The testing culture in Korea is ridiculous.
People from the US, educators included, get sick of hearing how bad education is. We all know how bad the inner cities of America are, just watch 'Waiting for Superman'. Or better, visit an inner city school.
In Korea, people will talk abut it over a beer, but very few people will go on record for fear of losing their job, repercussions, etc. However, I can usually get students to talk freely about it. I find the longer the conversation goes on, the more they end up feeling bad about this place. Think about it: can't really openly participate in class once middle school hits, school until very late once high school rolls around, then by the time they get to university they've literally been schooled to death. (If you haven't live here, you don't know about it, and don't listen to what Obama says about S. Korea on education, he doesn't know either.) Who the hell wants to think about that, let alone talk about it, especially when 99.9% know deep down that it will never change. If teachers here were really nations builders, why would parents rely so heavily on supplemental private education ('hagwons' in Korea) to prepare there children for the university entrance exam?
Am I a fool to think real positive change is actually possible within the next 10 years? Can real creativity be installed in the hgih school classroom environments here? Or will the masses always just be focused on the Su-neung, and the rest of the certification tests that big business has conquered?
Keep the faith.
It's a common problem for Korea unfortunately =(( I got to know it closer while living in there and I really see no use in killing children with more and more studying but giving them less and less parental love and attention. They have a very high percentage of suicides and all that is caused by a high competition to get job in the future...
ReplyDeleteStill I hope changes will come because every person should be seen as a unique human being with his/her own talents, personal trades which make them smb. in a crowd and make them different from each other and not seen as a diploma with marks in it, working resource...
To be a teacher is a vocation and not every person called teacher is a real one. What I mean is that this person should obtain some qualities and be gifted from God to do this job. It's not a job actually but a whole life devoted to sharing knowledge and life experience with students cause they bring up new generations and on them depends so much - how these children will feel in a modern world, whether they'll dare to do smth. new, try their best, it's a teacher who may show them he believes that they can and who sees each student as a unique person and not one of dozen students he gives lectures to.
To give the explanation shortly I may just illustrate my words by the film "Taare Zameen Par" ("Stars on the Earth")(2007) which gives a perfect example of a good teacher. The hero in this film saw children's souls through and thought they all were special ("Every child is special" is a slogan of this film).
It seems to me that foreign teachers and professors can try to make a change lil by lil. Of course they'll be pressed by society rules but nobody can stop them from being nice and attentive, respectful to his/her students, pay them time and attention, discuss issues with them and let them talk to them too, ask teacher any questions and express their opinions. I think it may be possible. Doesn't matter whether it's a school teacher or university professor - they all may show the students that they do care about them and respect them as smb. unique one and not a part of a crowd.
@suvunechka I agree with that not everyone who is called a teacher is a real one, especially here in Korea. I always tell my students that I'm responsible for my own actions, which is why i give them higher level thinking assignments to complete, so they can learn more than just grammar or English language skills. If I in any way can help them grow or expand their critical thinking skills, then I feel I have done my best. I hate that 'all' of us foreign teachers might have a bad rap as per the Korean public because 'some' foreigners living in Korea might not necessarily like their teaching job, and therefore don't do a good job of it.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear that u give them a chance to do smth. more difficult than just learn grammar and words, it really will help! The more teachers like this - the better experience the students get ;)Keep walking ur path!
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