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Son Deureo!
Joined: 30 Apr 2003
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 Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 8:59 pm Post subject: |
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Well, Hammer, one of my students decided to prove to me that she was just as ignorant as your students are. I mentioned the current typhoon that is threatening Busan as we speak as an intro to my class.
A new arrival to my class smiles and pipes up with, "I hope the typhoon hits Japan."
"Why?" I ask.
"Because I hate Japan. My grandfather blahblahblah..."
"That's enough. *I* don't hate Japan. I have some good friends from Japan, and my cousin's wife is Japanese. I hope their families are OK. If you don't like Japan, I suggest you keep it to yourself."
"I'm sorry," she says.
"*grunt* Open your textbooks to...."
Did I change her mind about Japan? Who knows? But what she did learn is that at least one person doesn't think hatred of the Japanese is so cool. It's also worth noting that none of her classmates bothered to defend her after I shot her down.
I do also have lessons that I do about stereotyping and prejudice. But they do not assume the worst of my students. I discuss all kinds of controversial topics with my students, and I do challenge their way of thinking.
Your quiz, however, looks patronizing and completely lacks in subtlety. And riddle me this, just where will your lesson go if all of your students answer "false", er... I mean "disagree"? |
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The Hammer
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Ullungdo 37.5 N, 130.9 E, altitude : 223 m
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| Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 10:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Son Deureo! wrote: |
Well, Hammer, one of my students decided to prove to me that she was just as ignorant as your students are. Do you believe that my students are ignorant? I mentioned the current typhoon that is threatening Busan as we speak as an intro to my class.
A new arrival to my class smiles and pipes up with, "I hope the typhoon hits Japan."
"Why?" I ask.
"Because I hate Japan. My grandfather blahblahblah..."
"That's enough. *I* don't hate Japan. I have some good friends from Japan, and my cousin's wife is Japanese. I hope their families are OK. If you don't like Japan, I suggest you keep it to yourself."
"I'm sorry," she says.
"*grunt* Open your textbooks to...."
Did I change her mind about Japan? Who knows? But what she did learn is that at least one person doesn't think hatred of the Japanese is so cool. It's also worth noting that none of her classmates bothered to defend her after I shot her down. BUT... I would venture to say many of your students feel the same way as her and they will continue to do so. My students are old enough that I can get them to think about statements like that.
I do also have lessons that I do about stereotyping and prejudice. I would be interested in learning what you do. I am sure that you have some pretty good lessons. Please share.. But they do not assume the worst of my students. Cool! I discuss all kinds of controversial topics with my students, and I do challenge their way of thinking. How? I am genuinely interested.
Your quiz, however, looks patronizing and completely lacks in subtlety. Well when students say these things to me their statements lack in subletly too. Just think for a moment about your student's comments regarding Japan. There must be a way to reach her and teach her.
And riddle me this, just where will your lesson go if all of your students answer "false", er... I mean "disagree"? It won't happen, but if it did we could still discuss why they think that way. Is there any harm in that? Afterwards we could move on to the next topic. |
They way you think students react to this quiz is not correct. Maybe you think they approach these questions the way you would. You look at the statements and think that they are patronizing. They look at most of the statements and say... Agree Agree Agree. They aren't offended by the questions. They see them differently than you do. They are Korean. They think differently than you. The questions are a starting point for discussion.
I look forward to a postive response.
The Hammer  |
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Hagwon Muppet
Joined: 18 Mar 2003
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| Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2004 10:12 am Post subject: |
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| HamuHamu wrote: |
Oh, and even though I am from North America, I am fully aware and in complete understanding of the make-up of the UK and the consituent parts...and have been asked on many occassions to explain it to friends from England.  |
You sure?? Wanna take a stab at it?
Anyway..I never met you so I can still stick by my earlier statement that I never met anyone from North America who understood it.
In the same way although I lived in the US for a while I couldn't really explain the electoral system there fully.
My objection to the original post was just that it came across as an attempt to prove how stupid the students were because they believe things that are different to how the poster thinks. Maybe that wasn't the intention but thats how it came across.
Yeah there are some things that I have heard here that make me wonder but I've heard plenty of the same stuff in other countries too. I don't know how any educated person can believe in fan death but then I don't know how any educated person can believe that walking under a ladder is bad luck or that being out in the rain will make you catch a cold. |
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HamuHamu
Joined: 01 May 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2004 4:23 am Post subject: |
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| Hagwon Muppet wrote: |
| HamuHamu wrote: |
Oh, and even though I am from North America, I am fully aware and in complete understanding of the make-up of the UK and the consituent parts...and have been asked on many occassions to explain it to friends from England. |
You sure?? Wanna take a stab at it?
Anyway..I never met you so I can still stick by my earlier statement that I never met anyone from North America who understood it.
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Well . . . seeing as I never found it too difficult to understand then I suppose it is much more complicated than I alays assumed....and I must be missing something???
You've got England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Put England, Scotland and Wales together and you have Great Britian.
Add in Northern Ireland and you have the "UK"....hence, "The United Kingdoms of Great Britain and Northern Ireland."
As far as I know, The Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and....umm....the Shetlands??? are considered part of "the British Isles" but then you're talking geography, not politics. Politically, that would be the part I get stuck on - where the islands technically belong. My gut is to say that the Shetlands are actually considered part of Scotland (??), but as for the Isle of Man, I know that it is not part of England as far as taxes are concerned.....so it must be a protectorate as far as I can see?
I dunno, this is all coming from high school geography class - back in the day of studying which King married who's sister and created what union and what war -- and so it's been a long time since I learned it.
I just never knew why so many English folks didn't quite get it???? 
Aside from that, how'd I do???? |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2004 11:33 pm Post subject: |
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I think the OP's idea has merit, to be honest. By challenging the usual Korean stereotypical ways of thinking at an early age, you are setting them on a course of critical thinking that will benefit them a whole lot. You have planted a seed, sown a thought- and that is rarely wasted in life.
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What would people here think about a Korean teacher who went to teach Korean language in the west, and used his classroom to challenge typical western beliefs? Say, he tried to get them to see that the Confucian view of female inferiority might have some merit, or that notions of Asian racial superiority shouldn't be dismissed out of hand. Would we consider this acceptable?
Last edited by On the other hand on Sat Sep 18, 2004 8:19 am; edited 1 time in total |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 1:16 am Post subject: Re: Distorted Thinking |
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| The Hammer wrote: |
I am writing a quiz that I can use to expose the distorted thinking of my students.
Here are examples of questions that I am looking for. I have based these questions on comments my students have made to me.
Korean mothers love their children more than mothers from America and Japan. TRUE - FALSE
Koreans have superior brains compared to people from other countries. TRUE - FALSE
Westerners don't really care about their children. TRUE-FALSE
Korea has four seasons, but Canada does not. TRUE-FALSE
Korea is the most beautiful country in the world. TRUE-FALSE
How many countries have you been to?
All Chinese people are dirty. TRUE-FALSE
Koreans are the kindest people in the world. TRUE-FALSE
Some Americans are nice, but most of them are not. TRUE-FASLE
Please give me some other TRUE-FALSE questions that I can use. |
You'd really give that to your students? Generally we're here to teach English, not to expose and ridicule their myths. All nations have them. Imagine a Korean teaching American elementary school and teaching them that Santa doesn't exist, George Washington told all kinds of lies, and the Civil War wasn't really about slavery at all... He wouldn't have his job for too long.
Granted the kids here have a lot of warped views, many that border on offensive and racist. And I do find it funny that young Koreans seem to believe they're the only nation on earth that has four distinct seasons.
Still, if you wanted to introduce a common sense agenda into your classroom why not introduce lessons that address those points without making it confrontational? If kids call bull shyte on you, then what a great point of discussion and debate. Make a lesson about the distinct and splendid seasons enjoyed in the Laurentians. Make a lesson about a great South American Nobel prize winner. Make a lesson about the great and good things Americans do around the world or in Korea in general... American GIs who volunteer at Korean orphanages.
I realize the above idea is actually more work than banging off a list of grumpy points but your little idea might end up with you having no work. Slapping a list of true/false statements in front of them, which their mothers will probably review, might offend those writing the checks.
Pepsi is a Korean beverage TRUE/FALSE
Last edited by mindmetoo on Sat Sep 18, 2004 6:23 am; edited 1 time in total |
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bellum99
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: don't need to know
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| Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 2:58 am Post subject: why do you care? |
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| What does it matter if they believe something wrong. Why do you care so much about it? I do my best to educate but I never get into a fight about it, because it solves nothing. Just leave them alone with their beliefs. |
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The Hammer
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Ullungdo 37.5 N, 130.9 E, altitude : 223 m
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| Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2004 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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| On the other hand wrote: |
| Quote: |
I think the OP's idea has merit, to be honest. By challenging the usual Korean stereotypical ways of thinking at an early age, you are setting them on a course of critical thinking that will benefit them a whole lot. You have planted a seed, sown a thought- and that is rarely wasted in life.
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What would people here think about a Korean teacher who went to teach Korean language in the west, and used his classroom to challenge typical western beliefs? Say, he tried to get them to see that the Confucian view of female inferiority might have some merit, or that notions of Asian racial superiority shouldn't be dismissed out of hand. Would we consider this acceptable? |
Why not? |
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The Hammer
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Ullungdo 37.5 N, 130.9 E, altitude : 223 m
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| Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2004 9:07 pm Post subject: Re: why do you care? |
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| bellum99 wrote: |
| What does it matter if they believe something wrong. Why do you care so much about it? I do my best to educate but I never get into a fight about it, because it solves nothing. Just leave them alone with their beliefs. |
Why do I care? Because I care.
I don't fight about it either. |
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The Hammer
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Ullungdo 37.5 N, 130.9 E, altitude : 223 m
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| Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2004 9:20 pm Post subject: Re: Distorted Thinking |
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| mindmetoo wrote: |
| The Hammer wrote: |
I am writing a quiz that I can use to expose the distorted thinking of my students.
Here are examples of questions that I am looking for. I have based these questions on comments my students have made to me.
Korean mothers love their children more than mothers from America and Japan. TRUE - FALSE
Koreans have superior brains compared to people from other countries. TRUE - FALSE
Westerners don't really care about their children. TRUE-FALSE
Korea has four seasons, but Canada does not. TRUE-FALSE
Korea is the most beautiful country in the world. TRUE-FALSE
How many countries have you been to?
All Chinese people are dirty. TRUE-FALSE
Koreans are the kindest people in the world. TRUE-FALSE
Some Americans are nice, but most of them are not. TRUE-FASLE
Please give me some other TRUE-FALSE questions that I can use. |
You'd really give that to your students? I did it and it is a useful learning event. Generally we're here to teach English, not to expose and ridicule their myths. All nations have them. Imagine a Korean teaching American elementary school and teaching them that Santa doesn't exist, George Washington told all kinds of lies, and the Civil War wasn't really about slavery at all... He wouldn't have his job for too long.
Some fat white dude coming from the sky to hook kids up with presents is a myth. The statement ALL CHINESE ARE DIRTY is not. It is my duty to get them to think on these things that most teachers fail/fear to address.
Granted the kids here have a lot of warped views, many that border on offensive and racist. And I do find it funny that young Koreans seem to believe they're the only nation on earth that has four distinct seasons.
Still, if you wanted to introduce a common sense agenda into your classroom why not introduce lessons that address those points without making it confrontational? My students are not kids and my approach is not confrontational in a negative way. Do I get my students to confront their beliefs? Yes, I do. If kids call bull shyte on you, then what a great point of discussion and debate. Make a lesson about the distinct and splendid seasons enjoyed in the Laurentians. Make a lesson about a great South American Nobel prize winner. Make a lesson about the great and good things Americans do around the world or in Korea in general... American GIs who volunteer at Korean orphanages.
I realize the above idea is actually more work than banging off a list of grumpy points but your little idea might end up with you having no work. Wrong. Slapping a list of true/false statements in front of them, which their mothers will probably review, might offend those writing the checks. Once again my students are not kids.
Pepsi is a Korean beverage TRUE/FALSE |
 The Hammer has gently struck. |
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