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Epicurus
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
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 Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 6:59 pm Post subject: Cultural Differences Class - suggestions/recommendations |
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I'm going to finally teach one of these  , I've decided.
off the top of the head, I will touch on eating..
e.g.
fork/knife and how Americans can't properly eat using both at the same time (and yes I'm american)
sitting on chairs vs floors.
communal dishes
drinking out of same shot glass.
yes, I'll bring up loud slurping when eating noodles or soup 
then social mores:
public displays of affection for heterosexuals/homosexuals
public displays of affection with people of same sex though they're not gay
spitting! (definitely will focus on this one), especially indoors!
then I will talk about Confucianism and how outside of Korea (and perhaps China and Japan) an adjosshi /adjumma cannot get away with butting in line.
and my favorite - this will definitely be in the class.
The fastest way to get your ass kicked 101 - I'll tell them this won't apply to them but their fathers..
coming up to a younger man yelling and screaming, if not outright poking while making very offensive and abusive comments towards him and or his Korean girlfriend.
I'm sure there are tons more, these are merely off the top of my head, but please throw in more of yours (they can be both of serious and somewhat comedic/entertaining variety) |
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frankly speaking
Joined: 23 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:43 pm Post subject: |
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I hope that you have your resume sent out already. Don't expect to be working too much longer at your present school.
Ok, that was a little exaggerated, but be prepared to have your boss tell you that your students complain that you don't like Korea.
Cultural comparison classes don't usually go over too well. Be very selective and careful not to criticize or show your personal bias.
I think that also your cultural norms and moral mores are more regional in the US. It will be interesting to hear what you think is normal and accepted, because I am certain where I was raised in the states would be different.
Spitting is so common in West Virginia and yes, I often see people blow snot rockets indoors also. So don't think that it is only Koreans that do this.
Urban and Rural areas also have a lot of differences |
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Epicurus
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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| frankly speaking wrote: |
I hope that you have your resume sent out already. Don't expect to be working too much longer at your present school.
Ok, that was a little exaggerated, but be prepared to have your boss tell you that your students complain that you don't like Korea.
Cultural comparison classes don't usually go over too well. Be very selective and careful not to criticize or show your personal bias.
I think that also your cultural norms and moral mores are more regional in the US. It will be interesting to hear what you think is normal and accepted, because I am certain where I was raised in the states would be different.
Spitting is so common in West Virginia and yes, I often see people blow snot rockets indoors also. So don't think that it is only Koreans that do this.
Urban and Rural areas also have a lot of differences |
yeah, this is a little risky.
yes, I know I will have to tread very gingerly. I will take the utmost pains (underlined) before starting to say I am not saying one cultural norm is "better" than the other, I simply want them to understand there are distinct differences.
yes, I am also aware there are regional and urban/rural differences. As a card carrying member of someone who reads the "liberal mainstream media", thinks Sarah Palin has the bird of a dodo bird, and as someone who doesn't care for "white trash", you know where I am coming from
(that said, I've almost always voted republican but no more) |
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Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:30 pm Post subject: |
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| I don't know about you, but I am very good at eating with both a fork and knife simultaneously. |
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Patrick Bateman
Joined: 21 Apr 2009
Location: Lost in Translation
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Epicurus
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Konglishman wrote: |
| I don't know about you, but I am very good at eating with both a fork and knife simultaneously. |
question.
do you keep the fork in your left hand throughout the meal and the knife in the right?, eating with the fork in your left hand?
if you do, you're likely not American
This is the way Europeans eat. American tend to switch back to the fork in the right hand after cutting and typically put the knife away.
Patrick thanks for that suggestion! looks good and the price is right! |
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Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 12:15 am Post subject: |
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| Epicurus wrote: |
| Konglishman wrote: |
| I don't know about you, but I am very good at eating with both a fork and knife simultaneously. |
question.
do you keep the fork in your left hand throughout the meal and the knife in the right?, eating with the fork in your left hand?
if you do, you're likely not American
This is the way Europeans eat. American tend to switch back to the fork in the right hand after cutting and typically put the knife away.
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Yes, that's right. When I was a kid, my parents used to complain that I was eating like a French person. However, they never got serious about correcting me because I guess they thought it was funny.
Anyways, you are wrong about me not being American. I am American. I guess I have always been a bit of a nonconformist. |
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Epicurus
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 4:07 am Post subject: |
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| Konglishman wrote: |
| Epicurus wrote: |
| Konglishman wrote: |
| I don't know about you, but I am very good at eating with both a fork and knife simultaneously. |
question.
do you keep the fork in your left hand throughout the meal and the knife in the right?, eating with the fork in your left hand?
if you do, you're likely not American
This is the way Europeans eat. American tend to switch back to the fork in the right hand after cutting and typically put the knife away.
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Yes, that's right. When I was a kid, my parents used to complain that I was eating like a French person. However, they never got serious about correcting me because I guess they thought it was funny.
Anyways, you are wrong about me not being American. I am American. I guess I have always been a bit of a nonconformist. |
interesting that you came up with this by yourself. Are you left handed by chance?
I was taught that way. (and I'm right handed)
damn glad too. Now I can eat dinner like a civilized human being without constantly switching hands for utensils.
Never liked the way they told me to hold a spoon though. i'd always try different and more comfortable methods |
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