Korean Job Discussion Forums

NightSky · Joined: 19 Apr 2005

my fourth-graders didn't know that Tokyo was the capital of Japan.

they also have no clue about any kind of geography. one of my second graders tried to find Korea on a world map and was pointing somewhere in the middle east.

routinely, they display a complete lack of awareness of their position in the world and anything outside of their own country, but also, startlingly, they seem to know very little about places in korea as well. they do the same confused searching thing when shown a huge wall map of Korea. can't find Seoul.

is it just me or is that kind of inexcusable? and yes, when I was that age I had memorized many different capitals of countries and could draw a reasonable map of my home country, so don't try to tell me that we were the same when we were that young.

I mean what do they teach them in school?

agoodmouse · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Location: Anyang

Give them a year or two and they'll be goose-stepping to Arirang and the South Korean flag.

polonius · Joined: 05 Jun 2004

Have you ever watched Jay Leno's "Jaywalking"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hyuin-KpuUc

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

I'm sure there are Europeans teaching in America who would say the same thing.

VanIslander

the staggering ignorance of some (newbie) teachers here: what do you expect them to know?

Adventurer · Joined: 28 Jan 2006

Draz · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam

I didn't know anything about geography when I was in 4th grade either, and I didn't want to. I'd memorize stuff if I had to, but it was exceptionally boring.

When you think about it, it's completely useless to learn geography when you can't go anywhere alone anyway.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

You also need to keep in mind that if the map you are using when asking them questions is on a different scale than the one they are used to using, many will not be able to locate their own head. I'm not joking. The ability to manipulate spatial relationships does not develop at the same speed or with the same quality in everyone, especially with 4th graders.

If you are going to judge Korean 4th graders' abilities, at least take the time to find out what they were taught in 3rd grade, not what YOU were taught at a given time in school.

sigmundsmith · Joined: 22 Nov 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnFb1RpK5Qw

Korean kids maybe ignorant but these people take the cake

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

I am not going to defend either position and simply say that the Korean teachers don't seem to care as much about geography as math and science.

Teaching geography is probably not expected in 99% of our contracts, so I would stick with English as the main subject and let the Korean teachers worry about having students memorize capitals.

http://englishlessons.wikispaces.com/locations

jurassic82 · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Location: Somewhere!!!!

OP your post is silly. When I was in the fourth grade I could tell the 50 states and maybe some of the capitals but that is it. If you were to ask me the capital of Canada or Mexico I would probably care less and would say Toronto and Cancun. To make a post like yours is ignorant and arrogant. I don't know what kind of school you went to when you were a kid but you need to lower your expectations a little.

jurassic82 · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Location: Somewhere!!!!

OP your post is silly. When I was in the fourth grade I could tell the 50 states and maybe some of the capitals but that is it. If you were to ask me the capital of Canada or Mexico I would probably care less and would say Toronto and Cancun. To make a post like yours is ignorant and arrogant. I don't know what kind of school you went to when you were a kid but you need to lower your expectations a little.

NightSky · Joined: 19 Apr 2005

but I didn't ask them *in English* if they knew the capital of Japan. I could understand not knowing that. I asked them, in Korean, what country Tokyo was in. it's not as if I asked them where Sydney was, they have no emotional connection to that. Oh, and I also asked what the biggest city in Korea was and they thought for a long time before one kid suggested Seoul and then took it back as soon as she'd said it.

jurassic, if you are really admitting that, as an adult no less, you don't know the capital of the country right next door to you, then I'm kinda embarrassed for your sake. if I asked you what country Ottawa was the capital of, you wouldn't know?

I do agree it's not my job to teach geography, but when the textbook constantly refers to other cities and countries outside of Korea it's pretty hard to avoid it completely. or would you have me just teach them the proper pronunciation of Australia even though they have no clue what or where Australia is? Learning English is not just about parroting the sentences in the textbook, it would be good if they realized that all these mythical lands where Bobby and Suzy eat kebabs and tacos are actually real countries that can be found on a map, no?

I didn't say my students were stupid. (they're not--well not all of them). they *are* however shockingly ignorant at times and this is just one example of that.

jurassic82 · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Location: Somewhere!!!!

Of course I know the capital of Canada is Ottawa. The point I was trying to make is that these are kids and you are expecting them to know about the rest of the world or even care. When I was that age I was more curious about the people who lived one city over from mine. These are kids and they are just beginning to learn about their own country. When you are expecting them to know things like capitals of other countries you are aiming too high. I am sure you are probablly a good teacher but please just have some patience with your students. They are not stupid just young. Sorry about any misunderstanding and the best of luck to you.

jurassic82 · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Location: Somewhere!!!!

Of course I know the capital of Canada is Ottawa. The point I was trying to make is that these are kids and you are expecting them to know about the rest of the world or even care. When I was that age I was more curious about the people who lived one city over from mine. These are kids and they are just beginning to learn about their own country. When you are expecting them to know things like capitals of other countries you are aiming too high. I am sure you are probablly a good teacher but please just have some patience with your students. They are not stupid just young. Sorry about any misunderstanding and the best of luck to you.