whose boat is this, whose it is it?

i don't know why i'm just now getting around to this, but i thought it might be interesting to show exactly the types of things these kids are learning in the english classroom. as i may have mentioned in previous posts, the curriculum is heavily standardized and, for the most part, follows a pre-made lesson plan. therefore, my primary role in the program is not to create what goes on in the lesson, but simply to enact it out with the aid of a cd-rom program. i do, however, provide games and activities that correspond to whatever phrase or key sentence we're learning. so in all, my basic function is that of a parrot and a master of games. no wonder we're being phased out and replaced by robots.

the disconcerting reality about korean english education is that they're not so much learning how to use language as they are learning useful phrases that can be sloppily inserted into conversation. kind of like a plug-and-chug math problem, where they might use a certain equation because what they're hearing fits the right formula. it's useful, but conversation rarely plays out like that. what makes it even worse are the laughable videos and songs they use to learn from. the language is often awkwardly phrased or just plain wrong, and when it is right the intonation is puzzling at best. i was looking at some of the section headers for the new books we're getting this coming semester and one is titled "how about a game of baseball?" who says that? how about a spot of tea, govenah? right-o! on with the post then!

enough of my ranting. have a peep for yourself and make your own judgments. here's a "look and listen" video(1) with an accompanying song from one of the 5th grade sections called "whose boat is this?" (because that's something you're going to be asking people on an everyday basis, right?)

look and listen:


let's sing:


bonus let's sing (just because it's a favorite at almost every communal meal):


and then there's this guy (the reactions we get when we play these videos are hilarious by the way, the only problem is i have to watch them also):


*(1) - each lesson is divided into sections called "look and listen" where they watch a video and answer questions based on what was said, "listen and repeat" which is just what it sounds like, "let's read" (obvious), "let's write" (obvious), "let's sing" (obvious), "let's role-play", "let's review", and "let's play" which is what i'm largely responsible for.

ps. i'll be adding a philippines post shortly, i just wanted to wait and see if i could grab some more photos off of my friends first as i didnt actually take that many myself.