Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ohme_ohmy]

So the curriculum for my school uses American textbooks and there is a whole unit on "Our Country" that talks all about being an American citizen. As you are aware, these are Korean students and citizens. I'm looking to integrate more of Korean culture and history into the lesson that is interwoven into learning a bit about American history too. Maybe comparing and contrasting the two countries.

Does anyone know of some great websites with some ideas about how to teach Korean culture or traditions? IE: Instead of learning about American symbols (bald eagle, redwhiteblue, liberty bell, white house, etc.) learn about Korean symbols instead? Any Korean songs that show the country's pride that we could sing in class? Famous Koreans that helped shape the country?

Any help on this issue is much appreciated!!! Thanks in advance.

[ddeubel]

Oh! I don't know where to begin!

I've been on a seemingly possessed mission the last few years to wake educators up about the need for CSC (culturally specific content). My proposal was high fived a few times recently and I'll be presenting at conferences in the spring/summer on this.

Go HERE for just a few resources. Best, go to EFL Classroom and search "Korea". Everything from pop songs to dozens of folktales etc...

I"ve seen a big difference lately, with Korean teachers using much more Korean context/content. That's positive. It is so important for acquisition ....

Get Andrew Finch's textboook "Visit Korea" . It is a wonderful text meant for travel agents to learn English but great for anyone.... He has so much else too. I know Oxford has got on this bandwagon recently with a forthcoming textbook - Smart Choice. Google or even better, I have them all formatted (the free lessons for Korea) on EFL Classroom 2.0 in Resources under Korea, handouts...

But great topic and hopefully more will chime up.

Cheers, merry,

DD
http://eflclassroom.com

[Fishead soup]

[maingman]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea

[Faunaki]

I use Arirang TV. There are loads of travel shows, specials about Korea. Recently there was a really interesting show in Arirang Special about Korean food in New York. You could do a lot with that.

[maingman]

http://www.linktv.org/


Happy Xmas

[ohme_ohmy]

A BIG thanks to everyone! These are great resources!

[frankly speaking]

A foreigner teaching Korean culture and History to Koreans using English. I think that is absolutely absurd.

I do concur with DD that culture and regional specific curriculum is important but instead of teaching them about it, you should let them teach you. I am certain that there won't be a topic that they don't know about. The trick is to build their vocabulary so that they can share their knowledge with you.

Yes, I think that all foreigners living abroad should learn about the history and culture that they are living in, but I think it is a bit presumptuous to think that any of us knows more about or could learn more about Korea than the students we teach. Asking them about their culture and history and having them teach it would be more effective.

I think more open ended discussions, exercises and reports discussing a certain topic of Korean culture would be good, but to actually lecture even for a few minutes on topics that they know at a greater level is a little awkward.

[ohme_ohmy]

frankly speaking - I agree. However these are kindergartners and they are probably still learning facts about their own culture and tradition in their Korean schools. I'm sure they can teach me a lot more and I'm not trying to "enlighten" them about Korean culture/tradition. But in my opinion it's much more awkward teaching about America (ie: Pledge of Allegiance, symbols of the US, Presidents, US states, etc.) to a bunch of Korean kindergartners. It isn't relevant for them. So I thought doing a compare/contrast unit might be easier and more effective than teaching about one or the other.