Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jbpatlanta]

My school asked me to teach a class on American culture during summer camp. That is all they told me. Has anyone taught a class on American culture?

I figure I should pick a couple of items and talk about them, but I don't know what things I should talk about. Any ideas?

[Ya-ta Boy]

I've been asked to do that before for students (adults) who were leaving for the US. I have about 1 1/2 pages of items to mention. You're welcome to it if you want.

PM me.

[moosehead]

America is mostly a gun culture - bring in pictures of guns, stats about people killed every year, pop up the website of the NRA and talk about the Brady bill, then bring in some toy guns easily purchased anywhere in K and ask if they'd like to practice -

[jadarite]

America, land of the free, home of the brave. Now get off my property you rootin tootin varmint!!

[jbpatlanta]

I think I'll pass on the gun topics and the beef issues.

My kids are middle schoolers, so nothing complicated or controversial. Although nobody has really talked about beef lately. Two girls asked me about US beef and I said that no one had died in the US from eating beef so it seemed OK to me. They agreed and left it at that.

Anyway, I think one day will be compare US and Korea middle schools. The next day will be compare Chuseok and Thanksgiving Day. The "head teacher" said OK, but knowing this bunch they will wait until the day before and tell me that I need to choose a different topic. So I will probably prepare a couple more lessons. I will use them all eventually.

[Bibbitybop]

Why pass on the gun issue? It is romanticized and demonized and a the 2nd most important thing to the country's founders. Don't focus on it, but include it.

I'd go with these things:

important amendments
cultural and behavioral differences
other cultural differences like types of homes, foods, cars, clothing, etc.

[aldershot]

i used the simpsons as a base for my u.s. culture class. we'd watch the 20 minute episode, then i'd lecture for a while, then we'd do an activity around it. topics would introduce themselves:

holidays and celebrations
sports and competition
religion
food
politics
family relationships

...and on and on.

[genezorm]

make sure to let them know americans only eat hamburgers and pizza, thats why they are so fat

[ytuque]

[jboney]

When I was teaching ESL at night to adults from Japan, Korea, China and teaching at a NYC public school during the day, my ESL students loved hearing about the US education system and what the kids were learning, how the kids were...things like that.

They were amazed at the stories that I had to tell about poverty, drugs, and abuse.

Social class issues are a big part of American culture (and many others).

They were also really interested in dating and relationships. I did a whole reading and discussion based lesson on couples living together before marriage--it went over pretty well.

Of course it all depends on the age and academic level of the students.

[moosehead]