Weird:

In Reading Class today, I explained the word WEIRD to my students. I told them it meant strange or 이상하다. And completely out of context from the word usage in our novel, a bright 2nd grade girl asked me, "Teacher, I know something that's weird." What's that? "Why Koreans have to learn English but Americans don't have to learn Korean." Yes, that is weird but do you know why it's like that? Another girl raised her hand, "Yes, I know, I know, it's because America's best and biggest country so we have to learn language." Well, that can be true in some ways but there are many many many countries that speak English, not just America. And I told them tidbits about colonization and their role in this world. After my short lecture on the importance of learning the language, I had the 2nd grader reiterate what I had said, "Yes, we are learning English because one day when we big and 어른이 될때 we can travel any country and speak English to them." Exactly! Very good, and you can then have the power to be anything you want to become, go anywhere you want to go, and make a difference. "Yes, Teacher, in 2050 Korea will be the best country in the world so we have to know English." Well, I don't know, that is possible but that may be up to each of you to change Korea and share what we have with other countries. Do you think you can you do that? "Yes, yes!"

Two days ago, in my Junior high class, as I was explaining the "No speaking in Korean Rule" one of my students, the one who wants to be an 'international lawyer and help poor people', said, "It's not fair, Teacher. Why do we have to learn English and Americans don't have to learn Korean?" I gave him a similar speech as I did today about this wierd language phenomena. I also empathized by telling him how much I hated learning Korean when I was little when all the other kids were out playing games. I explained that I wished I had learned more so that I can freely communicate with Koreans. If he only knew why and how language was an essential survival tool... He sort of nodded.

I've been thinking about this on and off throughout my time here. Studying is all that Korean kids seem to have time to do. No time for extra-curricular activities and simply enjoying life with friends and family. When they are free, they play computer games, it seems. After school, they attend academies that are subject-specific, most of them seem to go to two or three of them, leaving them pretty much no time to play. And it begins from grade school. Then after 16 plus years of schooling, they seem to have an incredibly difficult time finding a job in the densely populated nation. Something's a bit wrong with the system if you ask me. So many people believe that studying abroad is the key to a successful life so they send kids alone or maybe with a mother overseas, while the rest of the family remains in Korea to be the bread-winner, causing problems in the family system as well. Everyone seems to have a problem with the system here but I don't know how exactly they are attempting to bring about change. It makes me consider my responsibility.

Sometimes I wonder, will these kids grow up despising the English language that was shoved into them in place of times when they could run, jump, and frolick outside with their friends and family, and as a result, become repulsed by people who speak English as their first language and had the privilege of frolicking freely. Bad situation. I wouldn't be surprised if that really happened. If my childhood pleasures were stolen from me because I had to spend all of my time learning a language that was not taught in an inviting way, I would probably grow up with resentment toward that language and those directly affiliated with the language.

I obviously don't have the power to change all the institutions of Korea but I do believe in what my workplace does. I'm fortunate to have ended up teaching where I teach. My boss seems to understand what's really going on in Korea and her vision is beyond the money-making game of English academies in Korea. There is a long way to go before anyone can claim quality in the English education of this country, but I see some hope. English learning is a necessity as worlds are coming together more fluidly so there's got to be more that we can do to equip these kids...will share more later.