So this has been a busy week for me. I know I promised to make sure to write at least three times a weeks, well here is what I’ve been working on…
This has been the longest amount of time I have spent in Korea. I don’t have a job or a set schedule so I usually try to make a routine and stick to it.
Having been to this area before, it is a different experience living in an area versus being a tourist. Worst of all it can be very easy to allow the boredom to set in.
In keeping busy I joined an international leadership program at Pusan National University where I had to opportunity to travel to different high schools and give a short 2 hour lecture of the environment. Naturally my Korean is very, and I mean extremely, limited so the lectures are in English. Now for me this is not difficult but in doing this project I have been able to coach Korean university student on some tips on public speaking as well as been able to see how different the high school system is from the States.
A couple of differences right off the bat.
1. Koreans don’t learn public speaking. In traditional Korean learning environment students are expected to listen to lectures. A teacher gives the information and the students copy it. Then later they go to their quiet study areas where they memorize the information. I even saw a room for “Intense Study” where the room was dimly lit, had a soundproof door, and the desk was set up with walls on three sides so the student could only see the area in front of them. And this is the learning environment until they go to university.
Many of the university students that I got to work with, this was their first time giving an informational presentation. But it all works out because for the high school and university students English is difficult, so they forget they are presenting and focus more on the language.
2. The atmosphere is different from Mixed gender schools to the All Boy / All Girl schools. Being that I went to a mixed gender school I never knew there were any differences in the schools, but being able to see it now that I’m older, I can see a difference.
At the mixed gender school, the girls seemed to be a lot more shy and less willing to talk in front of the class, but when the environment was all girls there was a new energy where that fear of embarrassment was not present.
Also when the environment was all boys, it was generally accepted when they fell asleep in class because they are “too tired” from all their study’s.
Over all it was a very interesting experience to see the university students work putting together the project and visiting the different high schools.
Next I will be the master of ceremonies at the final event where everyone is brought together at the Global Village.