One of my summer English camp courses is about helping some 3rd level (seniors) girls prepare for university interviews. Here is one that made me stop and think about how much distance is truly between these students and US students' perspectives:
Q: Give your thoughts on current international or national events.
A: The only country which seperated in two in the the world is the Korea. It is consisted in North Korea and South Korea. South Korea is a democratic country but, North Korea is a communism country. So many country, especially USA pay attention to the North Korea. The main issue about North Korea is denuclearization. I think that issue is not only national but also international. Frequently the North Korea have threaten peace of the world by a nuclear weapon. So staple countries open conferences to negotiate with North Korea. I hope to solve the trouble between North Korea and many other countries quickly by peaceful unification.
Given, I haven't been around too many US high school students in the last couple years, but I feel like these students have a unique perspective. They don't want to graduate and pick the nearest party school, or become rock stars (outside the singing room, of course). 4/6 of the girls want to be diplomats; 2 want to be teachers.
I think there is a lot of really crazy decisions being made over here--the kids go to school 6 days per week, 14 hours per day, and on Sundays they "waked up at 9am and went to the study room until midnight." But one thing is clear: South Korea's priorities are rightly placed on Education.
In the U.S., I feel like the major issue is that no one can agree on the level of importance for the social/political platforms; everyone has such an extreme individual stance, that no one can even agree to be individual or collective. In Korea, the teachers, the parents, the students, the policians ALL believe that education is the priority. They acknowledged a problem: underdevelopment; they collectively chose a solution: extremist-education.
Is it crazy? Hell yes. Korea's students are rated #1 in terms of unhappiness, stress, and even suicide. But, so are their scores. And, they've identified the new problem: too extreme. So, they're making new changes: taking away classes on Saturdays. Still too much, but at least it's something. And I even had one student say, "What will we do with no class on Saturdays anyway?"
Whereas in the U.S., we can't decide on how important education is, so of course there is going to be even more ridiculous argument over how much to pay teachers, how much state/fed money should go to education, which kids get to go to what schools, and so on, and so...fucking...on. I think it's really old and the reason I swayed from the path to teaching public education--hard to fight a fight when we have no idea WHAT the fight actually is.
I feel like our U.S. students are lacking realistic perspective, and I can't blame them--the influences are tainted, leaving them with a mix of impressionist and abstract ideas that don't really result in anything concrete, and subsequently, no where near ready for the harsh realities of the globalist-future.
Korea is BIG on sending their own to study abroad--it's extremely high on everyone's priority list. After reading this article, it gives me hope that we can start seeing it that way too:
http://www.newsweek.com/2011/07/17/american-kids-immersed-in-chinese-asian-education.html
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
The Stinger Power
I was sitting in class today and Nanla, my co-teacher, walked in looking peaked. Having a relationship with easch of them, she is the older, more maternal co-T who took me to my first acupuncture appointment.
"How are you today?" I asked.
"Not good. Ailments," she relied. "I dizzy this morning when I wake. And pain."
"Oh no, the acupuncture is not working?"
"I bee sting," she says, showing me her leg, and subsequent area with multiple welts.
"You got stung by a bee?! Three times?!"
"Yes, my husband bought. Is therapy."
"Wait, wait, wait. Your husband is stinging you with bees? On purpose?"
"Yes. Is healing. I don't want to take my medication anymore."
"Well, that's a way to go about that. Ouch!"
"Why are you laughing?" she asks, giggling.
"Because you purchased bees and are forcing them to sting you!"
So, I looked it up thinking surely this can't be right. Sure enough.
http://www.chronicfatiguetreatments.com/wordpress/treatments/bee-sting-therapy-for-chronic-pain-and-auto-immune-disorders/
"How are you today?" I asked.
"Not good. Ailments," she relied. "I dizzy this morning when I wake. And pain."
"Oh no, the acupuncture is not working?"
"I bee sting," she says, showing me her leg, and subsequent area with multiple welts.
"You got stung by a bee?! Three times?!"
"Yes, my husband bought. Is therapy."
"Wait, wait, wait. Your husband is stinging you with bees? On purpose?"
"Yes. Is healing. I don't want to take my medication anymore."
"Well, that's a way to go about that. Ouch!"
"Why are you laughing?" she asks, giggling.
"Because you purchased bees and are forcing them to sting you!"
So, I looked it up thinking surely this can't be right. Sure enough.
http://www.chronicfatiguetreatments.com/wordpress/treatments/bee-sting-therapy-for-chronic-pain-and-auto-immune-disorders/
Student Speech--Keywords of My Life
Some of the students entered a "Dream" contest, reflecting on their hypothetical lives at 40. This is one of my Essay Writing student's essay, who asked me for editing help. I just wanted to share...
Keywords Of My Life
- 40 Years Old Me -
(English Script)
Hello, everyone. You are all here today to listen to my speech: key words of my 40-year-old life. Preparing this speech, I worried for quite a long time because I was not sure what subject would reflect my life the most effectively. Since I wanted to let people know just how related one's life is with his interest and ability, especially for teenagers, the keyword would be perfectly simple and easy to understand. Let me start with my wandering adolescence.
Doubt & Wonder
ㆍWill I able to enter good university?
ㆍWhat should I be in the future?
ㆍWhat is my heart telling me to do?
These are all very common questions that teenagers struggle to find answer. Most of my friends whose grades were similar to mine had firm determinations and seemed to be making every effort in order to achieve their dreams. Consequently, I was intimidated. My grades were outstanding, but I felt exhausted when I thought of this question: What am I studying for?
However, every person has at least one thing one loves to do. I was no exception.
This is my first keyword. Can you guess what it is?
Right. My first keyword is: English.
English
ㆍNo rejection
ㆍEnjoyable
ㆍMy representative strength
Many of you may not understand me, but I loved English. I started learning English at the age of seven and seven-year-old me soon found out that English was amazingly interesting. It was whole new and fantastic experience speaking, reading and writing in another language. Naturally, my English skill was steadily developed and I got to be confident with it. I desired to improve my English more and more.
This is how I started learning English for the first time. As you can see, I connected every alphabet with animals or things which are familiar with me. They're quite easy, aren't they? I could learn English easier in this way.
Reading
ㆍGet knowledge
ㆍCan go anywhere in the world
ㆍExperience various situations
ㆍWiden the range of imagination
And, this is my second keyword. My second keyword is Reading. In my childhood days, I spent most of the day reading books instead of going to math or science academy. My mother bought me as many books as she could and encouraged me to read them a lot. I could not see the wall of my house's living room because it was all covered with bookshelves.
As the result, I became good at reading and writing.
I fell in love with books because I could experience everything and anything in them. Some days, I was with an invisible man, and the next day I was exploring jungle. The possibilities were endless.
Yu-na Kim
ㆍ2010 Vancouver Olympic Figure Skating Champion
ㆍOvercome all difficulties
ㆍDonates much
Now, I'll give you my last keyword. You can also try guess this time. My last keyword is: Yu-na Kim.
Some of you might wonder why, but I cannot tell you about my life without mentioning Yu-na Kim. She has been my mentor since I just first saw her skating on the ice.
What I admire most about her is that she got through uncountable difficulties, such as injuries, financial problems, and lack of rinks to practice. Despite all those problems, she kept practicing and as a result, she achieved her lifelong dream: to be an Olympic Champion.
Furthermore, she teaches me the humane way of living. She's an UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, helps children from poor countries, and young Korean figure skaters.
40 years old me
ㆍInterpreter
ㆍTranslator
ㆍCan go almost every ice show I want
Finally, this is the slide for the present. Can you see that all three keywords listed on this slide are quite related with the keywords that I stated you on the front slides? And, accordingly, I'm really satisfied with my life now and enjoying everyday. I love my job and most of all, I love my hobby- watching ice shows. What I hope you is to be the one who can enjoy your life truly and lives doing what you want. Thank you for listening.
Keywords Of My Life
- 40 Years Old Me -
(English Script)
Hello, everyone. You are all here today to listen to my speech: key words of my 40-year-old life. Preparing this speech, I worried for quite a long time because I was not sure what subject would reflect my life the most effectively. Since I wanted to let people know just how related one's life is with his interest and ability, especially for teenagers, the keyword would be perfectly simple and easy to understand. Let me start with my wandering adolescence.
Doubt & Wonder
ㆍWill I able to enter good university?
ㆍWhat should I be in the future?
ㆍWhat is my heart telling me to do?
These are all very common questions that teenagers struggle to find answer. Most of my friends whose grades were similar to mine had firm determinations and seemed to be making every effort in order to achieve their dreams. Consequently, I was intimidated. My grades were outstanding, but I felt exhausted when I thought of this question: What am I studying for?
However, every person has at least one thing one loves to do. I was no exception.
This is my first keyword. Can you guess what it is?
Right. My first keyword is: English.
English
ㆍNo rejection
ㆍEnjoyable
ㆍMy representative strength
Many of you may not understand me, but I loved English. I started learning English at the age of seven and seven-year-old me soon found out that English was amazingly interesting. It was whole new and fantastic experience speaking, reading and writing in another language. Naturally, my English skill was steadily developed and I got to be confident with it. I desired to improve my English more and more.
This is how I started learning English for the first time. As you can see, I connected every alphabet with animals or things which are familiar with me. They're quite easy, aren't they? I could learn English easier in this way.
Reading
ㆍGet knowledge
ㆍCan go anywhere in the world
ㆍExperience various situations
ㆍWiden the range of imagination
And, this is my second keyword. My second keyword is Reading. In my childhood days, I spent most of the day reading books instead of going to math or science academy. My mother bought me as many books as she could and encouraged me to read them a lot. I could not see the wall of my house's living room because it was all covered with bookshelves.
As the result, I became good at reading and writing.
I fell in love with books because I could experience everything and anything in them. Some days, I was with an invisible man, and the next day I was exploring jungle. The possibilities were endless.
Yu-na Kim
ㆍ2010 Vancouver Olympic Figure Skating Champion
ㆍOvercome all difficulties
ㆍDonates much
Now, I'll give you my last keyword. You can also try guess this time. My last keyword is: Yu-na Kim.
Some of you might wonder why, but I cannot tell you about my life without mentioning Yu-na Kim. She has been my mentor since I just first saw her skating on the ice.
What I admire most about her is that she got through uncountable difficulties, such as injuries, financial problems, and lack of rinks to practice. Despite all those problems, she kept practicing and as a result, she achieved her lifelong dream: to be an Olympic Champion.
Furthermore, she teaches me the humane way of living. She's an UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, helps children from poor countries, and young Korean figure skaters.
40 years old me
ㆍInterpreter
ㆍTranslator
ㆍCan go almost every ice show I want
Finally, this is the slide for the present. Can you see that all three keywords listed on this slide are quite related with the keywords that I stated you on the front slides? And, accordingly, I'm really satisfied with my life now and enjoying everyday. I love my job and most of all, I love my hobby- watching ice shows. What I hope you is to be the one who can enjoy your life truly and lives doing what you want. Thank you for listening.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Celebrating July 4, 2011
It's quite weird, being from America, and not celebrating Independence Day. I don't know if I should admit that it has nothing to do with celebrating our independence from Britain, but it really doesn't. I can get down with celebrating freedom, but sometimes that feels shady to me, like I'm buying into the force-fed history books. The bias ones.
Missing this holiday emphasizes missing my friends and family on the weekend I enjoy most in the year--everyone is easily excitable. Even if the weather turns out horribly, the fireworks are cancelled, and the inevitable hangover begins early, even the grumps put out a smile. At least in my experience.
But usually, the sun comes out, and water guns and sprinklers and laughter are abundant. The smell of charcoal, grilled food, and the sulfur from fireworks alone brings extra large, genuine contentment. Family and friends from all over the place have gathered and the children that were toddlers last year have grown into full-fleged water-gun sharpshooters, and can carry on conversations that make you want to quit your job to become a pre-school teacher.
And it has nothing to do with gifting. Nothing. Children are contented by love and happiness and sparklers, instead of discontented by 100 presents that didn't include "the one they really wanted." Adults are contented by a can of beer, some bean bag toss, and a burger, not stressed out by in-laws, Santa Claus, and holiday weight.
This holiday helps me to stop and appreciate the people in my life. Coming to Korea has helped me figure out who those people really are and who I want them to be of course, but it's also helped me acknowledge the freedoms I have because of those who came before me--on this day I don't have to think about the bias history books.
Missing this holiday emphasizes missing my friends and family on the weekend I enjoy most in the year--everyone is easily excitable. Even if the weather turns out horribly, the fireworks are cancelled, and the inevitable hangover begins early, even the grumps put out a smile. At least in my experience.
But usually, the sun comes out, and water guns and sprinklers and laughter are abundant. The smell of charcoal, grilled food, and the sulfur from fireworks alone brings extra large, genuine contentment. Family and friends from all over the place have gathered and the children that were toddlers last year have grown into full-fleged water-gun sharpshooters, and can carry on conversations that make you want to quit your job to become a pre-school teacher.
And it has nothing to do with gifting. Nothing. Children are contented by love and happiness and sparklers, instead of discontented by 100 presents that didn't include "the one they really wanted." Adults are contented by a can of beer, some bean bag toss, and a burger, not stressed out by in-laws, Santa Claus, and holiday weight.
This holiday helps me to stop and appreciate the people in my life. Coming to Korea has helped me figure out who those people really are and who I want them to be of course, but it's also helped me acknowledge the freedoms I have because of those who came before me--on this day I don't have to think about the bias history books.
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