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bmaw01
Joined: 13 May 2013
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 Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 8:49 pm Post subject: You think your Korean class is difficult? |
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I always laugh when I hear how difficult it is to teach Korean students. Please! Korean children are puppies compared to teaching at a school in the inner city. I'm a special education teacher, and I've taught at one of these schools. I've had desks and chairs thrown at me. I've been cursed at and spit on. I've had students tell me that I'm a dead teacher walking. I've seen children thrown out of school because they were brandishing a firearm on school property. There is a metal detector on every door. We had a student sneak in a carved t-bone steak because he wanted to shank another student. I've had to break up countless fights, and I've had to forcibly take them down. I've had parents come to school drunk. 
Watch the video and you'll realize that you really don't have it that bad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-B_kmAebbQ |
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Chaparrastique
Joined: 01 Jan 2014
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 10:00 pm Post subject: Re: You think your Korean class is difficult? |
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| bmaw01 wrote: |
| is a metal detector on every door. We had a student sneak in a carved t-bone steak because he wanted to shank another student. I've had to break up countless fights, |
The problem is that the west encourages violence as the answer to every problem. Kids are taught to fight from an early age. Not all cultures are like this. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 10:05 pm Post subject: |
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| I think what you mean is a small subset of the West is like that. Overall, the West is wealthy, successful, and safe. But not every part of it is. |
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wanderkind
Joined: 01 Jan 2012
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 10:20 pm Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
| I think what you mean is a small subset of the West is like that. Overall, the West is wealthy, successful, and safe. But not every part of it is. |
Is 'The West' in this case 'English-speaking countries'? |
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bmaw01
Joined: 13 May 2013
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 10:27 pm Post subject: Re: You think your Korean class is difficult? |
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| Chaparrastique wrote: |
| bmaw01 wrote: |
| is a metal detector on every door. We had a student sneak in a carved t-bone steak because he wanted to shank another student. I've had to break up countless fights, |
The problem is that the west encourages violence as the answer to every problem. Kids are taught to fight from an early age. Not all cultures are like this. |
Are you specifically talking about the African American population? |
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bmaw01
Joined: 13 May 2013
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 10:28 pm Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
| I think what you mean is a small subset of the West is like that. Overall, the West is wealthy, successful, and safe. But not every part of it is. |
Yea, if you're white! |
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Mr. BlackCat
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Location: Insert witty remark HERE
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 10:40 pm Post subject: Re: You think your Korean class is difficult? |
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| bmaw01 wrote: |
I always laugh when I hear how difficult it is to teach Korean students. Please! Korean children are puppies compared to teaching at a school in the inner city. I'm a special education teacher, and I've taught at one of these schools. I've had desks and chairs thrown at me. I've been cursed at and spit on. I've had students tell me that I'm a dead teacher walking. I've seen children thrown out of school because they were brandishing a firearm on school property. There is a metal detector on every door. We had a student sneak in a carved t-bone steak because he wanted to shank another student. I've had to break up countless fights, and I've had to forcibly take them down. I've had parents come to school drunk.
Watch the video and you'll realize that you really don't have it that bad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-B_kmAebbQ |
Uh-huh and I can link to stories about certain things happening in Korean schools and say "Look at these Koreans! Western schools are so great!"
1) There are over 300 million people in the USA to the 55 million in Korea. Add in all the other "Western"* countries, there's bound to be more cases of crime and whatnot. So to link to one story, or even 5 stories, with no context, doesn't really do anything. People will pull stories out of France\, GB, Australia, South Africa, Canada, etc., etc. and compare it to a tiny nation. Well, that's not really a sound comparison, is it. If I can take examples from pretty much any country, I can "prove" that Belgium is the best and safest country in the world.
2) This is a small subset of the West. Inner city in the USA. There are issues in every country, but inner city Detroit isn't exactly representative of the "West". Hell, it's not even representative of inner city Windsor across the river, or the state of Michigan.
3) You have no idea of what goes on in Korean public schools. You think all Korean kids are little wonderful angels? First of all, Koreans are very good at hiding those sorts of things. Second, you think some foreign teacher in the school down the road is going to be the first to hear about it? And third, how much Korean media do you goes consume? The link is from Vice TV. How many hours a day do you actively search Korean videos for similar examples? I assume most people read papers/blog/whatever from back home online. Compared to that, how much time do you spend reading the Korean news? So of course you're going to be aware of more of the bad stuff that goes on in your home countries because you actively search it out.
*This term seems to change depending on what people are arguing. "Western food is terrible and bad for you!" "Greek food is one of the healthiest in the world." "Well, Greece isn't Western!" Next day, "Westerners are so lazy! Look at Greece!" |
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Mr. BlackCat
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Location: Insert witty remark HERE
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 10:48 pm Post subject: Re: You think your Korean class is difficult? |
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| Chaparrastique wrote: |
| bmaw01 wrote: |
| is a metal detector on every door. We had a student sneak in a carved t-bone steak because he wanted to shank another student. I've had to break up countless fights, |
The problem is that the west encourages violence as the answer to every problem. Kids are taught to fight from an early age. Not all cultures are like this. |
Unlike Korean culture that up until just a few years ago (and still to this day in some areas) had corporal punishments in schools, while all Western countries abolished it half a century ago? You mean the Western countries that punish students for hitting each other instead of turning a blind eye like Korea? You mean Korea, which has mandatory military service on both sides of its border, along with a ruthless violent regime in the North is not as violent as the West? You mean Korea, which has the death penalty while every Western country has abolished it besides the US, thinks violence is not an appropriate answer?
Americans need to realize "the West" is much bigger than their borders. Just because they live in a violent gun-happy society doesn't mean everyone in the "West" does. You should realize most advanced Western countries barely consider the USA in the same club, besides economics obviously. On the flip side, to think of Korea as some non-violent utopia is more than laughable. |
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3DR
Joined: 24 May 2009
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 11:20 pm Post subject: Re: You think your Korean class is difficult? |
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| Mr. BlackCat wrote: |
| bmaw01 wrote: |
I always laugh when I hear how difficult it is to teach Korean students. Please! Korean children are puppies compared to teaching at a school in the inner city. I'm a special education teacher, and I've taught at one of these schools. I've had desks and chairs thrown at me. I've been cursed at and spit on. I've had students tell me that I'm a dead teacher walking. I've seen children thrown out of school because they were brandishing a firearm on school property. There is a metal detector on every door. We had a student sneak in a carved t-bone steak because he wanted to shank another student. I've had to break up countless fights, and I've had to forcibly take them down. I've had parents come to school drunk.
Watch the video and you'll realize that you really don't have it that bad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-B_kmAebbQ |
Uh-huh and I can link to stories about certain things happening in Korean schools and say "Look at these Koreans! Western schools are so great!"
1) There are over 300 million people in the USA to the 55 million in Korea. Add in all the other "Western"* countries, there's bound to be more cases of crime and whatnot. So to link to one story, or even 5 stories, with no context, doesn't really do anything. People will pull stories out of France\, GB, Australia, South Africa, Canada, etc., etc. and compare it to a tiny nation. Well, that's not really a sound comparison, is it. If I can take examples from pretty much any country, I can "prove" that Belgium is the best and safest country in the world.
2) This is a small subset of the West. Inner city in the USA. There are issues in every country, but inner city Detroit isn't exactly representative of the "West". Hell, it's not even representative of inner city Windsor across the river, or the state of Michigan.
3) You have no idea of what goes on in Korean public schools. You think all Korean kids are little wonderful angels? First of all, Koreans are very good at hiding those sorts of things. Second, you think some foreign teacher in the school down the road is going to be the first to hear about it? And third, how much Korean media do you goes consume? The link is from Vice TV. How many hours a day do you actively search Korean videos for similar examples? I assume most people read papers/blog/whatever from back home online. Compared to that, how much time do you spend reading the Korean news? So of course you're going to be aware of more of the bad stuff that goes on in your home countries because you actively search it out.
*This term seems to change depending on what people are arguing. "Western food is terrible and bad for you!" "Greek food is one of the healthiest in the world." "Well, Greece isn't Western!" Next day, "Westerners are so lazy! Look at Greece!" |
A small subset of the west, but when applied here, it's everyone. Lol @ the contradictions. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 11:29 pm Post subject: Re: You think your Korean class is difficult? |
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| Mr. BlackCat wrote: |
| You should realize most advanced Western countries barely consider the USA in the same club |
More anti-U.S. propaganda from an American hating Canadian. (What a surprise.  ) The United States is the cultural leader of the world. Could living in Canada (or another Western country) be just as good? Maybe. But Canada is not vastly superior, nor is the United States vastly inferior. To talk like that is foolish. |
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nicwr2002
Joined: 17 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 12:45 am Post subject: Re: You think your Korean class is difficult? |
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| bmaw01 wrote: |
I always laugh when I hear how difficult it is to teach Korean students. Please! Korean children are puppies compared to teaching at a school in the inner city. I'm a special education teacher, and I've taught at one of these schools. I've had desks and chairs thrown at me. I've been cursed at and spit on. I've had students tell me that I'm a dead teacher walking. I've seen children thrown out of school because they were brandishing a firearm on school property. There is a metal detector on every door. We had a student sneak in a carved t-bone steak because he wanted to shank another student. I've had to break up countless fights, and I've had to forcibly take them down. I've had parents come to school drunk.
Watch the video and you'll realize that you really don't have it that bad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-B_kmAebbQ |
So your argument is the ole someone has it worse than you, so you shouldn't complain. If that's the case, then teachers in some African nations have it worse than you. They are constantly under threat from being slain by guerilla militants or worse.
I would say most people here teach in hagwons which are more difficult to teach in. The students don't work as hard because there aren't the same levels and severity of punishments in a hagwon. If a student doesn't do well, then so what? It doesn't affext their grade at school. It may have a long term effect, but immediate effects, no. |
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Sector7G
Joined: 24 May 2008
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| Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 4:44 am Post subject: Re: You think your Korean class is difficult? |
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| bmaw01 wrote: |
I always laugh when I hear how difficult it is to teach Korean students. Please! Korean children are puppies compared to teaching at a school in the inner city. I'm a special education teacher, and I've taught at one of these schools. I've had desks and chairs thrown at me. I've been cursed at and spit on. I've had students tell me that I'm a dead teacher walking. I've seen children thrown out of school because they were brandishing a firearm on school property. There is a metal detector on every door. We had a student sneak in a carved t-bone steak because he wanted to shank another student. I've had to break up countless fights, and I've had to forcibly take them down. I've had parents come to school drunk.
Watch the video and you'll realize that you really don't have it that bad.
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According to my sister in law, who teaches special ed now in Florida, your description is pretty accurate. But comparing a "special ed" class to a regular class is not really a fair comparison, is it? In fact, she could say the same thing to her "regular ed" colleagues at the same school if she heard them bitching about how bad their classes were. |
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Mr. BlackCat
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Location: Insert witty remark HERE
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| Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 5:33 am Post subject: Re: You think your Korean class is difficult? |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
| Mr. BlackCat wrote: |
| You should realize most advanced Western countries barely consider the USA in the same club |
More anti-U.S. propaganda from an American hating Canadian. (What a surprise. ) The United States is the cultural leader of the world. Could living in Canada (or another Western country) be just as good? Maybe. But Canada is not vastly superior, nor is the United States vastly inferior. To talk like that is foolish. |
Relax there, I was just kidding around. I know this board loves to hate Canadians, but maybe it's because you guys are humourless?
That was another tongue in cheek statement, just want to make sure you understand that. Also, a chicken didn't actually cross the road and no one is really knocking at your door.
But when you look at education, health care, gun control, crime, political systems, drug policy, transportation, religion and wealth distribution, the USA really is an ourlier in the Western world. So I don't think it's always fair to use it as THE example when comparing 'The West' to Korea. Good or bad. |
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nuthatch
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 5:58 am Post subject: |
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It can go both ways anywhere.
I have seen the sweetest, good-hearted students in the village schools in rural South Korea, as well as a boys middle school there where they were killing each other in the halls and ready to strangle each other out the window with a look-the-other-way attitude from the male supervisors/administrators down below.
It seemed to be expected in the culture for the boys to grow into this behavior. It was inappropriate and when I asked the principal to do something about it he refused and went on with his office baloney. I was able to control the class but when I wasn't in the class it was awful. I wouldn't put a son of my through that. I also saw teachers disciplinary students in the hall with a switch while they were on their knees.
On the other hand, I see a lot of U.S. society in deterioration...no manners, loud, brash, and aggressive/violent. The government, all these years, has promoted militarism 1% capitalism. Manifests in the psyche of its society. People are at loose ends all around. |
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Mix1
Joined: 08 May 2007
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| Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 8:31 pm Post subject: Re: You think your Korean class is difficult? |
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| bmaw01 wrote: |
I always laugh when I hear how difficult it is to teach Korean students. Please! Korean children are puppies compared to teaching at a school in the inner city. I'm a special education teacher, and I've taught at one of these schools. I've had desks and chairs thrown at me. I've been cursed at and spit on. I've had students tell me that I'm a dead teacher walking. I've seen children thrown out of school because they were brandishing a firearm on school property. There is a metal detector on every door. We had a student sneak in a carved t-bone steak because he wanted to shank another student. I've had to break up countless fights, and I've had to forcibly take them down. I've had parents come to school drunk.
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Sure, if we compare them to the absolute worst of the worst, Korean students really aren't that bad. But is that the standard teachers should be holding their students to?
Some of it comes down to expectations maybe. Some teachers came here thinking it WOULD be a breeze. They believed the stereotypical bill of goods they were sold that Korean students were all ultra-intelligent, quiet, respectful, and well behaved, when in reality that stereotype is often not true at all. Then there's the language barrier...
One thing is that Korean students aren't very violent on average, especially against a teacher. So they have that going for them. There's a lot to be thankful for here actually. Safety is one of them. |
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