Korean Job Discussion Forums

ed4444 · Joined: 12 Oct 2004

Yesterday I mentioned to my Korean girlfriend that I had started Nelson Mandela's autobiography. Even after I wrote it in Hangul and showed her his photo, she didn't recognise him.

My adult students were not much better either. Very few knew who he was.

I think I will try dropping Mao, Churchhill, Martin Luther and Lincoln's names into classes next week to see if I get any response. Not all at once though!

Anyone know what Korean history classes cover (if anything) of International history at school level?

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

The only historical figure Koreans know is Yu-sun-shin.

"Don't you know he killed lots of enemy japanese with his turtle ship? Lets all study harder, so we can be like him".

(*Actual quote from student essay written by parent).

On the other hand · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Location: I walk along the avenue

sheba · Joined: 16 May 2005 Location: Here there and everywhere!

Im not surprised at all. Sad yes, but not surprising.

I know it is no comparison, but my students dont even know who 90% of the biggest stars in Hollywood are... they love their American movies, culture, music, and language... but the names just dont stick.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

I've played a question game countless times with my various adult classes over the years. The foreign names they almost all know: JFK, Roosevelt, Lincoln, Churchill, Elizabeth II, Gorbechav, Mandela, Einstein, Darwin, Clinton, Bush, Gandhi, Michaelangelo, da Vinci, Blair, Napoleon, Julius Caesar, Shakespeare.

One way to find out who they know: Write 'authors' on the board and ask them to list as many as they can think of in 2 minutes. Then go through 'politicians', 'scientists', 'artists' etc. They often only know them when another Korean says the name--might be a pronunciation/spelling thing. I get better results by starting with the category first, rather than the name.

joelseymour · Joined: 18 Apr 2005

Hanson · Joined: 20 Oct 2004

I've had students telling me that North & South Korea were first divided after the Korean war in '53. Shocked

To me, that's unbelievably ignorant of one's own history. Shocking.

After hearing things like the above, I'm not surprised in the least that they don't know about Hitler, Mandela, or anyone else.

Wangja · Joined: 17 May 2004 Location: Seoul, Yongsan

thepeel · Joined: 08 Aug 2004

xtchr · Joined: 23 Nov 2004

BJWD; pardon me if I'm being 'obtuse', but I believe Wangja put the wee smiley face there for a reason.

thepeel · Joined: 08 Aug 2004

Ah, it was I who was being obtuse.

Didn't see the emoticon.

Tiberious aka Sparkles · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: I'm one cool cat!

Actually, my experience has been the oposite. All the kids these days have book series of important historical figures.

The kid who lives next door is 10 and knows who Albert Sweitzer was. I don't think I knew who my country's prime minister was when I was 10.

Sparkles*_*

Alias · Joined: 24 Jan 2003

I really doubt that North American kids are any better. Probably worse.

peppermint · Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 11:41 pm Post subject:

Hell, ask any Korean how many provinces there are in their country ( explain Gyeonggi do is a province) and see how long it takes them to figure out that there are nine. Shocked

ed4444 · Joined: 12 Oct 2004

Maybe I just had a bad bunch of students this month. I will give them the benefit of the doubt.

Mind you I think its wrong to compare the historical figures I mentioned to neo-Confucian scholars from the 11th Century in terms of influence.

Maybe comparing them to the Dalai Lama or Confucious himself would be more appropriate