The good, the bad and the ugly of the Korean Education System

GOOD

Only fifty odd years ago this country was one of the poorest in the world after the Korean War. Nevertheless, in half a century South Korea has managed to completely turn things around. I would argue that the Education system here has played a major role in the country’s turn-around. The Education system of South Korea is not flawless; however I would like to comment on aspects that I believe South Africa could learn from. These aspects include: getting the basics right, instilling a mind-set of learning and using technology better.

1.) The basics are in order

In its simplest form South Korea has functioning classrooms, effective resources and well-trained teachers. Is this not the ideal atmosphere for learning?!

Each classroom is equipped with the most lavish things wrt resources. No fuss about the school exterior-my boys school is filthy and gross, but every classroom is fitted with a flat-screen tv. In my elementary school there is so many resoruces it is almost scary! Books, games, educational workbooks, toys- it is remarkable!

Teaching in Korea is regarded as one of the most respected professions- it is seen as a stable job with a great income! To give one an idea of the demand for teacher positions- my one teacher was the only 1 out of 40 from her class that graduated to be given a position at a public school! The competition is insane! A huge test is written at the end of one's teaching degree and this determines your placement. It is regarded as a highly esteemed position to receive a public school post and new trained teachers are often posted to the most rural areas to build up the systems there. Teachers are awarded points on a point system according to conferences attended and extra training completed-this allows them to eventually move into cities. Teachers are also rotated every 3 years and one is required to go where the department places you! A great deal of admin for the Education department, but it ensures the level of Education remains high througout the country regardless if you are in the middle of no-where!

The wonderfully privileged schools I attended were the same in some regard (minus the flat screen tvs)-it had all these things. However, the current situation in disadvantaged communities remains tragic in South Africa. A system where classrooms are not always functional, resources are badly managed or ineffectively used and teachers are ill-equipped for dealing with curriculum and educating. The Education system needs to build upon or enhance these basic structures, if a lasting effect is to be maintained. What this translates into practically is the question?

• Our schools need revamps or at least the basics-chairs, tables and books
• Teaching training and status needs drastic improvement. Increased numbers is a neccesity!
• More teacher support with admin to ensure our curriculum and teaching is the teacher's main priority.

2.) A mind-set focused on learning

South Korea has a nation-wide mentality that Education is the only way to lead a successful life-to the point of obsession in my opinion. However, it is this obsession that drives students to work hard, puts pressure on schools and teachers to perform and ensures parents are an active part of their children’s learning.

Now, instilling such a mindset in South Africa is difficult when the outcome of 12 years of education does not necessarily mean employment, let alone a better life.
But, I do believe we need stay positive and encourage learning whenever possible. We need to get serious about giving tertiary education advice. Parents need to somehow be included more in our processes.

3.) Technology

Being in South Korea where every classroom has a flat screen TV and every street has a wireless connection, it is evident that technology plays a major role in learning. Students receive a message from the goverment every morning promoting "kindness or love for your family" (rather Mao-like, I know, but still effective). They are taught by foreigners over conference calls, teachers exchange materials and resources over the internet, and lessons are filled with real life examples as one can explain something using a You-Tube video at the touch of a button.

Now, this all may seem far away from our South African circumstances, however I think the lesson is important: “technology can revolutionize the way we teach and it enables us to work smarter rather than harder”. The trick is accessing the skilled individuals and costly equipment to make it happen. Just imagine a former model C school in Bishops conducts a lesson from their classroom and it broadcasts to 20, or 50 schools across Cape Town during school hours or having curriculum online that is printable and ready to use, or students register online from computer centres to improve their English on the numerous websites available out there. We need to be able to embrace technology and look how it can be used to our advantage.

BAD

I don't think there is an ideal education system in this world, nor will there ever be one, but I think it is important to take note of what is working and what more importantly is not working. I believe here are some shortfalls of the current ROK system.

1. More education is better!

There is a strange belief that more education means better- as if quality denotes quantity. One only needs to walk around any urban neighbourhood to realise this, as every street corner is littered with hagwons-aka after-school academies. As if school from 8:30 to 3:30 and after school classes at school from 5:30 to 7:30 isn't enough, then there are these institutions which are the dread of Korean children's lives and the reason for holes in Korean parents's pockets. They operate at ungoldy hours from early sessions in the morning before school to late night classes until 11pm sometimes midnight. They are privately run and and intended to supplement usual school classes. However, as the govermnet is realising these institutions are beginning to jeopardize and undermine the public schooling system. Why? Because public school is free up until middle school for all Korean students, but parents pay for Hagwons (exorbetant costs I may add- at least 100 000 won (R800) per student per month per subject-that means some parents pay 300 000won (R2400) if kids are doing maths, Korean and English. It gets really bad if you are living in Seoul apparently and some parents pay up to 2million won a month per high school child-thats R16000 a month). The pressure on students and the hagwon teachers is ridiculous as parents want to see results. The only result I am able to observe in my classes are exhausted students. All they want to do is sleep! And can I really blame them, when they are studying over 10 hours a day? What baffles me, is that the work done in hagwons is not to extension for bright students but rather more and more repetition of classwork until I am certain you could stop any child in the street and say "how are you?" and they would respond "So-so" (this believe it or not is a phrase in the textbook). This emphasis on rote-memory learning leads to my second point.

2. A lack of creativity

I worry so often about my students, as I feel the creativity is sucked from their souls, as the countless words and phrases are drummed into them. So many people are against the South African system of OBE that aims at reaching certain objectives rather than knowing lots of stuff and being unable to apply it. The Korean system demonstrates this. I was walking home and passed a group of my students yesterday. I always encourage them to speak English to me and so I asked : "Where are you going?" to which the brightest girl responded " I am from Sindong Elementary school." This is great, except she clearly had misunderstood me, as her brain registered where and immediately reminded her of the sentence " where do you go to school?" and so without comprehending this difference she confidently responded in parrot fashion! The most surprising is my animation students which are clearly quite talented and creative kids, but when asked to think out of the box they panic and don't know what to do! Once they catch on, they love it and so making superheroes, monsters and Halloween characters has really entertained them, as I left it up to their imaginations. There needs to be a culture where creativity is encouraged. As Einstein said: "I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination.Imagination is more important than knowledge.Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world. "

2. Being a scholar is the only way

I heard recently that an E-mart (equivalent to Pick 'n Pay or Checkers) cashier is now required to have a university degree. My travel agent has a degree in Biomechanical Engineering. The lady working at the post office has a masters degree in Economics. Now all these jobs are not bad ones-but people besides from being way over-qualified are doing things that are outside their field of study completely! I make this point to show that only maths or science or business degrees are seen as anything valuable and worth studying for. Maths and science are pushed from an early age and the arts, vocational subjects and languages are side-lined (except for English, which is merely regarded as a measure of hard-work and not seen as a useful skill in our global world). High-schools are divided according to point-ranking. SO all the amazingly bright kids go to Science or Maths High schools, then some go to Language schools and then comes the agricultural and vocational high schools which are regarded as the worst schools. They end up with kids who hate learning and teachers who are demotivated as kids are not learning as hard as their counterparts across the road. Unfortunately, such school are never ones that creative bright kids aspire to go to, as they are seen as the "stupid schools".

Korea is a global leader in the technology field and the push for the sciences makes sense, but surely not at te expense of other talents this country possesses. The art scene is way behind that of Japan and sports is only an endeavour that you follow if you are Yuna Kim (best figure-skater the world has ever known)or Park Tae Hwan (famous swimmer and gold medalist at olympics). I fear that such an emphasis on academic subjects hinders the growth of famous artists, musicians, social workers or sportsmen that could have been great too.

I also worry about the middle and high school students that never engage in sports activities after school or sing in the choir or are part of the pottery club. Some girls hated getting 3 signatures a week at Girls High, thereby forcing them to do after-school activites, as it seemed so unfair. Little did we know that the lack of any such activity would be detrimental to our growing up- I would argue. I hated running around in hockey, but learnt so much about commitment to a task, confidence, decision-making and team work. These social skills that are really only taught once outside of the classroom are vital for an all-encompassing education in my opinion.

UGLY

And now, for the ugly, which is really probably the worst thing to end on, but it needs to be said. In my city alone (only 250 000 people) from the top 2 most prestigious high schools in town -Chuncheon Girls and Chuncheon Boys High school- four students have committed suicide over the past 6 months alone. The pressure and expectations placed upon them must have been too much. How can one justify it otherwise when a student is getting marks above 80% but this is still seen as not quite good enough. Sure competition is good, but pushing students to the point where life seems not worth living is ridiculous! Korea needs to realise there is more too life than a four-walled room and a book. I am the biggest supporter of education, but when it deprives one from running around the park or watching a sitcom on TV or reading a good book because you want to, or chatting to your friend about a far-off country you want to go see, then what is the point. Childhood is precious- once you are grown-up you will have enough time to work and perfect it. As Mark twain best put it- "I have never let my schooling interfere with my education."


Just some thoughts, some ideas from this very novice teacher.

Anyeonghegaseyo
JO-seonsangnim!

Heart-wrenching and thought-provoking!

Native commissioner by Shaun Johnson

I have just finished it-never in my life have I felt so moved by a book. It came to the climax of the book and I just broke down...I couldn't in fact finish reading the last 30 pages.

I just cried. I sobbed for about 2 hours until eventually I fell asleep.

I cried for all the wrong-doings of the world, all injustice and unfairness, our country's past and future, the pain people endure everywhere-poverty, starvation, death, violence, abuse, sadness, discrimination and disrespect...The troubles still in our modern times and the suffering and meaninglessness in life sometimes.

My mom suggested I read this book as it would give an insight into her world growing up in apartheid South Africa. I think I was so overwhelmed by it, because of so many things resonated with me in my life. So many little things reminded me of things my mom or gran would have said. And places I recalled- the hospital in Lynnwood (my home in Pretoria), or the drabness of Witbank and the beauty of Zululand...

George Jameson is the native commisioner (which makes me laugh as this title seems so ridiculous and bizarre) in various cities and dorpies where the system feels his services will be beneficial. But the apartheid system, harsh as it was, disrespected so many- no matter what their colour - and this book captivates that remarkably.

Despite his turmoil and confusion of his role and place, George is passionate about Africa and its people. He has a constant struggle about being an English white South African-so out of place yet knowing no other home, but Africa.

Two words of advice:
1. read these lines below and feel something
2. read the book and you won't regret it

There were so many great lines but here are a few that really touched me:

"You cannot deal with a man unless he has pride in himself, his race, his traditions-and you yourself have sincere respect for that pride" -pg 186

"Perhaps there is no solution to South Africa's problems. But, he says, perhaps problems cause creativity. Nations can become lethargic when they think they have solved all their problems-perhaps The Problem, the challenge, is a talking point, a catalyst for thought, even a reason for our existing?" -pg186

Although said during apartheid, these lines can still be regarded relevant today in our country that is riddled with AIDs, violence and crime. There is still rampant growth of poverty and the improved state of education and health care in our 16 years after democracy for some is still questionable.

I love this line:

"...what can we do to help our country, and every single person in it who calls it their country, grow and prosper and achieve their own human potential?" -pg187

He responds honestly to his question:

"Again, I am afraid I do not have a glib answer, but I am sure I am right in saying that it is the question we need to be asking"

He begs the question: " By what means should the problems of South Africa be tackled? Educate, protect, lead." -pg188

I could not agree anymore! :) Teaching in South Africa here we come!

READ IT!!!!

Bisous
JO

xxx

It's more than a game: the nation behind the soccer can learn something from 1976!

South Africa have just lost to Uruguay 3-0 in the group stages of the World Cup @ 3:30am Korean time on 16 June 2010! And probably hence my frustration, dissapointment and motive for writing this blog entry.

Going to sleep in my Bafana Bafana shirt, I woke up 5 hours later to turn on the tele and watch our BOYS put on a show in Pretoria! Loftus has never seemed so vibrant and the bellowing of the national anthem gave me goosebumps. I felt a great sense of PRIDE knowing that the situation has come such a long way since 16 June 1976 with the Soweto uprising. The iconic picture of Hector Pieterson being carried by a fellow student with his sister running alongside springs to mind. From a day where thousands of marching students filled with hope for something better, a sense of empowerment and control in their lives and a fighting spirit fuelled by the gathering. However, it quickly turned into something catastrophic, as police opened fire on the crowd. A few hundred were killed and many more injured. The hope shattered, the sense of empowerment robbed and an internal locus of control destroyed. Yet, the courageous and fighting spirit of those students (dead, injured and alive) laid the foundations of the anti-apartheid movement. And a future 18 years later in 1994 which was filled with freedom for all humankind was as a result of such individuals who had this tremendous attitude. Our contry has certainly come along way after 16 years of democracy. And I think not only hosting, but bedazzling the world with such an impressive feat as this World Cup is another badge we should wear proudly on our bafana bafana jerseys.

However, as I watched until the sun came up, I realised that we need to be reminded of those students 34 years ago, if we as a nation want to improve even more. I feel life should be a continous struggle for improving oneself and collectively growing as a family, developing as communities and on a larger scale bettering a nation. And South Africa is a prime candidate for that-we still have problems-poverty, unemployment, poor education, insufficent healthcare, AIDS, exorbitantly high levels of crime, and shocking rates of violence are seen on or outside every doorstep.

Somehow, the soccer match against Uruguay last night was the perfect metaphor for our current situation. As the players kicked the ball around in the beginning, it seemed almost half-heartedly without courage or intent. Just as citizens seem complacent with everyday life-the crime, the poor education, the awful queues at home affairs, the high accident rates, the rape statistics, the xenophobia attacks. Where is that struggle against injustice that Hector and his friends showed? Sure, we are not fighting against a common or named enemy such as the apartheid regime but should we still not be fighting for social causes that often have not changed or even have gotten worse since 1994?

There seemed to be no urgency or voomah in the team! But even more frustrating were the completely missed goals on target from free kicks and basic slip ups, such as sloppy passing and poor defending. Should we as South Africa not focus on the basics in order to rebuild and boost our country-in my opinion that means Education, Health and Employment. It is about the basics, just as the students had in mind when they marched to demand for better education.

An external locus of control seemed the flavour of the day in the match-the ref was blamed for shocking calls and the Uruguayian players were awarded free kicks left, right and centre for Oscar winning dives and Khune was given an unjust red card . Similarly, apartheid's brutal legislation was never fair or just or deserved. Did that stop the activists? No ways-it inspired them. Although somehow, the players and supporters will justify our loss using the reasons as mentioned above. BUT, in reality we played BADLY (fullstop). Players and citizens alike need to take ownership in our lives and take responsibility for our actions. White males need to work harder to deserve jobs, people can no longer expect things to land on their laps, males need to step up and be supportive fathers, young people need to be sexually responsible and wear condoms to prevent AIDS, alcohol should be controlled to prevent road accidents and racism should be contested at all levels. We can and should no longer blame the government (old or new) or any other factor for our failures. If we want change, we should take charge of the situation and wave it as a flag for everyone to see-just as the students did in 1976! If we as South Africans don't change and take responsibility for our lives, neither will the country.

And lastly, the thing that made me the saddest while watching the match was when supporters donned in yellow started filtering out of the stadium 10-15 minutes before the end. I could see it was cold, but if we were winning no-one would have even thought about leaving! What is it about South Africans- we are such avid supporters of our national teams (rugby and cricket included) when we are WINNING! But as soon as life seems tough or we're down a goal or a wicket or a try, it is so easy to criticize and belittle the very team we hold so high when winning! And the same holds true for our nation. How does every social event or gathering involve conversation about crime? Or why are our newspaper headlines littered with news that is all but encouraging? Or why do we educate intelligent minds for them to emigrate overseas as "South Africa is lacking opportunities"? Or how can chants such as "Kill the boer" not be condemned by all of the nation? If we want to call ourselves a nation, a proud rainbow nation, we must all stand together, even in the disappointing and bad times in the dying minutes. The students came from far and wide, without telling their parents in case their plan may be interrupted. We need that comeraderie, that spirit of togetherness, so that when the police fire at us-we grab stones and throw them back together as a united body!

After all, soccer is just a game. When the glitzy trophy has been won (probably by some South American team), the broadcasting teams have packed away their cameras, fans around the world have taken off their soccer shirts and gear until 2014 and Messi's astounding footwork is displayed on another turf in another land, all we will have left will be us-the RAINBOW NATION! I believe it is a nation full of life, vibrance, energy, opportunity and hope. But in the same breath, such a nation can be hampered by our complacency, a low standard of basic living, an external locus of control and lack of responsibility, no fighting spirit and no togetherness or support! If we truly want to be a GREAT RAINBOW NATION we need to change our attitudes-just as the brave students did in Soweto on that memorable day!

VUKA SOUTH AFRICA, VUKA!!!

JO

WORLD CUP FEVER IS HERE!

Oh my word! I am absolutely and ridiculously excited!

FIFA WORLD CUP 2010 is here!

I am thrilled! Somehow, in a bizarre way, I feel like I am at home still and able to enjoy the festivities of the World Cup by flying my South African flag high here in South Korea!

SO you be the judge if I am paying enough attention to the World Cup and its beautiful Host Nation:

- I have biltong in my cupboard!

- I bought a south African flag. that is flying over my balcony!

- I did a football lesson with my boys this week & organised a mini soccer tournament for each class for the whole of next week! "Ah teacher-so COOOL!"

- I have recently updated my music selection including mandoza, kurt darren, mango groove and Johnny Clegg and Freshly ground (thanks Marc-you star)

-I taught my gradies all to say: Laaaaduuummmaaa!!!

- I am hosting a Soccer Party tonight for all the foreign teachers and we are serving punch only in South African colours- red (strawberry), yellow (mango), blue (blueberry) and green (green tea flavour-yuck). Cant wait for the opening ceremony and Bafana Bafana to beat Mexico!

-I am going after school to buy face paint and I have printed cool pics off this website

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/06/preparing_for_the_world_cup.html to hang around my house!

- I made my high school kids debate whether the vuvuzela should be allowed or banned at the World Cup, using the phrases " In my opinion" , " I argue that..", " I believe that..."

-My teachers class was fun as we looked at the hype of the World Cup and whether Korea represented Asia in 2002 World Cup, just as South Africa is a beaming light for Africa! We also discussed the long term benefits the World Cup will have for my country!

-Then, in my after school class, I also played the kids this great tune of "Waving Flag" by K'Naan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSFC5wcLH4Q

- I have read every possible article about World Cup online and I am very familiar with the FIFA site!

-On my fridge is a match schedule for the whole tournament!!

-Then I taught my little student, Seong, who I talk to everyday on the bus about ZAKUMI! :)

-And Oh boy I have just received my parcel from home-(thanks mom)! Lovingly wrapped with a vuvuzela small blower thingy, a zakumi mascot and none other than a BAFANA BAFANA football jersey!

NOW all we have to do is: celebrate in this wonderful game called football, in a magnificent country SOUTH AFRICA!!!

AYOBA, MZANZI!

Quoting my brother Robbie: "Let the celebrations begin!"

VIVA SOUTH AFRICA!

A little catch up about my week from a coffee shop in Seoul

"This week has been another great one", I think as I sip on a caffe latte in a random little coffee shop in Seoul that is dimly lit and playing some catchy jazz. It is decorated with gorgeous maroon and green sofas with artsty fartsy lights hanging all around! I have decided to make a mission to the "Korean Beverly Hills"area of Seoul, according to my travel guide. This area is called Apujeong, situated south of the Han River. After 20min of walking with my backpack in the beautiful heat, I have given up my mission of finding Dosan Park described as "chic and bustling with beautiful, young people of Seoul". Instead, a quiet cool coffee shop will do for now for this sweaty,tired and satisfied traveller. Anway, some reflection and updates are needed:

Election Day: Wednesday was Election day! (Or eRection day as my one teacher told me-it was difficult not to burst out laughing) Chen and I had had a wonderful day in gangchon! It is the first stop on the bus on the way to Seoul. SO it is just outside of Chuncheon, but it feels like you are in Mpumalanga somewhere. The greenery that Summer has brought is just utterly beautiful. Winter seemed so dull, grey and miserable that having such a contrast now is rejuvenating. Gangchon is where Chen used to teach last year. It is a tiny city with actual rice paddys and farms. Along with the greenery, the change in season has brought out all the bicycles and quad bikes for tourists like myself to enjoy!

First up was a tandem bicycle! Oh boy- it was such fun! My-o-my! I have always wondered what it must be like to cycle together. The best analogy for tandem cycling is probably ballroom dancing. You have to be on the same wave-length, you have to move in time, you have got to trust the one steering (leading) you and most of all, you just have to go with the flow! I haven't laughed so much in a while! We cycled all the way up to the bicycle parking spot and then walked up to a magnificent waterfall. I love people watching at such locations.My particular favourite at this tourist spot was a group of old ladies posing in front of a waterfall with their rather dashing,long-haired young tourist guide. They were giggling like my high school gals!

We dropped off the bicycle and then decided the quad bikes looked like such fun, that we hired one of those too for an hour! The thrill of the engine roaring was exhilarating, as we bounced over dust roads along the Han River and rice fields. YEEEHAAA seemed to be the only appropriate word to scream. Another day I will soon not forget!

Yesterday: Definitely another one to remember! It was the Pre-World Cup South African Braai at the Nanji Camping Ground in Seoul. Maybe it was the Vuvuzelas, the bright SA flags all around, the Mandoza music and SA dancing, the biltong, the braais or the koeksisters, but it felt like we were in South Africa. This event attracted over 600 + South Africans from all over Korea. The rainbow nation was indeed present-whites, blacks, coloureds, Koreans who've married South Africans and even people wanting to be South Africans. After my cultural identity crisis I had a few weeks ago, I felt this event really showed me the unity that South Africans do share- PASSION! Whether it is passion for music, boerewors, dancing, koeksisters, talking about rugby or just chilling out- South Africans have something special and we must be proud of it. Of course, the lamb chops and biltong I bought at an exorbitant price were worth every last scrumptious morsel. YUM! Chen also tried his first piece of African Sausage-boerewors and really enjoyed it! The best part of the day was when everyone got together and sang "Enkosi Sikelela". Dit was regtig 'n lekker dag! AYOBA!!!

And then a mission to Hongdae was in order for MISSION: ASHLEY's SURPRISE BIRTHDAY. Joe-her boyfriend-had been plotting this for weeks and I was second commando in charge of organising all the peeps! It went off swimmingly. She was convinced up until the last moment that they were going to see a play! He led her surreptiously down the stairs to Nolita's -an Italian restaurant and before she could question his motives: Wham Bam: SURPRISE! So endearing. :)

Today: Sunday 6 June, I need to make my way back to Chuncheon before another week of fun! I am doing soccer world cup and construed a crazy soccer field board game for my boys which I hope will go off well! My coffee is now finished... I must go...

Bisous

JO