Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kermo]

This week, I've had a number of instances in the classroom where students start making jokes at the mention of American Natives or African people.

It drives me crazy because as they're merrily miming spear-chucking, saying "Ooga ooga" or pretending to have bones through their noses (they have this image in mind for both groups regardless of continent of origin), I can't seem to talk any sense into them.

I try to persuade rather than censor, so I explain that I have plenty of native and African friends, many with university degrees and completely without spears or nose piercings.

I know I shouldn't be shocked, and it's happened over and over in different classes, but each time I'm just stunned and aghast at their ignorance.

I really want to make a difference, but what can I say to get through to them?

[RACETRAITOR]

I had a student once who saw a drawing of a black student in his textbook, and was laughing so hard he couldn't study. He was getting ready to go on an exchange program to the US also.

[jajdude]

When I was 12 or under I made fun of lots of things, including the main provincial hospital for psychiatric patients a few hundered kilometers away.

When I was 20 or older that was not so funny anymore, where i visited my brother staying there for month.

You cannot reason with children. *Under 20 means a kid.

And for some of us, childhood only dies when we die/

[Troll_Bait]

I can't get CNN anymore, so I don't know if they still have the program called "Inside Africa" on weekends.
I taped an interesting story and used it as a listening/watching exercise.
Amongst the usual questions (How many ... ?), I added questions like these:

- Are they wearing jeans or loincloths?
- Do they live in a city or in the jungle?
- Do they use camels or cars for transportation?

Afterwards, I forced them to answer these questions out loud.

It worked pretty well for me.

[jajdude]

One of my best friends now is from South Africa.

Guess what? He is white and English is his first language.

Is getting a job easy for him?

Perhaps not.

[Hollywoodaction]

[visitor q]

Germany is hosting the World Cup this year, and South Africa in 2010, although I do know that South Africa came very close to winning the 2006 bid.

Do you think that if South Africa were hosting the World Cup this year it would've changed Koreans perceptions about Africa?

[joe_doufu]

I have a south african friend in Taiwan. We studied chinese together. She was looking for an apartment, and when she called up the landlords with ads, they'd ask where she was from. If she said South Africa, they'd hang up, so she soon started answering the question "where are you from?" with "i'm white". Smooth sailing after that.

[Privateer]

I have had the same experience with students. I don't try to reason with them. They're kids. I tell them not to do it and if they ignore me I send them out into the corridor. They may be bewildered and protest but I reckon they have time to figure it out once they're stood outside for 5 or 10 minutes. At least then they know they've done something wrong.

[bluelake]

Being American Indian (LTBB Odawa), but not really looking the part, I used to ask my university classes what images they had when they heard the word Indian. Most thought of the stereotypical feathers, whooping, chopping, etc. When I told them I was NDN, they were rather surprised. When they heard about the differences between the Hollywood Indian and actual ones, their perceptions changed. They found it quite interesting that many NDNs are very successful today.

Then again, I may be prolonging a stereotype, as archery is my favorite hobby


T

[joe_doufu]

What's NDN?

[bluelake]

Short for Indian

[ulsanchris]

When students of mine say they want to kill Japanese. I tell them to go over with a gun and kill as many as they can. They will say What?!!.
I respond with "you say you want to kill them so why don't you do it."
"uhhhh no." They go real quiet after that.

[Col.Brandon]

It doesn't help when many classroom resources perpetuate the stereotypes. I was using a set of 'country' flashcards at one outfit, and the card for Africa showed the cliche' tribesman complete with spear, bone through the lip and huge rubbery lips. I guess one of the many benefits of having foreigners in the education system here now is that we can begin to have a positive influence against this kind of ignorance.

[canuckistan]

Aren't NA aboriginals descended from the Asiatic peoples that crossed the land bridge eons ago?

Try that one on the students next time they're getting out of hand on the race issue.