Korean Job Discussion Forums

joe_doufu · Joined: 09 May 2005 Location: Elsewhere

My "postcard exchange" is getting started. I received one from Colorado, USA yesterday and one from Taiwan today. I got my nifty World and USA maps laminated yesterday so i can beat on them, and we had a mini geography lesson as the kids looked for the locations of the writers, learned about the structure of a mailing address, and wrote replies. (I chose the best students to copy their replies onto real postcards, and will send them back to my correspondents!)

Interesting to note that students up to age 15 could not locate TAIWAN on a map. Considering it is one of only four countries that can be reached in a direct line from South Korea, I expected more. Granted I myself didn't know where Taiwan was when I was in middle school, but I would have placed it somewhere in East Asia. My kids were pointing to Turkey, Tanzania, Turkmenistan, just looking for a "T". It was appalling. I'm expecing a card from Sweden soon, that'll be interesting.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

I enjoy looking at maps too, for some reason. A good world map is a fine thing to have in the classroom. I like to learn capitals of countries. It can make for a good trivia game with the students. A lot of capitals can be learned just from reading newspapers or looking at world weather too. All you need do is pay attention. I'm not too strong on the flags though. I tink that knowledge would be cool to improve.

So kids under age 15 could not find Taiwan? Maybe it's not a big deal. But when it's university students, maybe it is a bit sad.

I taught elementary kids in Taiwan. Some in grade 5 and 6 could not locate China or Africa on the world map without looking around for a while!

That seemed strange to me, but I figured they must learn almost nothing about geography in elementary. Maybe they start studying it in middle.

Ask any kid under age 10, and the whole thing is really abstract to him. Europe or Africa may as well be Mars in a 10 year old Asian's head! Unless he is an exeption.

I wonder how many adults could (easily) locate certain places. It would be interesting to ask questions like, do you know where Iran is? How about Peru? What countries are they next to? What are the capital cities? How about approximate populations, within 10 million people? In my experience, the Asians I have met seem not to know or even care much how many people live in Australia or Canada or wherever. I think westerners are exposed to, or like, numbers/statistics more.

Demonicat · Joined: 18 Nov 2004 Location: Suwon

ask them to find Korea or Japan...its just sad. Half the time for korea, they'll point at China. After all, korea just CAN'T be that small.

Gopher · Joined: 04 Jun 2005

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Gopher · Joined: 04 Jun 2005

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joe_doufu · Joined: 09 May 2005 Location: Elsewhere

Gopher · Joined: 04 Jun 2005

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jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Gopher, that one does not sound easy. Numerous small countries.

Anyone could study it and learn it, like the prof must have, but most are not so interested to do so.

Anyone could be made to look or feel dumb. That "Jaywalking" show on Leno proves that. One could also come up with a bunch of "easy" questions to stump almost anybody I think.
People forget things and are caught up in their own everyday lives.

I guess geography is merely trivia to most people.

Gopher · Joined: 04 Jun 2005

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Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Until you can find Puch'on on a map of the ROK you'll have to talk to the hand.

the saint · Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Location: not there yet...

canukteacher · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul, Korea

Well, did you know that Korean map makers have renamed North America? My co-teacher bought a world map that was published by a Korean company......................North America is called ANGLO AMERICA.

It's sad, but you have to laugh.

CT

krats1976 · Joined: 14 May 2003

kermo · Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 6:28 pm Post subject:

I've never been south of the Equator, but I've met plenty of people from South America and the Caribbean, and I thought it fitting to familiarize myself.

I have office hours all afternoon, so one day I printed out a map of South America, and drew all the flags. I was pleasantly surprised to note that two of the flags have llamas on them. I "discovered" a country I'd never really heard of: Suriname, and resolved to visit it. I recently dated a fellow from Guadeloupe, which I can now find on a map. I also decided that Guyana has a really outstanding flag.

"The world is full of such wonderful things,
That we should all be as happy as kings."

JacktheCat · Joined: 08 May 2004