(English)10 shocking Korean schools

SHOCKING!!!

1- Korea places a high importance upon education 

Just how strongly do Koreans feel about education? It would shock you. The average high school student generally has class from approximately 8A until 9:30P or 10P. With Koreans, the goal is to get into a good college and often, the competition is high.  As a result, many students will also attend a private hagwon (afterschool learning program). After school programs reinforce education and English learning, so there is high demand for them; and for students, this is perhaps, their one social outlet and way to meet other friends. This means the average teen doesn’t get home until midnight; and lunch and dinner are served at the school! Middle school is a bit more lenient and holds class until around 4P, with a possible hagwon learning afterwards.  But just when you think Korean teens have the weekend to be teens, they also have school on Saturdays! This means…

2. Korean teachers work on Saturdays.
Until recently, teachers had to work EVERY Saturday. The school schedule since has changed as a result of disgruntled Korean teachers envying foreign EFL teachers’ Monday to Friday (only) schedules. Today, Korean teachers are much happier– they have TWO Saturdays a month off!

3. Oh Honorable Teacher 
Teachers hold a strong and reputable position in society. As mentioned earlier, Korea emphasizes education and schooling to the power of 100. As a result, Korea possesses a high regard for its Korean teachers and many teachers will quote its benefits. Retirement age isn’t until 65years old vs. 50′s for regular jobs. Seniority means increased pay and the hours are said to be better than regular jobs (although we currently find this hard to believe).

4. The Business side of Teaching
Some teachers use Powerpoint presentations and office casual to professional attire is recommended (yes, this includes  Elementary to High School).  Classrooms are furnished with a computer (or computer/media podiums) connected to either an overhead projectorsystem or an  LCD flat screen (for classes to view CD-ROM assignments, school video broadcasts and/or Powerpoint presentations). This doesn’t mean all teachers are tech saavy though. My English classroom. I am showing video via PPT presentation. Our blue screen stage corener is to the left of me.

5. Teacher Rotation Wheel
Teachers rotate schools every 5 years.  This system is born to give each teacher a fair chance at working at a good or bad school.

6. Role playing games via Hollywood style

Some schools have blue screen technology or rooms with “sets” for kids to role play or enact situations in.   One class example we saw was a market checkout scene.. they had aisles, shelves and a real conveyor belt.

7. Corporal punishment is still in effect. 
While in the U.S., corporal punishment of children blares “lawsuit”,  the Korean educational system and childrens’ parents have no issue with physical discipline in school classrooms. It is allowed, although there has been news of the system tightening this up. Usually the disciplinarian is a male teacher.

8. The Korean – English Name Conversion
Ever wonder why some Korean people the kind of generic English names, which make you want to do a double-take and giggle because they just don’t fit the Asian face which owns it? For instance- Alice, Kate, even Angelina?  Blame it on the foreign English teacher that gave it to them! Some school English programs in Korea suggest students be given English names for their English classes and occasionally it’s up to the EFL teacher to do so. One lecturer told us we might want to have a fishbowl of at least 25-100 English names for kids to choose from or to assign to students!  This is all depending on the school regulations.

9. Students must clean their own school. 
The Korean school system teaches students to be responsible for the care of their school. While janitors tend to major chores such as tending to the bathroom, cleaning the hallways, classrooms, staircases and picking up trash on the school grounds are done by the students early in the morning before the morning bell rings.

10. Shoe Etiquette in the Classrooms
You know that Asian tradition of taking your shoes off when you enter a house? Koreans have something similar but seeing as they consider  feet “dirty”, when they remove their outdoor shoes, they change into house slippers. How does this affect the classroom etiquette? Teachers and students must switch out of their street shoes and into their “school shoes” upon entering the school building.my outdoor shoes & my korean sandals (they remind me of swimmer's shoes)School Shoes for Kids