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retrogress
Joined: 07 Jun 2008
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 Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:06 pm Post subject: public school teachers, help! |
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I have to give a CCAP (cross culture awareness program) presentation to some elementary school students tomorrow morning.
The theme is :What's the differentce between American elementary schools and Korean elementary schools.
Any ideas?
In many ways there isn't a lot of difference in the way they are run, just in the kinds of kids. I'm going to try to go with visuals.
Any help in brainstorming is muchly appreciated!
Yes, that was "muchly". |
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Ramen
Joined: 15 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:08 pm Post subject: |
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text books are different. text books are written all in english.
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mrsquirrel
Joined: 13 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:11 pm Post subject: |
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In Korean elementary school it's still ok to beat your students
In Korean elementary schools it's ok to laugh at cartoons of black people with having big lips and big round white eyes.
In Korean elementary schools it's ok to sing ten little indians, bah bah black sheep and other non pc nursery rhymes without the fear of being lynched by the mob.
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retrogress
Joined: 07 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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Why is it so hard to do something serious without turning it into something funny---in this country?
I can think of all of the things I want to say, but non of them would pass go with the Koreans.
I've pinned it down to
1) saturday morning soccer and other things kids do
2) what schools look like
3) a story about desegregation in the US with historical photos.
The last part is why it is very important to be accepting of different cultures---with a note about how it makes life much more interesting.
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:55 pm Post subject: |
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So, did you wait until the last day to plan this, or did the school ask you to do it in a day.
Talk about violence, drugs, overbearing parents, homework, hogwans, vacation times, role of teachers and how each country handles burberry men. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:31 pm Post subject: |
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North American schools:
Students are not hit
Students don't clean the classroom
Students don't hand in work with 2 hands or bow
Students address their teachers as Mr. Miss, Ms or Mrs....as opposed to say "Kim Sonsangnim"
Students have less school days and don't go to school on Saturday.
Students have longer vacation time in the summer.
School hours are shorter.
Then again if you tell your students these things, they will get incredibly jealous of N.A students. |
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b_jinx
Joined: 27 May 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:27 pm Post subject: Re: public school teachers, help! |
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| retrogress wrote: |
I have to give a CCAP (cross culture awareness program) presentation to some elementary school students tomorrow morning.
The theme is :What's the differentce between American elementary schools and Korean elementary schools.
Any ideas?
In many ways there isn't a lot of difference in the way they are run, just in the kinds of kids. I'm going to try to go with visuals.
Any help in brainstorming is muchly appreciated!
Yes, that was "muchly". |
If you want visuals, I suggest you show pics of a multicultural classroom preferablly with the kiddies in a circle sitting cross-legged (yes I know its indian style but they aren't allowed to call it that anymore).
You can also show pics of the holidays the kids celebrate - MLK, Christopher Columbus, St Patrick's Day etc.
Try showing an actual picture book of what a normal kiddie books looks like.
Demonstrate an activity or have the kids do an activity that American kids do such as cutting out/coloring a figure/animal. |
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Draz
Joined: 27 Jun 2007
Location: Land of Morning Clam
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:45 pm Post subject: |
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| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
North American schools:
Students are not hit
Students don't clean the classroom
Students don't hand in work with 2 hands or bow
Students address their teachers as Mr. Miss, Ms or Mrs....as opposed to say "Kim Sonsangnim"
Students have less school days and don't go to school on Saturday.
Students have longer vacation time in the summer.
School hours are shorter.
Then again if you tell your students these things, they will get incredibly jealous of N.A students. |
Just don't let on that winter vacation in NA is a pathetic two weeks long, while Korea gets over two months. |
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Mr. BlackCat
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Location: Insert witty remark HERE
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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TheUrbanMyth
| Quote: |
North American schools:
Students are not hit
Students don't clean the classroom
Students don't hand in work with 2 hands or bow
Students address their teachers as Mr. Miss, Ms or Mrs....as opposed to say "Kim Sonsangnim"
Students have less school days and don't go to school on Saturday.
Students have longer vacation time in the summer.
School hours are shorter.
Then again if you tell your students these things, they will get incredibly jealous of N.A students. |
Comparing the hours I went to school as a kid and the elementary school I'm at now, I have to say that I went to school longer than these guys (845am-335pm vs. 900am-2:30 (noon on Wed)). Plus I didnt get 10 minute breaks every 40 minutes to run around screaming, hitting and generally being like a wild animal. Maybe that's just my school, though. If you throw in hogwans, the Koreans have NA students beat, but I think we're just talking about PS here. Also, it would suck coming to school on Saturday mornings twice a month, but the students at my school either play board games or play outside. Not exactly that demanding.
Also, regarding vacation, my students are always amazed to hear that I had two full months off for the summer. But I only had two weeks for the winter, not two months then. Again, if you consider that parents just throw their kids into 'camps' during these breaks, then it still sucks being a Korean kid.
Maybe the OP can bring up the fact that students don't speak loudly throughout the whole class. In North America, students are expected to, oh I don't know, LISTEN every now and again.
Also, most importantly, in Western school creative thought and activities are encouraged alongside fact learning. Here, creativity is nipped in the bud and everything from day one is concentrated on passing a test.
*I just have to add this because it just happened again now as I was proof reading. In North America, students don't just walk into the teacher's room and walk around like they own the place. It seem here, in my experience, students run the show and teachers/administrators are their employees. And I thought this was only true at hogwans. |
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wayfarer
Joined: 05 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="Mr. BlackCat"]
| Quote: |
Comparing the hours I went to school as a kid and the elementary school I'm at now, I have to say that I went to school longer than these guys (845am-335pm vs. 900am-2:30 (noon on Wed)). Plus I didnt get 10 minute breaks every 40 minutes to run around screaming, hitting and generally being like a wild animal. Maybe that's just my school, though. If you throw in hogwans, the Koreans have NA students beat, but I think we're just talking about PS here. Also, it would suck coming to school on Saturday mornings twice a month, but the students at my school either play board games or play outside. Not exactly that demanding.
Also, regarding vacation, my students are always amazed to hear that I had two full months off for the summer. But I only had two weeks for the winter, not two months then. Again, if you consider that parents just throw their kids into 'camps' during these breaks, then it still sucks being a Korean kid.
Maybe the OP can bring up the fact that students don't speak loudly throughout the whole class. In North America, students are expected to, oh I don't know, LISTEN every now and again.
Also, most importantly, in Western school creative thought and activities are encouraged alongside fact learning. Here, creativity is nipped in the bud and everything from day one is concentrated on passing a test.
*I just have to add this because it just happened again now as I was proof reading. In North America, students don't just walk into the teacher's room and walk around like they own the place. It seem here, in my experience, students run the show and teachers/administrators are their employees. And I thought this was only true at hogwans. |
I highlighted the part of your post that I disagreed with. Students at my PS and in most others are occasionally beaten by the Korean teachers, so the vibe isn't really that they own the place.
Also, I think you're projecting the way they behave in your classes on to the other teacher's classes. Maybe you haven't noticed, but if your school is at all like mine, they actually do shut up and listen during class time - just not for yours . |
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pkang0202
Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:39 pm Post subject: |
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Here are the differences:
In the US:
1. Parents are held accountable for student behavior, not the school.
2. Children can be failed/held back, and they can be kick out of school.
3. The schools are run like a prison. You have set schedules, rules, and procedures. You will be hard pressed to see an elementary student roaming the halls of the school during classtime without a pass, note, etc...
4. There is no corporal punishment. The children listen to teachers and behave, otherwise the parents get a meeting with the teacher. American parents HATE meeting with a teacher if their child has been bad.
5. The schools are under the direct control of the county/city education system. I think Korean schools have more "autonomy" when it comes to what they can and can't do.
6. Teachers can stay at a school for a long time. They don't have to change subjects, grades, or schools.
7. Once again, US schools are run like prisons. You walk single file, quietly. You raise your hand to speak. You don't get out of your chair without a good reason. You don't do anything without permission.
Seriously, look at the systems in place from Elementary to high school and then look how prisons are run. They are exactly the same. Good points for good behavior. You have specific schedules that stay the same day after day. You mess up, you can get sent to solitary confinement akadetention, suspencion, etc... |
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Stormy
Joined: 10 Jan 2008
Location: Here & there
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:47 pm Post subject: |
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| wayfarer wrote: |
I highlighted the part of your post that I disagreed with. Students at my PS and in most others are occasionally beaten by the Korean teachers, so the vibe isn't really that they own the place.
Also, I think you're projecting the way they behave in your classes on to the other teacher's classes. Maybe you haven't noticed, but if your school is at all like mine, they actually do shut up and listen during class time - just not for yours . |
Totally disagree with this post. I have attended other classes besides my own & the students just talk, read, do whatever the hell they want throughout most lessons. In my teachers classes the teachers constantly complain about how tired they are at the end of the day because the students continually talk & don't listen to them.
During one of my year 4 classes when I got stressed out over the continuous talking the Korean teacher told me they were "just kids, they like to talk" with a shrug.
The students are always walking into the staff room, peering over my (& other teacher's) shoulders at their computer screens etc. There is definitely an "I own the school" type vibe going on here.
There is an overwhelming lack of discipline at my school too.....it seems to be non-existent until something happens, such as a window being broken, and then it's over the top. The vp loses the plot & beats the kids, screams, gets them to get into the push-up position on their toes & knuckles for ages at a time etc. There seems to be only one extreme or the other, nothing in between.
I've found this lack (or abuse) of discipline, the class schedules (all the 10 minute breaks), as well as the fact that all lessons have to be taught at regimented times & in regimented order, the hours and the Saturday morning classes (& after school classes) to be all very different from the schools and teaching in Australia. The students also spend a lot less time slaving for future exams & more time just being kids at home.
Good luck with your presentation. I had to write a 3 page essay, but not actually present it thank god. |
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JJJ
Joined: 27 Nov 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 9:30 pm Post subject: |
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In N.A. we actually use the a/c in summer (with the windows closed) and heaters in winter, again with the windows closed.
In N.A. we actually have a gymnasium for school concerts and P.E. unlike here where they run around on the gravel or mud or skip rope in the hallways when it gets cold or wet.
We can play on many teams or clubs, depending on the season, where in Korea, you are stuck in one club all year and you play it when its wet, freezing, snowing or hot. No matter what.
U usually can chew gum in class or spit on the floor in Korea, no worries where in N.A. you can't (I think). Same with cellphones, K uses them in class, where in N.A. you can't (again I think, I kinda outta the loop regarding these).
Have fun with it. |
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b_jinx
Joined: 27 May 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 9:52 pm Post subject: |
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| pkang0202 wrote: |
Here are the differences:
In the US:
1. Parents are held accountable for student behavior, not the school.
no, the teacher/ school is responsible... will always be responsible. You get parents who don't care/ are too busy to do anything so what is a teacher supposed to do? In the early grades the parents are more involved but as you get older it's less and less
2. Children can be failed/held back, and they can be kick out of school.
3. The schools are run like a prison. You have set schedules, rules, and procedures. You will be hard pressed to see an elementary student roaming the halls of the school during classtime without a pass, note, etc...
4. There is no corporal punishment. The children listen to teachers and behave, otherwise the parents get a meeting with the teacher. American parents HATE meeting with a teacher if their child has been bad.
5. The schools are under the direct control of the county/city education system. I think Korean schools have more "autonomy" when it comes to what they can and can't do.
6. Teachers can stay at a school for a long time. They don't have to change subjects, grades, or schools.
7. Once again, US schools are run like prisons. You walk single file, quietly. You raise your hand to speak. You don't get out of your chair without a good reason. You don't do anything without permission.
Seriously, look at the systems in place from Elementary to high school and then look how prisons are run. They are exactly the same. Good points for good behavior. You have specific schedules that stay the same day after day. You mess up, you can get sent to solitary confinement akadetention, suspencion, etc... |
Parts of this are a bit off. I've taught in different schools with different SES, culture, etc. And to a degree it isn't like that. There is more control to be had for the lil kiddes but as they get older they take and are given more independence.
In the schools I've been to (high school) kids are ALWAYS walking the halls, on thier cell phones (though that does depend on culture/environment)
Do AS MUCH as they can get away with without permission.
As they get older, it's like their parents have decided: "You are free to do whatever you want as long as I don't have to do anything" Yes there are parents who are involved; but majority (depending on culture/ eco/ environment) is not.
The kids aren't always held back, there are ways around those rules and the schools find them if it means a higher grad. rate.
When it came to punishment, I was actually reprimanded for giving the kids more work to do if they were late/weren't on task. I would give detention but students decide not to show.
This isn't a rant it's more about saying school isn't really better in America when it comes to behavior/ education. It's just different.
| JJJ wrote: |
| U usually can chew gum in class or spit on the floor in Korea, no worries where in N.A. you can't (I think). Same with cellphones, K uses them in class, where in N.A. you can't (again I think, I kinda outta the loop regarding these). |
It depends on the classroom when it comes to things like gum or cell phones. Teaching last year, kids are glued to thier phone (depending on culture/environment, etc.) in America. And to a degree, it's a battle. Of course, I'm talking about HS |
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Mr. BlackCat
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Location: Insert witty remark HERE
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:54 pm Post subject: |
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wayfarer wrote:
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I highlighted the part of your post that I disagreed with. Students at my PS and in most others are occasionally beaten by the Korean teachers, so the vibe isn't really that they own the place.
Also, I think you're projecting the way they behave in your classes on to the other teacher's classes. Maybe you haven't noticed, but if your school is at all like mine, they actually do shut up and listen during class time - just not for yours . |
You're certainly welcomed to disagree, but your experience has been very different than mine. In my elementary school there is NO discipline whatsoever. I have been here over 3 months and have yet to see a student get more than a 3 second evil stare by any teacher. This is true for all classes. The kids are constantly running around, screaming, wrestling. When I walk by 10 of them will come running from their desks and open their classroom door and chase me while screaming at the top of their lungs. Almost all teachers do nothing about this, it hardly registers to them. The ones that do react will come out in the hall and politely (like polite Hanguel) ask them to come back. They are ignored. The kids really do run the show here.
For example, today I asked one of my students to read a sentence from our role play script. He said no. I said yes. He started crying and hitting his desk. My co-teacher went over and hugged him and told me that he was tired and I should leave him alone. I can't imagine this ever happening in a North American school. Where I come from he'd be kicked out of class, mocked, given extra work and beaten up by other kids at recess for crying. Here he got a hug and a sticker. I did end up forcing him to read (repeat after me) one half sentence. This happens at my school everyday.
Some teachers run a tighter ship, but kids still talk throughout the lesson and get up for whatever reason they like, sometimes just leaving the room. Actually, my classes are much more controlled due to my effort, although my Principal told me that sending a student to the back of the class for 5 minutes because they physically assaulted another student and shouted derogatory comments my way was too harsh. I should just tell them that they hurt my feelings and hug them (I wish I were joking). When my friend tells me about the violence and crime he sees in his Middle school and the general open disrespect students have for the teachers, I don't blink an eye. I can see the source of that behaviour now.
Aaaaaaaaaanyway, I didn't mean to hijack the OP's thread. Good luck with your presentation. |
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