Comments on: A New “Dasan” Is Born — Korea University’s Plunge Backwards

By: sanshinseon

sanshinseon — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 15:12:33 +0000

Still, i hope that if anybody finds a good article explaining the details of what just happened at Ko-dae, really WHY the reformist President wasn’t supported for re-election — that they’ll post it, as i’m real curious what went on with that… was it ONLY reactionary turf-protecting profs, or is there more to the story…?

By: sanshinseon

sanshinseon — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 15:09:02 +0000

Awl right then…

By: R. Elgin

R. Elgin — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 08:02:08 +0000

Sorry San. You are right. I had somehow gotten into the habit of using “the” in front of Jeong Yag-Yong’s pen name. I just broke the habit.

I still know how to spell “potatoe”.

By: sanshinseon

sanshinseon — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 07:23:34 +0000

R. Elgin, just as an aside, what’s up with “the Dasan”?
That’s similar to the American President’s recent much-ridiculed usage of “the Google”… Are you doing that intentionally, for a reason that i would benefit by being enlightened upon, are you obscurely adding to the ridicule nof GWB, or are you just being iconoclastic with that…?

Dasan is a favorite of mine, i love teaching about him and his broad-minded friendship with Cho-eui-seonsa down in Gangjin & Haenam… would really have liked to have been present for their conversations!

By: sanshinseon

sanshinseon — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 07:17:23 +0000

No, they aren’t, but nobody here is claiming that.

> SomeguyinKorea wrote:
> There is a huge difference between … and suddenly forcing
> the professors, and students to teach and learn every
> subject in a language other than the official language.

You seem to be arguing under a misapprehension throughout this thread — as far as we know, the above has never happened nor ever even been attempted. Korea University and mine and others are simply trying to increase the number of courses taught in English, by professors who are perfectly capable of that but just not doing it, to students who are perfectly capable of understanding it but just aren’t being given the chance — increase it from, let’s say, 3% of all courses offered up to maybe 15~20% as the long-range goal. I’m not aware of any university in this country that is aiming for 100% English usage — tho one might come along before long, and it will probably be more crowded with applicants than Kodae is…

By: SomeguyinKorea

SomeguyinKorea — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 22:28:15 +0000

judge judy, there are already some universities in Korea where many of the lectures are given in English. Oh, and what makes you think that the professors didn’t think that they could best prepare their students for a ‘globally competitive landscape’? Besides, someone is not necessarily doing a good job at preparing their students to be competitive just because they are teaching in English.

By: R. Elgin

R. Elgin — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 11:20:43 +0000

Pretty much “judge”.

This may not affect the exceptional student who will not accept this and simply go overseas to get what they need and may not bring their knowledge back to Korea, Inc. For the student without the means to study abroad, this means they are stuck with mediocre programs and faculty.

It saddens me to think that the faculty of Korea University may have cheated the future generations to come. I have to look at the bright and happy faces of so many kids in my neighborhood almost every day and wonder what their future might be like. I wish the faculty of Korea University had to look at those little faces and had the honesty to ask themselves the same question.

By: judge judy

judge judy — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 10:18:57 +0000

There is a huge difference between offering a few courses in English, or Spanish, to meet the demands of the foreign students (simply put, it’s good business sense) and suddenly forcing the professors, and students to teach and learn every subject in a language other than the official language.

it would be nice to see at least one institution leading the education system in this way. the way i see it, no one is forced. they’re free to choose any of the thousands of other second-rate educational institutions in this country to attend or teach at. however, this was a great opportunity lost for the good people of korea due to exactly what it was attempting to change-second-rate professors more interested in tenure than preparing their students for a globally competitive landscape. for that, students best study overseas.

go USA!

By: Origami

Origami — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 12:08:46 +0000

I can only imagine 2 million Korean-Americans applauding this decision. In the end, it’s the Koreans who are going to lose.

By: kpmsprtd

kpmsprtd — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 05:52:29 +0000

R. Elgin wrote:

“This issue is not about English in classrooms. That is a red herring.

To summarize, the moral of this story is that if one tries to improve a system filed with a bunch of lazy and mediocre guys that like it just the way it is, they will meet resistance and could get squashed — no matter how correct or good they may be. ”

Indeed. To be a true agent of change is akin to jousting at windmills. Carly Fiorina, formerly of Hewlett Packard claims to have been one. I also claim to be one. And both of us are out of a job, although she is doing somewhat better than I am what with bigger speaking fees and such…

I would definitely try working for Dr. Euh Yoon-dae. He appears to be a great leader–albeit in an institution unwilling to be led into the future.