Korean Job Discussion Forums

kermo

1) How did you feel when you heard the news? Does this affect your life? Your job?

2) What have you heard other people saying about this (friends/coworkers/media)?

3) What do you predict, short-term and long-term?

4) How would you describe the government of North Korea?

5) How would you describe the South Korean government's attitude/response?

6) What do you think should be done, short-term/long-term, by the following countries: South Korea, Japan, China, U.S.A?

The following vocabulary was discussed:
investments
earthquake
seismic activity
sanctions
Richter scale
radioactive
arms race

kermo · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:02 pm Post subject:

My adult class is quite bright, and deadly serious about anything we talk about. It includes engineers, import businessmen, soldiers, farmers... all sorts.

I know this is a sensitive topic, so I took a vote and we agreed to discuss these questions. Hope they help.

CBP · Joined: 15 May 2006 Location: Korea

Those are hot topics. Do you find that your opinion becomes a part of the discussion, or do you play Barbara Walters and feign neutrality? Do your students appreciate/encourage/welcome your opinion on hot topics? Or do you feel that conflicts with the ESL learning environment?

Genuine questions. Someone a while back mentioned that they opened discussion on the Divinci Code movie, and things turned sour quickly. Some students even left the school.

Thanks.

kermo · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:02 pm Post subject:

CBP · Joined: 15 May 2006 Location: Korea

Thanks for your input. I was a conversation partner for some Saudi university students. It was difficult not to get political. They were curious about American culture, Bush, why their women have to be covered, etc. At times I surprised by how candid they were, but I often felt uncomfortable. In a classroom setting (someday I plan to teach in the Middle East) that could get really unpleasant and even hostile. It sounds like you are very diplomatic, yet engaging, and that you introduce topics that really gets them all involved and speaking English. It seems when we're passionate about something, we have more of a willingness to speak.

kermo · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 6:06 pm Post subject:

This year is the first time I've really gone off-textbook, so I'm in uncharted territory. I'd like to hear from other people who have experience leading discussion groups in ESL. I'm struggling not to over-rely on a couple of very fluent speakers to support the weakest/most reluctant ones.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

My discussion questions about NK:

'Kim Jong-il is really handsome, right?'

'Noooo!!!'

'I'm joking! That's called sarcasm. Sar-casm. Kim Jong-il is really smart, right?'

'Nooo!!!'

'I'm joking! What's that called? Sarcasm! Right!'

'Did you know there are no PC-Bangs in North Korea?'

'Rleallry???'

'Yes, really. Did you know there are no handphones?'

'Rleallry???'

'Yes, really!'

I gather that my students aren't quite as advanced as yours.

Captain Corea · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul

I try to disagree with my students as often as possible. If it sparks conversation... goody for the class.

ilovebdt · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Location: Nr Seoul

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

1) How did you feel when you heard the news? Does this affect your life? Your job?
Shocked but not really surprised, Not unless they nuke ROK or my small vill in NE Thailand

2) What have you heard other people saying about this (friends/coworkers/media)?
Nobody really seems to care

3) What do you predict, short-term and long-term?
Uhhh, errr...predict about what?

4) How would you describe the government of North Korea?
Babies and Pussies!

5) How would you describe the South Korean government's attitude/response?
Whimpish and facillatating

6) What do you think should be done, short-term/long-term, by the following countries: South Korea, Japan, China, U.S.A?

Bus a hole in KIm and then nuke the rest of em to put them out of thier misery... Very Happy

Personally, I never decuss politics, religion, sex or the King in my classes....just to much could happen!

Woland · Joined: 10 May 2006 Location: Seoul

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

Great questions kermo. I'm going to go into my class with two plans tomorrow night...one for the NK-nuke discussion plus one other. I'll give them the option. I have 3 Chinese students in the class and that should make for an interesting discussion if they go for it!!

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

Hey kermo! Thanks again for the questions. I used some of them in class tonight and we had a pretty interesting discussion. The girls aren't particularly worried, but the guys are since they know that they could be called back into service at any time.

One of the more interesting things that occured was the reaction/opinions of the 3 Chinese students in the class. First, none of them knew ANYTHING about North Korea except that they were as poor as China was in the 1960's! They barely even knew Kim Jong Il's name!! The Korean students were pretty shocked that they didn't really know anything about their "allies".

When asked what they thought about the situation, they pretty much said "We really aren't interested in politics. The government will take care of us." Pretty interesting for me AND the Korean students. It made us realize just how big the gap is between South Korea and China.

Hyeon Een · Joined: 24 Jun 2005

I'm glad Kermo and Ajumma had succesful conversations about North Korea.

In my first week in Korea, like an ignorant newbie, I tried to spark a discussion about North Korea. A few of them were interested, and talked about it, and I thought it went down well.

Until I spoke to my boss later that day after the complaints had been called in. Several of them really felt uncomfortable apparantely.

I'd only been in Korea about a week at the time so I was pretty bad at reading negative vibes and so I hadn't realised quite how badly it had gone down with several members of the class. I expect you guys talked about it with people you knew a lot better, and with a lot more tact than I did.

Nowadays I avoid topics like politics etc. unless they specifically bring it up. There can be some very strong feelings evoked and sometimes they're not willing to say "I don't want to talk about this" because their managers/bosses etc. are there. Or they just don't want to say anything negative in front of a class that is otherwise actively responding.

I'm pretty happy I'm not working with adults (apart from low level Uni students) at the moment. I often find the class dynamics difficult to judge.

I think I'm going to wait another coupla of years before I bring up N. Korea again in adult classes. If they bring it up, I'll listen in and help out with English points; but I won't be starting the discussion.

(Korea is definitely not the best place to play "devil's advocate" in controversial discussions.)

Oh and regarding Chinese students: I have about 15 or so spread throughout my Uni classes. One class has about 7 out of 25ish students. They provide a breath of fresh air. They are quite different to the Korean students and I really like what they add to the class. Chinese students in Korea rock =)