Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dr. Buck]

Here's an article from today's funny pages:

Among a number of Korean parents, enrolling their children in advanced (and expensive) English speaking and listening classes is not an option but a must. But do they work?
For Song Soon-ho, who has published his sixth English study book titled "We Can Speak English Better than Americans," the answer is resounding "No."

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2004/12/13/200412130043.asp

[Swiss James]

He suggests that Korean kindergarten children should not be studying from complicated history or biology text books when they can't even master the english in fairy tales.

You suggest shooting him.

Please explain the connection.

[Dr. Buck]

I guess the bold type didn't catch your eye. The title of his book implies that Korean ESL students can speak better than Americans.
So, yes, shoot him. For his absurdness and greed. And boot him in the ass. Right where his head is located.

[riverboy]

I think you should chill out buck. I read the it and I thought he had some excellent points. The korean mathod of teaching English is very poor and this guy is suggesting that a more traditional method of teaching through fairytales is more effective than the present method. I agree with the guy.
Have you every heard the saying "you can't judge a book..."
Oh never mind.

[Swiss James]

[Merlyn]

Strange title considering his view of esl students, "The reading ability of Korean college graduates is similar to that of American students in their second elementary school year" Trying to sell the book though. I would agree with him that most students are studying far above there level and should take a step back. Would I recommend fairy tales though? No. They should just try learning the basic phrases and actually try to practice what they've learned in the books. They don't practice it, don't study, and so don't learn. You can give them fairy tales as well, and I'm sure they won't read them. They have to try. It is as simple as that.

[matthewwoodford]

Seems to me he's on the right track. If Korean English education ever gets on track tho' we could all be out of jobs.

[eamo]

I read the full article and Mr. Song is spot-on!

In my view, he has identified exactly why English-ability of Koreans is so poor considering how much money they spend on it.

Koreans always try to 'level-up'. Go for broke. They do merciless intensive courses. Choose the hardest book on the shelf. They think if they work super-hard they can cope with a level well above their actual level.

And Hagwons pander to this fallacy. Sell the student whatever they want!! Never tell a student they should use an easier book in an easier level. They'll walk away!

[On the other hand]

[J.B. Clamence]

[riverboy]

There was nothing modest about it.
I do agree with his approach. I think the title is a form of encouragement. I have a lot of success teaching conversaiton through literature. It takes a bit more time, but in the long run, the student is more well rounded and can study on their own without the need of a teacher to help them.

[JongnoGuru]

I agree, we shouldn't jump to hasty conclusions about what the author might have intended by that title (we can = "we have the potential to"? we can = "we are currently able to"?). Instead, we should concern ourselves with a calm, cool, scholarly analysis of the content of his book, his observations, the conclusions he draws from them, and so forth.




























Had he titled his book "We Can Speak English Better than Britons", I'd shoot him, of course.

[turtlepi1]

[Ya-ta Boy]

I'd like to speak to the guy's comments about reading books at the appropriate level.

What's more useful to a student learning to read: Reading lots of books at his/her reading level and getting the repetition of well constructed sentences?

Or: slogging through a book slowly and looking up word after word after word just so you can get the gist of the meaning?

I think the answer is self-evident.

I don't necessarily agree that fairy tales alone would be the recommended choice of reading material. There is a lot of high quality children's literature out there. A good librarian could easily find the intended reading level for books.

At the moment, I can't recall the series title of the lit books we used in junior high/high school, but there are quite a few of them from different companies. They would be an excellent place to start looking. They have already been arranged by reading level. They are full of short stories or excerpts chosen for variety and interest as well as reading level.

[chiaa]