Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Geckoman]

The Korea Herald:

"Skip Kimchi Lesson - Teachers Want Real Training" by Brian Deutsch
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/12/02/200912020048.asp

[redaxe]

Fully agree, these "Korean culture lessons" are just another manifestation of Korean insecurity about how foreigners perceive their culture, and will backfire hard as always.

When I first got to Korea my company gave us a Korean culture lesson, but it was given by an American grad student in Korea studies. Instead of talking about kimchi and four seasons and King Sejong, he taught us a ton of things about modern Korean history, from WWII and the Korean War, to Park Jung Hee and his assassination, the democracy protests of the late 70's and early 80's, through the 2002 World Cup, and about all the main political events in between that shook the nation, and the rapid economic development that was carrying on in the meantime.

That was actually useful and interesting, because he addressed a whole bunch of controversial issues that normal, sterile "Korean culture lessons" don't dare to talk about, but which actually deeply affect Korean society.

It would be a good idea if they did something like that... but they won't.

[Smee]

Thanks for the post.

I'll just quote the last paragraph:

[Goku]

I agree with this article.

The EPIK training manual spends half it's book talking about hamboks and korean classical instruements.

I'm interested in Korean culture... but I need what I NEED first above all other things.

[crossmr]

Maybe its just me, but if you want to be a better teacher how about you get the appropriate training before you do the job?
Do they give you training in Japan? China? Thailand? Jobs should only be responsible for training specific to the place you're going to be employed. Company uses a specific computer system, filing system, gadget, etc.

ESL training is independent of where you're employed.

[seonsengnimble]

[ThingsComeAround]

Cheers, Smee

[mayorgc]

At a couple of last year's Gepik Meetings, they had that elderly Korean gentleman giving an almost 1 hour long speech.

He seems like a nice guy with good english, but his speech was really out of place and boring.

He talked about Korea being the size of Kentucky, Korea having no natural resources and he talked about his life in the U.S..

It filled up about an hour of the day but it really had nothing to do with teaching at all.

[earthbound14]

I think another problem Koreans have when presenting their idea of Korean society to foreigners is that they have little understanding of foreigners and choose some very odd things to focus on...as if they are so important or as if that would really be shocking to us.

Unfortunately the "Korean vs Foreigner" video on youtube has been taken down, but it showed how ineffective a cultural lesson about Korea can be when Koreans make some very broad, if not incorrect, assumptions about western culture.

For example, showing foreign people ordering drinks only for them selves while Koreans always ordered a round of drinks is a gross over simplification that verges on being wrong, as foreign friends will always buy rounds for each other, we just don't buy fashionable 'sets' or have interest in anju.

Also the idea that this is somehow important is also somewhat of a mystery...it's a fun difference, but hardly something that we need to know. These constant assumptions about how truly different we are seems to get in the way of how similar we are...we both buy rounds of drinks, but in a different way...we also like to eat different food while drinking (or after).

Other areas of Koren culture are also left out...as if they are too hard to understand or only important for Koreans. Koreans always seem very surprised when I talk about bowing to ancestors. It seems that in any cultural training you get in Korea, the details of what exactly goes on during Korean holidays or why is not taught. My question is, why not? It has helped me connect with my students to know about the issues that affect them. From driving 12 hours to Busan in bumper to bumper traffic, to bowing for the elders, to visiting the grandparents home to maintinaing the family burial plot. Knowing how important these things are for Koreans and why does go a long way to helping me identify and empathise with my students. Yet all I get taught about is dok and hanboks.

Of course there are far more important things to study, as you mentioned. The recent rise and many of the stages Korea has been going through on its way to becoming modern are what we see every day and what effects us. Having some understanding of this would help us come to grips with the apparent chaos around us, as this is often how Korea appears to a new person in the country. Why is spam so popular? Why do people drive so lawlessly? Why don't I have a clothes dryer? Why is everyone in such a rush? All of these questions become easily understood and accepted when one takes a brief look at Korea's recent history.

Talking about hanbok has never become part of my lesson, but I can always talk to students about their drive home on Chuseok, or their last trip on the bus or their favourite actor. Helping teachers become more empathetic towards Korean students does not mean boasting about what makes Korea great or unique, it means being open and empathetic with foreigners about what really makes Korea tick, knowing how similar we are and having some empathy in return for the teacher who feels rather out of place in this new land.

[goreality]

I agree that the program shouldn't be a course. How about encouraging NESTs to go to the various museums and cultural sites around Seoul or else where on their own. Free admissions and free lunches (Korean food only). Also things like baseball games and more modern cultural performances. Have some sort of passport system to get stamped at these places and a rewards system based on that. collect 10 stamps and get a kimchi pot....25 a hanbok....all 100 a trip to dokdo or jeju (by then you'd probably want the former).

[BreakfastInBed]

And here's the problem. Look at all the great ideas we have on this thread alone, but will we be asked for our input? and if we are, will it be seriously considered?

Nice article, my sentiments exactly.

[ThingsComeAround]

[tiger fancini]

[Steelrails]

I like the throw em to the wolves approach. Toss em into a classroom and see if they sink or swim. It's what happened to me. Day 2 my co-teacher got sick and I was solo. I was basically guaranteed a renewal on Day 3.

[dirving]

Great letter!