Korean Job Discussion Forums

[randomusernamex]

Before your trigger finger gets ithcy, note that I am not asking your opinion about religion. Plenty of other threads for that.

What I AM wondering is whether students at Christian universities are better students (in the limited terms of conversation classes...) than those at other universities. Taught at both? Have some insight? Love to hear it.

What I am thinking about is the schools I have taught at and the generally uninterested nature of the students. Do students at Christian U's drink less? Are they more eager to learn English (so they can go on a mission, or whatever)?

[hugekebab]

They believe in our lord Superman, so he probably gives them special learning powers.

[Olivencia]

I've taught at both - Handong, Cheju and Gunsan.
Learning abilities are probably about the same but what I was told that at Handong they only accepted very high ranked students. I'm not sure about the drinking part. I suppose some of the students did. Many of my sudents were the older adults though. I taught a lot of night classes. I taught some freshman classes and they seemed pretty innocent and good natured. But I didn't really get to know any of them real well to be sure.

[Demophobe]

Yes, they were different. Generally, more good-natured, were more capable of honest reflection about what they did in the semester and were forthright in their efforts. They weren't all like that, and there are still common issues between secular unis, but the ratio of lamers was far smaller.

I taught seminary students and social welfare majors; both had similar characteristics. They remind me of nursing students in the way they deal with themselves and others.

[randomusernamex]

Thanks, Olivencia & Demophobe.

That was pretty much what I was wondering about: study habits and the like.

It's not like I think there is an intelligence difference.

Any more experienced teachers out there...?

[jinks]

I have worked at a Christian university and a non-religious one. The Christian school requires students to be (or at least, say) they are Christians and attendance at chapel is compulsory for dorm students. These students can be lazy and unmotivated, but it is a low-ranked school and the motivated ones sometimes get transferred to another (better ranked) university.
The non-religious university is a quasi-national one and has a very good reputation. The students there are a mix of different religions and no religion. At the non-religious university student behaviour/morality seems the same as the Christian students. Their study habits seem better, but they are studying at a much higher ranked school.

[bluelake]

I also taught at Handong. Yes, the students accepted are generally a little higher up the academic ladder. On campus, English is widely spoken among the students, faculty, and administration. Alcohol use by students is not allowed, but that doesn't stop them from going out and drinking (although I saw it a lot less there than at other universities). Although most students are Christian, many are not (there are even a few "evangelical" Muslims); still, all students are required to attend weekly chapel. Most students I taught had a great interest in learning (I taught Korean history, culture, and traditional archery, besides English) and were very eager.

Besides Handong, I also taught at a Buddhist university for fourteen years(Dongguk, Gyeongju campus), and currently teach at a secular university. Both were/are very different experiences from Handong. Although the level of English spoken on campus is/was nowhere near that of Handong, the students still had/have a lot of interest in learning.

Just my experiences--your mileage may vary...

[bassexpander]

bluelake, I can't help but snicker as I read your posts about working at a Christian school and look at your avatar with that gun.

I envision you holding that rifle and saying, "So....tell me... do you believe in Jesus?"

[bluelake]