Korean Job Discussion Forums

[superNET]

Not a troll but someone who thinks the topic is best left up to the Koreans to discuss not westerners.

[edwardcatflap]

Good idea. Textbooks are often too bland in their topics, e.g. technology, movies, travel, school days, food, sport etc...(probably because the publishers want to sell them in places like Saudi Arabia) There's definitely a need for the occasional lesson subject that motivates students in a different way. As others have said before you need to tread carefully and avoid moralizing but you could certainly introduce the subject. Famous women in history, for example, and definitely the jobs aspect. You could do this sexist test with them

There is a boy and his dad driving in a car. The car crashes and the dad dies . The boy is rushed to hospital and is sent to the operating room. The doctor then said "I can't operate on him as he is my son"

Who is the doctor??

A woman doctor of course but it's surprising how many people don't get it.

[toadkillerdog]

I like the topic but rather than having the Ss do a report or research in the traditional manner, have them do a digital story instead.

[Bibbitybop]

[debb199]

I've done a lesson on gender roles which worked really well (I didn't teach it in Korea, but to a mixed nationality group of teenagers). If interested in seeing the lesson plan for some ideas, please PM me and I'l send it on to you!

[tanklor1]

Hmmm...I have a question.

Does anyone remember studying this sort of thing in the eighth grade in their native language? Because I don't.

Not to be a party pooper but who are you teaching for: the kids or yourself?

It's great that you have freedom over your lesson plans but come on...eighth grade....? Feminism....? Korean kids....? In a different language nonetheless...? These kids are not sociology majors in University. They're Eighth graders who are probably obsessed to the newest Miss-A song.

Flame me if you will but I can't see this type of subject being brought up in an Eighth Grade classroom back home.

[edwardcatflap]

[Mountain Mama]

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

[Troglodyte]

[ippy]

I will bear in mind the criticisms, but ill also remind you that i also dont recall a time in 8th grade when i was doing communication based activities in german, nor do i remember anything more extravagant than an OHP and copying what was written up on it. I dont remember student centred learning, and ideas about multiple learning types? Lol!

truth is, id rather we didnt throw in the super teacher nonsense. I would like to try something that may work, and then again it might simply be too much work. The intention of the thread isnt actually to get all upset that im trying to convert the students to "western liberal values", but to get ideas for activities which would broach the subject. ABOVE ALL, its to ask for methods on keeping it an appropriate level precisely so that i dont let my own interest in the subject overwhelm the students. So really, maybe a more appropriate response wouldnt be an attempt to tell me "its wrong!" or "theyre too young!", but rather to provide me with ideas that would a) show cultural sensitivity from your vantage point of your years of studying Said; and b) a reminder of what would be an appropriate introduction to gender issues for 14/15 year old advanced female students.

As i said, i appreciate its an incendiary issue, but the world isnt black and white, so lets not get in a pointless argument about whether its entirely bad or entirely good. Also, lets not assume too much about me. Instead lets look at approaches on how this could be covered relevantly without any attempt to insult korean society (possibly through not forcing a specific teachers opinion (i think im fine with this)) or ask of the students far more than theyre capable of producing.

if it helps, im a fantastically good devils advocate being a philosophy grad, and one who learned a great deal from a teacher who continually refused to disclose his political opinion I therefore understand the power of not knowing the right answer in sharpening your personal critical faculties.

Still, dpnt get me wrong, i wont pretend these are irrelevant concerns or over reactions, so ill pass on the points to my co-teach and see how she thinks we should proceed (bearing those points in mind).

[earthquakez]

Expect to get negative feedback if you say things that both your co teacher and many of the kids don't like/don't feel comfortable with. I tend to agree with SuperNET on this one.

You're assuming that ignorance of western style feminism is why Korea doesn't have it. That's not the reason. Gender roles are sharply defined in Korea and while there are Korean women (and men) who think that should change, you'd be surprised by the interpretation they put on it.

To the open minded K female teachers I met at my public schools, equality meant that. It didn't mean affirmative action for women/girls. They focused on an equal number of women and men teaching in schools. Not one Korean adult with a relatively open mind that I've known in my jobs or outside has been surprised or even concerned by the fact that most women resign from their jobs when they get married. They don't have to be pregnant to do that - it's normal that they resign because they are getting married.

Marriage is the normal path and is promoted as the normal path for females in Korean society - by most females as well as nearly all men. Divorce/single mothers, issues like that, are viewed with a distinctly conservative outlook and I met few young Koreans including intelligent and articulate students who didn't have those views.

Korea already emphasises education for females as well as males. From what I read, see, hear and observe in other ways, Koreans generally have a view of feminism that is not going to change regardless of western attempts to portray western feminism as the norm.

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

So basically, you're looking for a way to seem as innocuous as possible while introducing a loaded topic?

I'm actually kind of confused as to why you feel the need to focus on this in particular... you still haven't answered that. Seriously out of all the things that you could talk about/study, why would you want to talk about this???

Why not focus on global warming, or old Korea versus new Korea... stuff like that? Topical stuff that doesn't have the political undertones?

I'm thinking about doing a class on outer/inner beauty... it's one of those things that's really huge here and you can hate on it without getting too political. Or do something fun like forks versus chopsticks. Or violence on TV/in movies... there are just sooooooooooo many other topics that you could be doing.

If you don't want to talk about these, try something from science and technology-- talk about the Internet and what it's doing to us, or maybe the less controversial 'women in history', or anything historical for that matter, or genocides in other countries, or life on Mars, or alien life in general, or about having too much homework, or good and bad things they think will happen in the future, or smoking bans in public places, or prohibition of alcohol, etc. Talk about HAGWONS and how maybe 20 years ago they weren't even necessary, but now they are if you want to compete.

To base a lesson around a movement that actively demands liberal ideas be put to practice in society, and to do this in a still very conservative culture, is just asking for trouble... and it's completely unnecessary given how many other things you could be talking about.

EDIT: Oh no wait, in your original post you actually DID explain that you are doing this because you want to inject liberal ideas into the minds of young Korean girls, and were actually upset that your job is to teach them English instead of right and wrong.

My mistake!

[ippy]

then it will be an enjoyable learning experience for me too

Nevertheless i dont think its a subject matter thats out of bounds, or unworthy of discussing. In truth, i hardly expect a nuanced ambivalent understanding of the issues of patriarchy here. I think some of you might be getting a touch carried away on this I expect 14/15 year old kids to find some information about korean culture, (as well as western culture - what? is that not allowed?), and to derive reasons to support their position based on said information. I also expect it to be utterly crippled by their english language ability, which although high for their grade, is still only "high for their grade". But it might be something they carry through to university.

And then again, it might be a week of boring abstract guff which theyre thankful to be done with. But lets not decide out of hand without at least trying it. L+1 and all that: its not just something that you apply to their linguistic level