As every teacher of kindergarten classes at a Korean English academy knows, the approach of winter means preparing a Christmas show with one's students.  I chose to put on a rendition of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol.  I wrote as simple of an adaptation as I could, accommodating my twelve students by giving them an equal amount to do.  I also wrote two songs, whose lyrics can be found below.

As the script demanded a lot from my 6-year-old ESL students, I needed to prepare an audio version of the play for them to listen and practice along to.  I remember spending night after night, after everyone else had gone home, with my Dell Inspiron 1100, computer microphone (my good mic was still in America), and copy of Magix Audio Studio, recording and mixing some of the worst voice acting imaginable.  Still, it was a labor of love, and my students appreciated it.  One of my student's mother told me that her daughter listened to the CD obsessively, driving the rest of the household crazy.

Mr. Scrooge
music and lyrics by Charles Ian Chun
performed and recorded by Charles Ian Chun
production assistance by Steve Kynoch

Mr. Scrooge, we have no food.
Help us on this Christmas Day.

Bah, humbug!
Bah, humbug!
I am not going to help you!

Mr. Scrooge, we have no coal.
Keep us warm for just one day.

I have coal.
I have coal.
I have coal, but none for you!

Mr. Scrooge . . .

Bah, humbug!

Mr. Scrooge . . .

Go away!

Mr. Scrooge . . .

I am not going to help you!

A Changed Man
music and lyrics by Charles Ian Chun
performed and recorded by Charles Ian Chun

On Christmas Day, (On Christmas Day)
A man has changed. (A man has changed)

On Christmas Day, (On Christmas Day)
A man has changed. (A man has changed)

He was greedy, but now he gives away.
Now he’s happy and finally changed his ways.
And we can share this Christmas Day!