Teaching > Theory and Practice

Teaching about the wider world often seems futile and frustrating

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matieu:
I don't want this to sound like or turn into another one of those Korea/Koreans slating threads but I'd just be interested to find peoples experiences on this. So I just returned from Winter vacation, whenever I get back from vacation for my first classes I try to do some sort of powerpoint teaching them some stuff about the country which I visited and showing some photos. I see that it's a good way to get them speaking English and also learn something about the wider world.

I just got back from South Africa, whenever I show photos which contain a black person it's always followed by roars of giggling and laughter amongst a sizeable proportion of the class, also whenever I show a picture of Mandela and ask who he is all I get in response is Obama Obama! seriously?? or a minority of derogatory comments which I shall not write here. When I ask what people know S Africa in general I consistently get a handful of comments like dirty, garbageee etc This isn't the first time this sort of thing has happened it has happened throughout my time here when I try to show powerpoints or videos highlighting the diversity of people/cultures in the world. It isn't the ignorance that bothers me, if people genuinely don't know about other places due to their environment but are willing to learn in a non judgemental manner I think that's great, it's the derogatory comments and the looking down on these places and people as though they are somewhat inferior which bothers me. Also I realise that a lot of it may not be malicious it is because Korea is very homogenous, has been isolated for a long time until recently etc etc I do work in a rural area too. Sometimes I just feel like this place may well have come on leaps and bounds economically and that it has achieved great things but still has a lot of catching up to do socially. Anyway my point is that I want to teach them about the world and have been trying to for quite a while but it often seems as though nothing changes, the viewpoints are very entrenched and it just leaves me feeling frustrated. How have other peoples experiences been ? do you think it's best to just not bother to save the frustration and offense or to keep pushing on with trying to broaden their horizons anyway.

Mountain Crocodile:
You need to understand their cultural context.  To them, people of darker skin are more akin to wild animals and monkeys rather than human beings.  Of course this is somewhat inaccurate, since they do try to imitate these wild beasts to make money. (See below)

MC

marsavalanche:
You need to relax.

They're KIDS.

You aren't going to change the way Korea thinks, hate to break it to you but it's been this way for years and will continue to be like this when you leave.

As for the Nelson Mandela / Obama part, are you serious?  Kids from the United States would probably say something along the same lines.  I guarantee most kids from my high school couldn't tell you who Nelson Mandela was if you showed them his picture.  Would most South African high schoolers know who Lee Myung Bak was if they were showed a picture?  My guess is no.  By now you understand the entire thing is arbitrary, and you're basing your post from an emotional perspective.  Do you seriously expect kids to know who Nelson Mandela is and give you a thorough discussion on the impact of Nelson Mandela and Apartheid on South Africa?  As for the inappropriate giggling, just let them have their fun.  If it's high school you're teaching and their still doing tribal motions and tongue clicking at the sight of an African tribesman, yes, it's okay to tell them that's disrespectful to other cultures.

Let kids be kids. The end.

wantsomecoffee:
i would hardly call vacation pictures in S.A. teaching them about the wider world. Teach them about apartheid or something if you want to do them a favor!

confusedsafferinkorea:

--- Quote from: wantsomecoffee on February 08, 2012, 10:41:14 am ---i would hardly call vacation pictures in S.A. teaching them about the wider world. Teach them about apartheid or something if you want to do them a favor!

--- End quote ---

eh??? like what? South Africa isn't just about apartheid and for your information that is part of history now. What the OP did in my opinion is fine.

When I watch TV here, wherever they show Africa, it is about poor children, sick and begging, so one can't really blame them because that is what the media here feeds them about Africa. Some of my co-teachers were shocked when they saw my presentations of SA. Things like, 'wow you have cars and modern cities, we didn't know that', were said.

Seriously, wantsomecoffee, that was not a bright statement to make.

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