Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Captain Corea]

Ok, I've read it over and over again on this board about some of the outrageous things being taught in school here, but they all seem to be second hand accounts.

I've seen one poster post up a page about "Africans" a long time back (if I remember correctly), but other than that, I really haven't seen that much.

For any and all working in public schools here, is there any chance you could scan/post up a few pages of what you would consider 'outlandish facts' covered in texts?

[spliff]

I would venture to guess nothing more "outlandish" than in any other country.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[Scotticus]

I had my class tell me that they learned that 85% of Americans own guns. I fixed that misconception real fast.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[Kimchieluver]

I haven't seen anything "outlandish" in the texts. Like Bum said, it's what they aren't taught. I haven't even seen the strong emphasis on the "4 distinct seasons". I think the last two generations had that drilled into them. They are also very aware of current events in Korea and in some cases America, but outside that, they are pretty oblivious as to what goes on outside the rest of the world, not unlike Canadian students at their age (grades 7 -9).

[Underwaterbob]

Not quite outlandish exactly but these things in the reading section of lesson 10 in my second year middle school textbook I found amusing:

"I don't know exactly when Koreans began their lives here in Korea. My history teacher says that it goes back as far as five thousand years ago. For such a long time, we have lived with our own language and culture. We are very proud of our long history."

"Koreans are very proud of their language. Their language is called Korean. Written Korean is called Hangeul. It was invented in 1443 by King Sejong. He loved his people very much and he invented the written language for them. He is loved by all Koreans. Hangeul is very easy to read and write. So almost every Korean can read and write. In some countries people cannot read or write because their written language is too difficult. That's not true in Korea."

"My father says that Koreans are one of the hardest working peoples in the world. And I think it's true. I live in Dallas, and I have some friends from Korea in my neighborhood. Their parents work very hard. They usually start their work early in the morning and come back to home late at night. And they do their best for their children to have a better education. They know what's important in life."

"Hi, there! Let me first ask you this: Is it true that you Americans don't eat rice every day? Because our main dish is rice, we eat rice for almost every meal. Some of my friends like western foods, but I like rice better than any other kind of food. Oh, and kimchi is my favorite, too. It's a kind of vegetable we eat with almost every Korean dish. It's a little hot and spicy, but that's my favorite part."

[Scotticus]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[mnhnhyouh]

[Scotticus]

[Hank the Iconoclast]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[patongpanda]

Brown people* actually outnumber Koreans in the Elementary CD-Roms.

I think the problems are in the supplementary materials that the K-Teachers download or make themselves.

Like when ever my old co-teacher produced any material she used to cut-and paste clip art labelled 'Step to the world' in which Korea is the centre of the world and children from around the world are portrayed in traditional costume.

The African child had a bone through his nose, a spear, and wore only a loincloth. That's not the done thing these days, although it was common in comic books until the 1980's in the UK.


*Peter, Peter's Mum, Peter's Dad, Thomas, Lisa, African businessman, and some more I can't remember.

[Smee]