word lists into musical songs and then videos. The Very Good Words System is born! Students thrive and beg for more. James completes 8 Very Good Word Songs and videos without rest!

2005: James moves to Seoul and starting teaching in public schools. For first time, James introduces himself as Mr. Bondaygee. The students go wild with interest and imagination. They learn "Mr. Bondaygee's Very Good Word" Songs and incredible speed. They thrive. It's awesome.

The rest is history!

2009 James returns to Canada, ending a ten year adventure, to share in stories with curious Canadians, (but still loves to speak Korean and meeting Korean people).

The Bondaygee Story 번데기 이야기

저에대해조금설명하자면,

1997년에처음한국에영어교사로갔었습니다.

처음든생각은신기함이고,

내나라와달라조금힘들었죠. 하지만차차좋아지게됐습니다.

어느날학원에서아이들가르치는도중

아이들이 ‘번데기하나, 번데기둘’ 하는게임을보게됐죠.

집에와서 내가그번데기노래를기타치며따라불렀습니다.

그런데진짜로시장에서팔고있는번데기를보게돼었죠.

그당시한국말은잘몰랐지만,

반가움에 ‘번데기’라고외쳤죠.

생긴게웃겨서웃음이나더라고요.

다시한번 ‘번데기’ 라고불러보니좋았습니다.

나중에찾아보니뜻있는상징이있다는걸알게됐죠.

인간은아름다운무언가를 향해성장하고변화할수있다는자연의가르침,

저뜻이좋아서번데기노래를만들어불렀죠.

바로다음날학원에가서연주했더니, 학생들이아주좋아했어요.

다음해학생들이 ‘번데기’ 뮤직비디오를요구해왔죠.

그런후로 ‘제임스번데기’ 로불리게됐습니다.

저렇게불리고나니어렸을적생각이나웃음이절로나왔드랬죠.

어렸을적에항상007제임스본드를열망해왔거든요.

그뒤로다른학원이나학교를갈때마다 ‘제임스번데기’ 라고소개를하니학생들반응이뜨거웠습니다.

학생들이재미있어하니영어배우는것도좋아하더군요.

Hey You!

Have a good day!