Competition Vs Creativity

One of the ongoing conversations I have with the other English teacher at work is about the inability of our students to think critically, or creatively, and how this extends in to the lives of adult Koreans as they often seem unable to deviate from the plan in the face of changing circumstances. Just go to a bank and ask to pay off your credit card before the due date, the teller will look at you as if you're some sort of madman. Pay before it's due? What!?

OK at the younger levels I will admit that most of my students' brains are mush, but you would think that by the 6th grade, kids (let alone adults) would be able to apply a bit of logic to the situations they find themselves in.

The reasons for this inability to adapt is obvious of course. There is a high emphasis on results in Korea, at the expense of creativity, and by any means necessary. ESL and Hakwon teachers will tell you, Korean kids don't think of it as cheating until they get caught!

Well finally some proof to back up these ideas comes via Korea Beat and The Dong-A Ilbo. (Emphasis mine)

“there are serious concerns that the excessive investment in elementary, middle, and high school education and study designed to achieve college admissions is weakening competitiveness and failing to produce creative abilities.”

Kim Seung-gi, a Korean-American education scholar, found in her doctoral dissertation at Columbia University that from 1985 to 2007 56%, or 784 out of 1,400, Korean students at 14 top American universities including Harvard University dropped out.

Her research indicated that though Korean students do well on every exam they take before entering higher education, they are often unable to handle the active and creative forms of study required there.

To be honest these results are not in the slightest bit surprising. And yes I have tales of elementary school students in 4th and 5th grades looking at University entrance exams and studying them.

Now I don't know about you dear reader, but I went to school as a child 5 days a week (no Saturday classes like here in Korea) for about 25 weeks a year. Finished school at 3pm, and for a good part of the time was either running about outside with a ball and a bat, mucking about down the shops with me mates or on rare occasions watching TV. I was lucky, in that I went to boarding school so homework time was regimented, we had an hour (One bleedin hour!) to do our homework before a bit of supper, some more TV and then off to bed at a reasonable hour.

This regime did me quite well, I got an A Bursary and University Entrance, and a scholarship result in English. The system also had a hand in preparing me for University which, although it took a bit longer to finish than my parents would have hoped, I got through and then managed to get a good job upon graduation. (Before chucking it in and moving to Korea.)

You'll note that nowhere in there was I at some extra-curricular tutoring operation until all hours, and I got at least 8 hours sleep every night, which is more than I can say about many of my 4th grade students. Who makes an 11 year old stay up until midnight studying?!

It's like competition is hard wired into my students - probably from Kindergarten - and they must be the first in everything they do or they will perish! I have learnt the hard way when giving out worksheets to my classes. Often before I have handed them all out I've got kids screaming "TeeeCha! Pinishie!" at the top of their lungs.

Most have learnt now that it's not necessary to race through your work in my classes (although apparently in the rest of their curriculum it is perfectly fine). Of course in order to get that through to them I had to make all the students put their pencils on the floor under their desks, close their eyes and put their hands on their heads, and no one was allowed to move until I said so.

As I've said all too many times before, the Korean education system is in dire need of radical reform. Sure put some white faces in public schools. The first thing the authorities might consider is severely limiting Hakwons (Shit! I'd be in favour of abolishing them), because you know the first reaction to results like those quoted above will be don't you?

That's right! Sending the kids to more bloody Hakwons!

Comments

[Dan]

This is a very difficult issue to resolve. It's not as easy as a even a few big fixes. It involves government, corporations, and society. Fixing just one will never do anything. I've often heard that the university entrance exam should be changed and that would change everything. However, there are still exams require at each university that you are accepted to and even exams when applying to large corporations. Hagwons are will be a tough bitch to kill off.

On the English side of the hagwon equation, I hope that better training and licensure requirements (both in the works) will help primary and secondary schools better fill the gaps. It's my sincere hope that fewer (not more) foreign teachers will be required in the coming years. Though this would likely put me out of a job, I believe that it is better for students and the educational system as a whole.

Take care and keep up the good work. I enjoy following you.
Dan