My students in Thailand love Kpop! And that is why I get along with most of them (because I am the teacher who adores Kpop!)
This is my first time really writing about what my day job is in my blog, though some people already know. Yes, I am teaching here in Thailand. And my students are in middle school and high school. Anyway, like I said we get along pretty well because of Kpop. Most of them warm up toward me especially when they know their teacher goes gaga over Super Junior, Big Bang and 2NE1.
But something about what one student told me made me write this post..
My students know I write a blog as a hobby. I told them it’s because I like Kpop and because I want to practice writing. So I sometimes encourage them to check my blog once in a while just to practice their English.
But today, someone asked me.. “Teacher why is there no EXO article in your blog?”
I was suddenly shocked! I didn’t know what to say. I knew that student really liked them.. however I only know EXO by name (I know they released MAMA) but I don’t know anything about them! Come to think of it I have no clue about all the other recent debuts made in Kpop. I guess I am pretty old school.
In the past year, there were a lot of Kpop debuts. I don’t even know who the new girl groups are or who the new boybands are. I knew something about EXO. But doesn’t everyone know about them. I remember thinking it was so crazy having lots and lots of teasers for a new boy group. But I never really paid attention to them. It’s not that I don’t like them it’s just that I can’t keep up! They have been debuting left and right that I don’t know who is who. And also I have a day job that I have to do so I can’t give it 100% of my time.
The last debuts that I really kept track were that of Teen Top, B1A4, and Infinite. And that was like so long ago! But I still do like these idol groups. But I think to me I am sticking out to the original idols. I don’t why but I guess I am one of those fans who grew up with the idol group who was popular during their time. Maybe this is also one of the reasons why I am not really welcoming the new debuts.
Also, my tastes in Korean music have evolved from just listening to pop music, to listening to the different Korean music genres. I tell you there are a lot, just that when we think of Korean music, we just associate it with Kpop. But the Korean music scene has lots more to offer like Hiphop – Yoon Mirae (Tasha), Tiger JK, Leessang, DJDOC – Ballads – Sung Sikyung, Hugak, 4Men, 10CM, Nell – Acoustic and Indie – Standing Egg and Peppertones, among others.
I have also started to listen to old Kpop songs.. actually I hear them most of the time in shows like Immortal Song 2 or I am a Singer. I like it and so I look for them. Most of them were released even before Kpop created a storm all over the world.
I guess because of these reasons, I never really paid attention to New Kpop idols.
So if you are wondering why EXO or VIXX or NU’EST or AOA or B.A.P doesn’t make it to my blog.. come back and read this post 🙂
Oh and to keep from hurting my student, I just said… I’m not really into them.. I’m still gaga over groups who debuted way way before them!
credits: as tagged
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Pinayunnies.com 
Hi chipskjaa! I like to listen to kpop every once in awhile. I usually like the music I hear from the kdramas. I like mblaq because I heard one of their songs from YEH’s drama Lie To Me. I accidentally saw N’uest from YouTube. They are all very young, but shoot if I was a teenager, I would have been a fan girl for them. Ren is cute like an anime character. Lol. Oh well, I like to listen and watch their MV’s. Oh, I like UKISS too. Kevin and Eli are both from California. In fact, Nickun from 2 pm went to the same high school as my daughter before he was recruited by JYP. He would have graduated the same year as her. She didn’t know him personally. Shucks! I don’t cuss. I’m a teacher. Talk later. I’m rambling again. I’ll let u know what happens in the JJH/YEH thread.
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i know what you mean.. i think part of why i am not digging the new groups is the fact that they way younger than i am! at least with the ones who debuted before.. my age is a lot closer to theirs so i guess i can relate to them more. i actually like ukiss too because of eli and kevin! i used to watch them a lot on arirang! haha.. nichkhun is thai! he is uberly popular here! i kinda like him too.. pity about the scandal he had though, but i hope he’ll get come back! lucky for ur daughter.. i bet all my students will be so jealous when i tell them that! har har.. ya.. talk to you later! and remember rambling is very welcome!
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There have been so many idols debuting that I have personally lost interest in most of them and only listen to ones that my friends tell me about. I prefer sticking with the groups I love best like DBSK, 2PM and Wonder Girls mainly. And Jay Park ^^
Also, have you ever thought about more what goes on behind the scenes of making an idol? If so, I wrote a small post that I wonder if you could read and comment on about certain aspects that K-Pop idols are being made into these days: http://nynyonlinex.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/workaholic-society-of-an-idol/
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i really could not keep up with all of them.. at first i thought it was frustrating because there would be songs i did not know about.. but then later on i did not care too much and i started to just listen to what i like.. or the ones that are on the Melon top 100…
i kind of hear what it was like behind the scene because i knew an eonni who had a writer/producer friend and i had a student who worked for one of the 3 big companies. from their stories, it must be really exhausting to be an idol.. imagine just getting only 2 hours of sleep.. sometimes less!
frankly i don’t want that.. but that’s the price for fame, money and fortune! and it’s their dreams so i give props to them for persevering!
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