Korean Job Discussion Forums

[captain kirk]

At the haggie there is a steady attendance by students preparing for a month or two before total immersion. When they'll be overseas for a year while living in a homestay with foreign family.

One guy, about to start his last year in high school, heading to Atlanta, Georgia to do his highschool. No friends, family, and the highschool a normal, Georgia highschool. He was mostly geared to go. Because he would have his independence. I wonder about why he left. Is it like emmigrating? A young guy like that. Because he said he'd be staying on to do Uni there as well.

There's another student, about to start her second year of highschool, who's leaving for one year homestay in Minnesota. Her father heard of homestay, and its the idea of Dad and herself. Mom isn't so keen on it because her emotional attachment to her daughter overrides the benefits of her leaving. The girl spoke with a girl who went for a year and liked it very much. She doesn't know what city she's going to in Minnesota. So I've found geographical, statistical, etc. info about her destination for a year.

There are a pair of 14 year old sisters and one went, for 1.5 years, and to Vancouver. I've heard Vancouver has tons of Koreans living there. She had a great time and it was her idea to go. She'd heard homestays for a year were great from a girl who'd just returned from one. Her sister, however, didn't go and wouldn't go on one. She likes Korea, she says.

So there are three situations of three different people. The young man seems to be emmigrating, perhaps, or who knows what's going on. A highschool girl who agrees with her Dad it's a good thing. And a girl who went and returned and it was a piece of cake.

These kids are troopers.

[ilovebdt]

One of the kids I taught in Ecuador went to do the same thing. He had a blast. IMO it's a great idea, wish I had done one when I was younger.

[Hollywoodaction]

One year away from studying 12 hours a day. Gee, I wonder if the kid will miss mom and dad?

[fidel]

So where are the 12 year old kids?

[Derrek]

Recently, one of the students at my high school had her entrance test at Hankuk University -- one of the better schools for language study. There she was, waiting with numerous other students for several hours, and the professor asks the room, "How many of you have lived overseas?"

EVERYONE except her raised their hand. Most of the students had lived overseas at least one year, and up to five years. My student was really embarrased, because she was the ONLY one who hadn't.

By the way, these weren't people trying to gain entry into the English program. She was trying for French. She said that most of the English student entries had TOEIC scores approaching 980 to 990 or higher, and had lived overseas many years as well.

These days, it seems if you want to get into a good University, you'd better be a natural at learning a language, or have lived overseas.

I have a feeling that many University English teachers at some of the higher English schools are having to work with students asking some tougher questions than ever before. Do they ask you guys lots of grammar stuff at univ. jobs, or is it mainly about conversation? I suppose, if it's not grammar intense, it could be a lot more fun for you to teach near-fluent students.

[sheba]

I met my Korean homestay family back home when they stay there for a year. It was purely for English benefits. The mother, and two sons went, while the husband stayed in Korea to work.

Now the youngest son is going to America for 3 months to stay with his aunts family, I think it is for English experience again.

[Dawn]

I had an elementary school student (Grade 4, I think) whose parents sent him on a year-long homestay in the Phillipines last year. Don't know how much his English skills improved, but I heard through the grapevine that he was most unhappy to return to a Korean elementary school once the year was up. Last I heard, he was begging his parents to let him get the rest of his education anywhere other than Korea.

[captain kirk]

The one who went to Vancouver went when she was 12, stayed there 1.5 yrs (to answer fidel, 'where are the 12 year old kids?').

It's interesting to teach these kids. They know they'll be transported somewhere they don't know about. In the case of the 1st yr. highschool girl heading to Minnesota I know a lot more now just websearching for her about it. The girl who went to Vancouver is an outgoing, cheerful, sunny, sociable sort. It looks like she met tons of Koreans and had a great time, probably. But Minnesota. Bit different there.

So I suggested she change her hobbies/interests to suit the place. Minnesota is famous for lakes and forest (land of a thousand lakes) so why not take up fishing. She looked at my like she'd rather die, haha.

[Ody]

my uni students usually aren't as good as my middle school kids.
although the scale is tipping, fluency is still the exception. this is particularly true with the over 20 set.

[I_Am_Wrong]

high school through and exchange program such as Rotary International or a World Youth program....no problem. Lot's of support and almost a 99.0% chance of good families. University...no problem, it's about time they learn some independence. Elementary and Middle School....NO!!!!!!!! Too Young!~~