Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Have you ever observed Korean high school students study habbits for a little while? Today our schedule was a bit screwed up because of chest x-rays (have no idea what they're checking for), and there's only one afternoon class at a different time. I had a grade 3 class to teach during this block. The students were all whining about how they have to study for finals, which start next week, so I told them that if they actually spent the time studying we could use it for that. As I look around the room 30 minutes later I see that...

- five of them are asleep. I'm actually impressed there aren't more on a hot afternoon with no A/C.
- only two students are studying together, though a few others have been checking things with friends occasionally. These are all from the ranks of the smarter students.
- at least half appear to be just starring at a book. These are from the ranks of the duller ones.
- half are listening to music on headphones while they study.
- a few are making notes, but on scraps of paper, not in any sort of organised notebook.
- The room is very quiet, like a library. Apart from the two studying together the 'sound of learning' is upsaeyo.

It would really be interesting if I could compare them to their North American or British counterparts.

[agoodmouse]

We had a urine test today at my high school. I got a Cool Message saying, "The students have to take a urine test, so it is possible your second period class may be canceled." I asked what a urine test was for, and she said it's frequently done each year to check for unhealthy things in our bodies.

[Tobias]

This all comes with the territory, but I can't help but think of what it'd be like if some of these practices were introduced in the United States.

People'd be rioting in the streets.

And don't get me started on the "right to privacy" we have in the US. There's no such right in Korea, meaning you must choose your hospital carefully and ensure it's far away from your workplace.

If we could only get 'em to gossip in English, they'd become fluent in only a few weeks.

[nobbyken]

Yeah, they're always taking the piss at my school!

Chest x-rays, sounds like a check for TB. I know one young woman who has it, but is under control with medicine.