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I had to explain to co-teachers that the phrase "That's Too Bad" no longer holds the same connotation in English language that it held years ago. Okay, maybe back in the 1920s it was okay but the tone of the phrase sounds very sarcastic and mocking. The new books for the 4th graders, however, uses the phrase "I'm so sorry" which is good but they need to burn these Grade 5 & 6 books.  Even though we want the students to stick to material essential to their tests, still, we had to explain to the them the current use of "That's Too Bad". If someone tells you that they have cancer or lost a loved one, to say "That's Too Bad" sounds mocking, regardless of the tone. We had to explain to the that saying, "I'm sorry" is okay to say without the victim think that the consoler is at fault.

Did someone have a similar experience with this phrase. Other Koreans tell me, "That's Too Bad". I understand that they may not mean harm because that is probably what they learned in school. But it does give me a feeling of discomfort.

They really need to change this key phrase in future books. Some of these key phrases can put Koreans' feelings in danger if they go to a Western English speaking country! 

I love this phrase. I use it all the time when my students or whining about stuff or tattle on each other.

I love this phrase. I use it all the time when my students or whining about stuff or tattle on each other.

Well that seems like the more appropiate time to use the phrase! 

It just doesn't sound right if someone tells me, "My mother died." And I say, "That's too bad." I might get punched in the face or hurt her feelings. LOL! To say, "I'm sorry to hear that."

it's a stupid and pointless phrase to teach like many other phrases in the books. i've hardly ever used it my whole life, back home. it's outdated and it's use uncommon.

Before Korea I never heard this phrase - is it a canadian thing or something??

I also hate it - I second the ban!

Before Korea I never heard this phrase - is it a canadian thing or something??

I also hate it - I second the ban!

NETs talk about Canadians like a dog! 

But seriously, who knows who could be the people behind choosing these phrases. Who could have taught them? I doubt there are old people making these books (and it could be) but they are probably choosing the easiest phrases that don't have much meaning behind it.

What a shame.

The book authors clearly aren't American, we've been trying to figure it out at our school.  Right now we suspect British, based on table tennis instead of ping pong.

i always have to look at the speaker's face when they say 'thats too bad.'
to me, this is a phrase that is never used in a genuine sense, but here in korea they say it and make a puppy face.  this would be totally mocking coming from my brother, but usually i think my co-teachers are serious.

'i'm sorry to hear that' sounds too serious to me

'how unfortunate' or 'what bad luck'  are ones i like better.

but the whole thing is based on teaching kids targets, so its abstract, and i think any of them are OK.

in a real conversation i might not want to acknowledge how bad the situation really is, i might just try to point out something positive

Well if someone tells me that they had a death in their family or have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. I say nothing. I just grab and hug them. Nothing you can say to make them feel better at the moment other than, "I will pray for you." or "I know exactly how you feel."

I see your point with "that's too bad" but I've never used/heard it sarcastically.  However, I do agree that the writers are a bit sarcastic.  I remember in the previous book, they wanted me to teach the phrase "You don't know?" and I had problems with that.  For me, I'm from the Northeast USA and that phrase can get you into some fisticuffs. However, I taught it and emphasized that it's really rude and used other phrases we agreed on was better.

Maybe you can teach "I'm sorry to hear that" or another phrase?  It's important to tell them what's rude and what's not.

That is another thing to take into consideration: regional language usage. I don't mean slang, though. American English, British English and English in other countries is not the same and that is not taken into consideration when teaching English. But these are just children and the linguistic science is too complicated for them. LOL! But the difference in our English is beyond accent, of course.

My problem with the phrase was that students thought it meant it was over-stepping the line of badness. It's too bad.