Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Justin Hale]

Recently, I had the pleasure of being a science teacher, albeit briefly. In my job, we had a day whereby we taught normal school subjects in English to our students otherwise usually engaged in EFL with us. One teacher taught geography, another math, another art, another history, and so on. I got science, lucky me! The students are all in top sets academically at their respective schools in their respective countries (Spain, Russia, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Ecuador, Bahrain, Germany, Norway, Turkey and Greece) and despite widely differing English ability are very capable kids (age 12-16).

Anyway, getting to the point at long last, I did a class on a subject dear to my heart - space! (I had to make my own materials) Here's what was on the menu:

[KOREAN_MAN]

I think girls, especially K-girls, are interested in space as much as we men are interested in relationships. Even if a girl in your class has a question or two, she might be too shy to ask. But I doubt that they have any kind of interest in space. And I don't think Koreans are a curious type. They don't really question things around them. Maybe you can make them memorize the planets in our solar system and they won't have a fit.

[MollyBloom]

Remember when ex-president of Harvard, Larry Summers, made a comment about boys being better at math and science than girls and all the feminists freaked out? He's right; it's a fact. Just like how women are better at some things more than men are. Also, some women are better than some men at math and science, but in general, studies have shown that men and women have their "stereotyped" strengths and weaknesses. Men and women are not the same because they are built differently.

[Cheonmunka]

Nonsense. Both genders do equally well thru diverse subjects. Boys can be good at religious studies/home economics, girls good at math and science.
Check out achievement rates for math (for example) at all-girls' schools vis a vis all boys' schools - national testing academic results do not favor one sex over the other.

In my high school teacher training we looked at differing philosophies as well as current situations. Generally, boys are falling behind in reading skills. Girls are leaping ahead. It seems that boys are encouraged to 'be boys' and are falling behind in general educational achievement because they are not encouraged to read well. Creating more of a gender difference is hurting the boys.

Men can be excellent nurturers and provide bed-time stories.
Women can be excellent astronauts and scientists.
Believe it.

[peppermint]

[Nowhere Man]

He opened a school on his yacht.

[Ya-ta Boy]

My school has 90% male students. Ninty percent of the women students are in the most advanced classes each term. This supports the idea that women are typically better with languages. Years ago I read a psychobiologist (or whatever they are called) who said it may be due to evolution--women being smaller on average developed language as a compensation. Interesting theory. Personally, I suspect men developed muscles in order to shup up the yakky cavewife.

[Justin Hale]

[semi-fly]

[kermo]

Is eating tomato soup intrinsically male?

[peppermint]

I'm dubious about women being better at languages, though it might be more of a common interest for them

If you want to get all ev psych on the idea, it would seem logical that women would be more into languages and communicating. Men were typically out on their own hunting, while women gathered plants and things,which tends to be more of a communal activity.

[ulsanchris]

[Leslie Cheswyck]

[Draz]

Whenever I think about space it's to wonder if there are aliens out there that I could talk to some day.

[kermo]