Welcome back!
I remember my time in high school fondly. I can’t imagine my students will look back at high school with anything less than rage and fiery hatred.
The Korean SAT was last Thursday, and from what I can tell it’s complete madness. The day after the exam I held a debate about Korean testing methods with my advanced after school class, and they all are deathly afraid of this test (rightly so!). The test covers 7 subjects, 4 of which the students have a bit of autonomy in choosing. My SAT covered two: math and a verbal section. I only teach the 1st year students, but they are already studying for this test two years out.
The test can only be taken once for universities, and there is only ONE day a year that it is administered. There are no make ups whatsoever. If you check the article I linked above, you can see the photo of a student suspected of having swine flu taking the test all by his lonesome in an isolation room. Hell, they even had students taking the exam IN THE HOSPITAL. WTF mate? I have to give props to the Korean education system in most aspects, but this is absurd.
When I held the debate the next day my students were all overwhelmingly against the SAT as it stands. They study until 10pm most weekdays in order to do well on this exam. I took social dance 5 times in high school. They have school twice a month on Saturdays. I played computer games and ate waffles. Their college admission is a matter of family honor. My parents just would have murdered me if I didn’t go. Ok, maybe that last one is pretty similar, but parental intervention certainly isn’t as ubiquitous in the US. They had police posted at every testing site to prevent parents from causing disturbances, and doctors on hand for swine flu problems and nervous breakdowns.
If you’re reading this from the US, be thankful you don’t have it like these kids!
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Hi Evan,
Stumbled upon your blog when I goggled “Dae Dong Taxation High School.”
I am a teacher in Coquitlam, B.C, Canada. Next week I will be teaching 25 Korean high-school students from Dae Dong! Are you still teaching there? I wonder if you may know these students, or if you would be able to give me an idea as to what level they are at? It is hard to lesson plan for a group of kids you have never met!
Cheers,
Brittany