Where to begin? I guess I can talk about the relationship between teachers and students and how much less defined it is in Korea. Students are extremely respectful of their teachers for the most part. Traditionally, being a teacher was one of the most highly regarded professions and a child was to give a teacher as much (if not more) repect as they would give their parents. Although teachers are not treated as well as they were many years ago, they are still very highly regarded.
Teachers in Korea can cross a line with students that would never ever be acceptable in America. Many times I will see male teachers playfully wrestling with their male students, but to the point where they are lifting them over their shoulders and dropping them on the ground. Its actually quite nice to see that they can take more of a role model position outside of the classroom with out having to worry about getting too close or making students uncomfortable. They just don't have those issues here. Then, there is another side to the teacher-student relationship, which is punishment and discipline. Until a few years ago it was perfectly acceptable to physically punish a student by hitting or whipping. Today, it is more likely to make a bad student stand with their hands over their head or against the wall for an extended period of time. But, physical discipline still happens! As much as I think my co-teacher is a wonderful woman, I was shocked and sickened on one occasion to see her wail a kid on the head and throw him to the ground. Granted, he was a very, very bad student, but I believe that it is not ever acceptable to hit a child.
In general, school is much more intense in Korea, too. From the 3rd grade students take national standardized tests, and they have a lot of pressure from their parents and their teachers to do well. They take studying very seriously, so anyone who can afford to goes to a private academy after school to do Math, Music, English, etc. Many students miss out on doing kid things because they are constantly studying. Overall, I would say that Korean students are well-behaved, happy and respectful, but unfortunately they have a lot of pressure from a young age. Add to that they have to go to school on Saturday! That's right, school is open 2 Saturdays of the month. Lucky for me, they know that western cultures don't do that, so our contracts stipulate that we don't have to go in on Saturday.
Maybe I sound negative about the Korean school system, but I actually feel that there are so many ways that its better than the American school system. In Korea, teachers have a respectable career, are paid well, and don't worry about crossing the line with their students. They also don't have to worry about verbal or physical violence from their students because that is rare. Being a teacher here is great. Especially as a foreign English teacher, its a wonderful job and I'm so happy going to work everyday. Occasionally things happen that are not the way I would like them to be, but thats when I just have to remember that phrase..."Welcome to Korea!"
P.S. Last weekend I went to the Busan Fireworks Festival and it was unbelievable!!! There were 1 million people and the fireworks were probably the best in the world...check out this youtube video, which is awesome, but doesn't even do it justice!
Busan Fireworks Festival: http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=9yA7C1t8BUc&feature=related
one million people waiting on Gwangalli Beach
Fireworks over Gwangalli Bridge
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