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jpvanderwerf2001 · Joined: 02 Oct 2003 Posts: 1117 Location: New York

I've had three classes so far since the tragic shooting spree in Virginia, and we've ended up talking about it in all three. Students here in Russia are really affected.
How about your classes? Will you bring it up? Has it been brought up? What are the attitudes?

Mr. Kalgukshi · Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 5:04 am Post subject: Thread

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furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 5:14 am Post subject:

wildchild · Joined: 14 Nov 2005 Posts: 519 Location: Puebla 2009 - 2010

I brought it up to one of my students.

The shooter immigrated to the US when he was 9 years old. He spent more years in America than any where else. The headlines said he was South Korean.

We talked about identity.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I've mentioned it to a couple students, but I don't think it is suitable for any of my classes.

Very tragic.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

No, I will not bring it up. No reason. I teach conversation classes where students barely know how to say introductions, reading and listening classes with the same students who are struggling to catch the least little word (written or spoken), and farm kids who can't even do the above.

I don't teach social studies or current events, either.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

At my university, none of my students have mentioned it. Some of the teachers with more advanced students have had the subject introduced by the students, leading to some good discussion and debate in the classroom.

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

I'm currently teaching high school physics and on spring vacation, but I will absolutely bring it up when classes start up next week. I was doing my student teaching when Columbine happened and we set aside the majority of the day for discussions on the issue and made counselors and psychologists available to help students deal with their feelings of safety and trust.

Though we may be far from the incident, we and our students are affected.

Mike_2003 · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Posts: 344 Location: Bucharest, Romania

Nobody has mentioned it.

I'll discuss it if a student wants to, but I doubt it'll get brought up. Romanians aren't particularly interested in things that don't affect them directly as a general rule.

Perpetual Traveller · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 651 Location: In the Kak, Japan

I had a discussion class today, with two fairly advanced students, and they brought it up. It followed on from them telling me that a politician was shot and killed in Nagasaki this week. Without that event I do wonder if it would still have been mentioned...

PT

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

I do have some higher level students, but no I didn't bring it up. With an adult student at night the subject was raised by the student and we talked about Nagasaki. Certainly if you teach a current events or discussion class it might be raised. Gun control discussions and comparisons can be interesting, depends on your students' perception of danger.

MELEE · Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 2:49 pm Post subject:

None of my students have mentioned it. They are high beginners so I don't think I will bring it up. If anyone asks me about, it I will answer their questions as best as I can. Me and my co-workers have been talking about it a lot.

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

keepwalking · Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 194 Location: Peru, at last

I teach in Peru and one of the victim�s was Peruvian and so I've been very surprised that my students, who are normally very vocal about current events, have not raised it as an issue. There's been a sly comment by one, aimed at a South Korean in the class, stamped upon by me as inappropriate, not to mention insulting, but nothing more in the way of questions or comments.

I would have no problem discussing this in class with them, if they raised it. I wouldn't introduce the topic with this age group, (15-17) I'd let them raise it as and when they were ready or wanted to.