I'm Updating, I'm Updating!!!

oK! For all of those people who are impatient about my updates... here it is!

I want to talk today about the Korean education system... First of all, you should all know.... it sucks!

Koreans focus on memorization, rote learning and objective interpretation. They just want the students to spit back out the information that they pump into them... and trust me, they pump the info into them!

They don't believe in intrinsic motivation, they're just content with spoon-feeding the kids what they need to know. They don't care about comprehension or critical thinking. I think this is the worst possible form of learning there is. My whole career choice was based on my love for critical thinking and subjective interpretation. I HATE THIS FORM OF LEARNING!

Also, most of the teachers carry around big sticks. I, in fact, carried around a stick for a while. But, I did so that I could point to things on the screen and bang it on the table so that students would stop talking and listen to me. However, after one of my co-teachers asked to borrow my stick so that she could BEAT a student with it, I stopped carrying it around.

Yes, these teachers beat students... they beat them with sticks. Normally, they wack them on the back of their calves, sometimes in the back of the thighs. I've witnessed several beatings... sometimes the students cry, sometimes they don't. Sometimes the teachers seem to take pleasure in the beatings, sometimes they don't.

I, personally, don't beat students... it is against my principles... and besides, I might be too tempted to wail on them when I'm especially made and cause some real damage! The educational system here "does not allow teachers to beat students" HA!! It's the same kind of rule that banns students from having cell phones.

*Sigh* Things here are just really different.

On a positive note. I think I've turned a corner with one of my co-teachers. She doesn't speak great English, and though she's been really sweet and lovely to me, she's always been really afraid to talk to me. However, lately, she's been really making an effort to talk with me and communicate more with me. I'm really excited!

And, I've found out that she is a magician. This week, we had speaking tests. Therefore, all of the students must be quiet while their classmates give speeches in English and I grade them. One day, a student was talking during one of the speeches and my co-teacher without talking and with her stick, made this student stand up, walk to the back of the room and turn around and face the wall. It was amazing. I was inspired!

WELL, I hope you are all doing well. I love you and miss you all TERRIBLY! And, I promise to try and update more often! Scouts honor!

Hil