Korean Job Discussion Forums

Kikomom

...and how can you apply it to your job teaching English in Korea?

Deep Thirteen · Joined: 18 Jun 2009 Location: Swamp Land

Teach a man to fish rather than give him fish. Lead a donkey to water, but cannot make him drink. Brick no hit back.

Juregen · Joined: 30 May 2006

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

This probably won't go over well with some...

Teach kids to read, don't focus on grammar.

andrewchon · Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 4:52 pm Post subject:

That sounds like: "I only teach smart ones that'll make me look good. I won't do the hard work of teaching dimwits.", i.e. "I don't know how to teach it, but I'm very good at it."
In terms of Music, Franz Liszt and Andres Segovia were great players
but awful teachers. They'd play (something magnificent) and then say "Play like me, if you can't, then get out!"

ytuque · Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Location: I drink therefore I am!

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

Moldy Rutabaga · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Location: Ansan, Korea

I don't think that Confucius literally means four corners of anything. There is probably an implicit idea of harmony or completion, like we might say from north to west to east to south.

I guess a medievalist or early modern would say "God helps those who help themselves." I agree that Confucius is saying that he does not bother stressing himself by repeating a lesson indefinitely if a student puts no effort into making connections between what was taught and other ideas.

As another poster has pointed out, Korean culture is more neo-Confucian than Confucian. Confucius would have urged rulers and bosses to rule by wisdom and legitimacy rather than solely by hierarchy, and yes, I think he would have given a lot of our students kicks in the arses if they spent their classes playing on a cellphone.

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

I think what moldy said is probably right.

You know the ironic thing is that in Hong Kong they don't teach confucianism, or they don't teach it at a young age, so I never learned it.

BUT

Having read some stuff and understanding life a lot more, I am going to hazard a guess by saying that the meaning of this is probably to say that he, the big C, can and will only show you one facet of every truth. It is up to you to figure out others by reading, thinking and discussing issues with other people.

It's the impression I got from the first part of the quote *I do not open up the truth to one who is not eager to get knowledge, nor help out any one who is not anxious to explain himself.*

Anyone who is eager to learn will read and think. Anyone who is interested in discussing and expressing him/herself is going to excel.

That's my take on it.

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

Sounds like they are cutting too many corners. No forest to even see a tree Crying or Very sad

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

VanIslander · Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 7:53 pm Post subject:

Only have students who follow the example of a poor concubine's son of a great warrior by studying diligently, being eager to learn and explain oneself?

Well, times have changed old man. Your follow-my-lead advice might be worthwhile to the teaching of privates but it ain't no help in my classroom.

Good day.

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

I think you mis-underestimate my intention.

Of course we should teach proper syntax and sentence structure,
but what I am talking about is...
teaching technical grammatical terms to gr 5 -6 elementary school students. What's the use of trying to get them to understand noun, verb, subject, oblject when they can't even answer the question,"How old are you"?

Back when they taught grammar in Canada, it started in grade 5 not grade 1 or 2. We already had 4 years of phonics, reading and writing practice before we ever attemted the technical aspects of subject, verb, object etc.
We had already been speaking English for years.

I am not saying we should not teach grammar, just that we should wait until students have some facitlity with the language first.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTSI294dZGE&feature=related

andrewchon · Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 8:07 pm Post subject:

In my case: English is my second language.
When I was learning it, I learnt phonics first in Korea.
Then I went to Australia, went to four different English schools every week.
So, I can't exactly remember when they taught me what.
I think I learnt to write first before I had the confidence to speak.

P.S. What does the song have to do with anything?

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

The song, has nothing to do with anything except that it might be a good way to get students interested in practicing and hopefully learning some English.