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endo
Joined: 14 Mar 2004
Location: Seoul...my home
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 Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 3:16 am Post subject: My Student's Mad Cow Writing Assignment |
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I've never brought up this topic (Mad Cow) in the classroom. I just asked the students to write about something that people disagree over.
I basically gave them a lined sheet of paper and asked the to write for about 5-10 minutes. This is what Harry, a ten year old student wrote:
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Is Mad Cow Safe?
I think American beef os safe. I saw a television and the people said it is not expensive and delicious. But some other people said American beef has poison. When one month ago I agree this, but now my thinking is changed. The American beef is good beef. You believe it!
I don't eat American beef, but I think it's delicious. Maybe the poison is a lie! Maybe my thinking is wrong. So I think American beef is good beef. |
He's far from the brightest student in my class, but his little writing assignment made me smile. Perhaps there is hope for the future!  |
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whatever
Joined: 11 Jun 2006
Location: Korea: More fun than jail.
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 3:56 am Post subject: |
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Make sure that you praise him before the K-teacher 'sets the record straight'.  |
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Gollywog
Joined: 14 Jun 2008
Location: Debussy's brain
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 4:31 am Post subject: |
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I woudn't get too excited.
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| I don't eat American beef, but I think it's delicious. |
That's on the same level as "I don't like cheese." How do you know? Have you ever tried eating any cheese? "No, because I don't like it."
If he hasn't eaten American beef, how would he know what it tastes like?
If a student could present a well-reasoned argument backed up by facts, even if I disagreed, I would respect that student. That's the way my best college profs were. As a teacher, I want my students to learn to think. And that means think for themselves.
This kid is only part way there.
However, the writing assignment is a good idea.
I was just thinking that given how Americans are totally unaware of the grave danger mad cow disease poses to their health, it would be a really good thing if Korean students would write to them to warn them. Most Americans probably have never even heard of mad cow disease.
Now let's see, how could Korean students warm America?
We could pick some names at random from the phone book to write to.
We could write to American Congresspersons.
Or, how about, we could write to American newspapers, television networks and National Public Radio.
Now there's a thought, eh?
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Dear editor:
I want to warn Americans that American beef is dangerous because it is filled with mad cow poison. Don't eat it. If you do your brain will turn to mush and you will grow tentacles out of your ears. And please stop keeping your cows locked up in dirty little cow prisons all day.
Signed:
Jay Kim II
Please print my letter. |
While you're at it, have the students draw some illustrations of what will happen to Americans if they eat American beef, and send them along. |
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Milwaukiedave
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Location: Goseong
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 5:07 am Post subject: |
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Well given the fact that most Korean repeat what they hear on tv as the spoken word, I'm glad to hear this kid can think for himself. That's one of the most difficult things with getting Koreans to write is thinking creatively.
Not to hijack your thread, but I'm teaching an intensive writing class this term. Two of the students in one my classes don't pay attention in class and thus far (two and half weeks in) have not turned in any work (both of them were absent the first week due to some kind of overseas trip sponsored by the school). Today both of them turned in papers. One wasn't too bad. The other one almost made me want to bang my head against a wall and cuss. That being said, most of the students are not too bad once they relax and start writing.
Ok...back to your regularly scheduled programming already in progress... |
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ajgeddes
Joined: 28 Apr 2004
Location: Yongsan
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 7:57 am Post subject: |
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| Gollywog wrote: |
I woudn't get too excited.
| Quote: |
| I don't eat American beef, but I think it's delicious. |
That's on the same level as "I don't like cheese." How do you know? Have you ever tried eating any cheese? "No, because I don't like it."
If he hasn't eaten American beef, how would he know what it tastes like?
If a student could present a well-reasoned argument backed up by facts, even if I disagreed, I would respect that student. That's the way my best college profs were. As a teacher, I want my students to learn to think. And that means think for themselves.
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He's 10 |
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Gollywog
Joined: 14 Jun 2008
Location: Debussy's brain
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 2:49 pm Post subject: |
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Good point.
I am used to 15 year old Koreans talking, and reasoning, like an 8 year old.
For a 10 year old Korea, he, and you, are doing great.
However, what I keep having to remind myself is that there tends to be a vocabulary gap, where what Koreans mean in English is not the same as what we mean. Here, the problem is with the word "think."
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| I don't eat American beef, but I think it's delicious. |
Perhaps a better word is "expect" or "trust," "asssume" or even "believe," which is the closest synonym to "think."
You can tell him that "think," as he used it, suggests an opinion based on experience, on tasting the food.
English has a broad vocabulary with many shades of meaning, allowing a person to precisely express his ideas. Learning to do that is what makes a person a fine writer. A Korean child who is doing this at age 10 has the potential, at least on Korean terms, of using his English writing skills professionally. Teaching this student the importance of learning the nuances of each word, and what it means to Native English speakers (not just Korean-English dictionaries) could be a valuable lesson that sets him on the right track.
If we can make a positive influence on a handful of children each year, or even only one, it makes teaching worthwhile.
Good luck! |
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rumdiary
Joined: 05 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Gollywog wrote: |
Good point.
I am used to 15 year old Koreans talking, and reasoning, like an 8 year old.
For a 10 year old Korea, he, and you, are doing great.
However, what I keep having to remind myself is that there tends to be a vocabulary gap, where what Koreans mean in English is not the same as what we mean. Here, the problem is with the word "think."
| Quote: |
| I don't eat American beef, but I think it's delicious. |
Perhaps a better word is "expect" or "trust," "asssume" or even "believe," which is the closest synonym to "think."
You can tell him that "think," as he used it, suggests an opinion based on experience, on tasting the food.
English has a broad vocabulary with many shades of meaning, allowing a person to precisely express his ideas. Learning to do that is what makes a person a fine writer. A Korean child who is doing this at age 10 has the potential, at least on Korean terms, of using his English writing skills professionally. Teaching this student the importance of learning the nuances of each word, and what it means to Native English speakers (not just Korean-English dictionaries) could be a valuable lesson that sets him on the right track.
If we can make a positive influence on a handful of children each year, or even only one, it makes teaching worthwhile.
Good luck! |
I think the kid meant he hasn't tried American beef yet, but assumes it tastes delicious. |
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billybrobby
Joined: 09 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 9:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Gollywog wrote: |
I woudn't get too excited.
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| I don't eat American beef, but I think it's delicious. |
That's on the same level as "I don't like cheese." How do you know? Have you ever tried eating any cheese? "No, because I don't like it."
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You ever eaten doodoo? |
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