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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Privateer
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Location: Easy Street.
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 Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:55 am Post subject: Re: I Have A Meeting About English in Korea |
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| Whistleblower wrote: |
I have some input to provide for some newspaper article in Korea. The topic is:
�Why can�t Koreans improve their English? , What is different in terms of their learning habit compared to other Asian countries�? |
The main reason is Koreans do not, generally, learn English as a tool for communication, which is what a language is. |
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whatever
Joined: 11 Jun 2006
Location: Korea: More fun than jail.
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 1:09 am Post subject: |
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| Newbie wrote: |
| 3. students are more likely to believe their Korean teacher over a foreigner based on the simple fact that they are Korean and MUST know better. (of course, not all students. But I'd say a hefty majority). |
God, I f*cking hate that! I teach at a kindergarten where they also have flat-out Korean teachers with no English abilities (they're for arts&crafts, singing, drama, etc.)...who have told the kids something about English that conflicted with what I taught them or said ...and they will stubbornly refuse to follow my lead or obey me without me spending an inordinate amount of time reasoning with them...
ME: "So kids, please read, 'I have a teddy bear.'"
CLASS: "I have a..."
[Interrupting] SOME KID: "But, teacher! Miss X say..."
[Rolling eyes] ME: "Let me see...Miss X told you to say, 'I have one teddy bear.'" [wondering why Miss X thinks she should be teaching them/correcting them on anything other than Korean, since she has--and everybody knows it--no proficiency to speak of and is terrified to even say, 'hello'. Not to mention, she's so clueless about English that she has, on more than one occasion, worn t-shirts to work bearing English profanities...]
CLASS: "Yes! Miss X say..."
[Deciding against correcting 'say' for the time being] ME: "Children, does Miss X speak English?"
CLASS: "No, she speak Korean."
ME: "Is this Miss X's class?"
CLASS: "No, she art teacher."
ME: "Okay, then. Please read with me from the board, 'I have a teddy bear.'"
[Really annoyed with me now] WHOLE CLASS: "But, teacher!! Miss X say..."
etc. 
Kids spilling milk all over themself. "Please use two hands to drink your..." ---> "But, Miss X say we use tissue..."
Kids jumping in the elevator. "Please don't do that. It's not polite to others." ---> "But, Miss X say I'm small so okay..."
Kids pointing at other people. "Please use your hand like this in English class..." ---> "But, Miss X do it like..."
it's not just classroom stuff. |
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caniff
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: All over the map
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 1:18 am Post subject: |
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| whatever wrote: |
| Newbie wrote: |
| 3. students are more likely to believe their Korean teacher over a foreigner based on the simple fact that they are Korean and MUST know better. (of course, not all students. But I'd say a hefty majority). |
God, I f*cking hate that! I teach at a kindergarten where they also have flat-out Korean teachers with no English abilities (they're for arts&crafts, singing, drama, etc.)...who have told the kids something about English that conflicted with what I taught them or said ...and they will stubbornly refuse to follow my lead or obey me without me spending an inordinate amount of time reasoning with them...
ME: "So kids, please read, 'I have a teddy bear.'"
CLASS: "I have a..."
[Interrupting] SOME KID: "But, teacher! Miss X say..."
[Rolling eyes] ME: "Let me see...Miss X told you to say, 'I have one teddy bear.'" [wondering why Miss X thinks she should be teaching them/correcting them on anything other than Korean, since she has--and everybody knows it--no proficiency to speak of and is terrified to even say, 'hello'. Not to mention, she's so clueless about English that she has, on more than one occasion, worn t-shirts to work bearing English profanities...]
CLASS: "Yes! Miss X say..."
[Deciding against correcting 'say' for the time being] ME: "Children, does Miss X speak English?"
CLASS: "No, she speak Korean."
ME: "Is this Miss X's class?"
CLASS: "No, she art teacher."
ME: "Okay, then. Please read with me from the board, 'I have a teddy bear.'"
[Really annoyed with me now] WHOLE CLASS: "But, teacher!! Miss X say..."
etc.
Kids spilling milk all over themself. "Please use two hands to drink your..." ---> "But, Miss X say we use tissue..."
Kids jumping in the elevator. "Please don't do that. It's not polite to others." ---> "But, Miss X say I'm small so okay..."
Kids pointing at other people. "Please use your hand like this in English class..." ---> "But, Miss X do it like..."
it's not just classroom stuff. |
Don't take this the wrong way, but you have my sympathy working a job like that.
Maybe you're good at it, but I just couldn't teach fetuses. I like kids, but there is no way in hell I could spend all day every day with them trying to teach them my language.
Maybe you are a stronger man than me. To each their own, I guess. |
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Whistleblower
Joined: 03 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 1:43 am Post subject: |
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Well we had our "meeting" about students studying English at Korean Universities unable to speak a lick of it once graduated and it was alright. It would be nice to send an email to the guy if you are interested. He is a weekend column journalist and his email is:
[email protected]
I am sure he would appreciate some opinions you may have about English Education in Korea. |
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whatever
Joined: 11 Jun 2006
Location: Korea: More fun than jail.
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 1:45 am Post subject: |
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| caniff wrote: |
| Don't take this the wrong way, but you have my sympathy working a job like that. |
 Cheers, I feel you on that.
The good thing is, most of the time they're a joy. It's just those times when they act like I must not know what I'm talking about because some dumbass told them otherwise...  |
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