LU’s Korean Students, Episode I

1. LU’s Korean Students, Episode I Dae Woon Cho LU Graduate Writing Center

2. The Question • Why are Korean students keeping silent in class?

3. Questions or Worries You May Have • Do the Korean students understand what I am saying? • Is something wrong with what I am teaching? • What can I do for them?

4. Some tips for helping Koreans • To understand English • To understand differences in American and Korean educational culture • To understand the teacher’s authority • To understand cultural references

5. Helping Koreans Understand English • Remember! • They may not understand your words. • They may not be able to catch up with the speed of the lecture. • If you want to hear their opinions, ask them questions with easy words and a slow pace. • This is not condescension; it is kindness!

6. Differences between Korean and American Education • American Educational Culture: • Lecture • Question and Answer • Opinions and interruptions are permitted • Korean Educational Culture • ALL lecture • No questions without the teacher’s permission • Remember: Koreans need to be told that it is okay to ask questions if they do not understand!

7. The Teacher’s Authority • Koreans may be very surprised by these common American behaviors: • Interrupting the teacher without permission • Interrupting the stream of the lecture • Questioning the teacher’s authority in any way, explicit or implicit • Remember: American students’ ways of engaging with the professor may seem disrespectful to Koreans!

8. Helping Koreans Understand Cultural References • Koreans may not understand the following: • Idioms • Slang • Use of cultural references such as Bugs Bunny • Remember: When they do not understand or cannot relate to your point, Koreans may fall silent. Take the responsibility to find out if they understand you, and if they don’t, do your best to explain.

9. Summary • There may be many reasons Koreans do not speak up in class. • Do your best to be easily understood, avoiding or explaining idioms, cultural references, and complex words. • Tell Korean students that it is good to ask you questions. • Remember this: often Koreans’ silence is a gesture of respect to you.