Korean Job Discussion Forums

[D.D.]

We were in class today and watching a video on youtube about " The battle at Kruger"

It has lions and crocodiles and water buffalo fighting each other. I use it to teach words like "chasing and running"

One kid said that they were alligators in the water and I explained that the video was in Africa and so it was crocodiles.

This co-teacher puts up her hand and asks me to explain the diffrences between alligators and crocodiles. I said they are very similar but it's too difficult for the kids. But she kept pushing for more the exact answers.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Just say alligators have bigger mouths and leave it at that. This kind of situation is hardly worth getting worked up over.

[dporter]

[Goku]

Well, in this case it might be warranted,

Because you sid that they were specificlaly corcodiles so she would assume you know the difference and why.

I mean, if someone told me that was pointing to rice cake and told me "this is korean rice cake not chinese rice cake" it's a valid question how is it different. It's not like I'm trying to pester them but I sure damn as hell want to know why. And the fact that they can tell the difference means they know. So she could naturally assume you knew why.

PS. I'm suprised your kids don't know the difference. I'll be damned if I'm correct, but I think crocdolies are flatter, their eyes kind of... lumped up and are mostly throughout asia and africa.

Whereas alligators have more of an trianglated snoze and live pretty much only in Florida.

PPS. I think you're right crocodiles are in Africa.

[harlowethrombey]

Just tell them that Crocodiles like their toast buttered on the bottom and Alligators on top. They've been at war ever since.

[some waygug-in]

I know this is overkill, but here you go:

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-crocodile-and-an-alligator.htm


I started a thread last week about a similar type of situation in my classroom ( co-teacher refuses to discuss lesson plans with me and then throws difficult and largely irrelevant questions at me without notice) , unfortunately it got deleted because of my poor taste in choosing a title.

I was too angry at the time to think clearly.

I have since come to accept that particular co-teacher will always be more of a hindrance than a help.

[b-class rambler]

[D.D.]

[agoodmouse]

Not to get on the OP's case too much, but a teacher should do a bit of research and use pictures and/or other designed materials to distinguish for students a clear understanding of the content of YouTube or other videos.

Am I asking too much?

[D.D.]

[dragon777]

You should of told her that there are salt water and fresh water crocodiles as well. This would of helped the situation D.D.

[ChinaBoy]

It's amazing the number of people who say "I think..." when all you have to do is google "alligator crocodile" and get all the information you need

I love it when class is distracted away from actually learning anything meaningful into these time wasting activities

[poet13]

I think the point is is that the CT hijacked the class which is unprofessional for at least one of two reasons.

1. CT was trying to embarrass the Waegook. Not cool.
2. CT was using class time for his or her own benefit oblivious to the fact that they are supposed to be there for the benefit of the students; the argument notwithstanding that they could benefit from knowing which was which.
3. Pick 'em.

[some waygug-in]

I think part of the problem (at least with my KT) is that she has no idea what is or is not appropriate for the level of the class.

I'm out in the country, and the kids have trouble saying even the most basic phrases. I understand that natural curiosity will generate some off-the-wall questions, but as teachers it is our duty to try and keep the lessons focused and the class on track. What these kids need is to focus on the basics and work with it until they can produce it on their own.


Maybe there could be a few minutes at the end of class to answer such questions, but mid-lesson is not the appropriate time.

Or if the KT wants to incorporate such questions into the lesson, the least she/he could do is discuss it with you beforehand, so you have time to formulate an answer that the students will be able to understand.

[ihaveseoul2]

Maybe it was because an Ag-eo 악어 is an Ag-eo 악어? (A crocodile and alligator are the same word in Korean) So perhaps she wanted to use the situation to explain that and it just didn't come across?

And now you need to also fear the words "knuckles" and "slither" because they don't exist either.

al�li�ga�tor〔〕 n.
1【동물】 악어 《미국�중국산;cf. CROCODILE》

croc�o�dile〔│〕 n.
1【동물】 크로코다일 《나일악어처럼 주둥이가 뾰족하고 대형의 것》(cf. ALLIGATOR);《일반적으로》 악어; 그 가죽