Oppositional Reading

Reading with different views from outside, I'm sure that it could help students develop the way to think critically, have open-minded, and be more flexible for something they have to accept.

Still I'm concering a few things,

Ss' language performane level (For the discourse which can be created from the issue.)
Fixed course book that I have to use in my classroom
Time limitation (which is only two months)

Luckily, my students are adults and they are good at expressing their ideas or opinions in their mother tongue. I often try to bring some sensitive issues in class such as gender roles, or some social problems or current issues in Korea. I think no matter what level they are, I can do oppositional readings since we have a poweful tool which is shared mother tongue.

My course book is poor. I think this is sometimes good. This makes us to think about the book very critically.

Anyway, I have to find a way to make my students not only to learn the second language and but also to have a ability to use the language in a concrete situation (in a various discourses) with a proper performance.

Who make a good classroom? (better classroom)

Teachers? Students? or others?

banking education
transmission of knowledge

The same problems, and the similar solutions.

1. What changes do we need in Korean education system to make the classes as a leaner-centered (problem posing class)?
2. How can teachers make all the students involved in class? How can teachers know individual student's own interest? What is the best way?
3. What is the best way to assess the students in a learner-centered class (problem posing class)?
4. What kinds of activities are suitable to make a problem posing class in EFL classroom?

Reflection of the Last Class

(This TV commercial got many favorable reviews because of its creativity. The piggy nose represents the plug, and a lot of people thought it was very creative. I also thought it was well made. One day one of my co-workers, who was a white man, got angry watching this. He said, "why all the white people look like a piggy?" I didn't notice that before. There is one asian girl here. I'm sure this asian girl is totally different from the asian girl in the ad of the airline.)
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Last class was difficult for me. I don't know why but I couldn't say a word.
I think I was thinking too many things.
I was surprised to know that one single advertisement can have so many messages which may make some people upset. Why do some people feel upset? Are the people who made the advertisement aware of the reactions from some angry people? If some people complain to the airline company or the advertisement agency, how do they respond? Will they regret making that kind of advertisement? I doubt so.
I have studied advertisements. I majored in not only English but also advertisements and marketing. Five years ago, I wanted to be a copy writer and I used to study advertisements in an expensive private institute. I met so many people who were working in a marketing area. They were smart. Sometimes they were too smart. We see many advertisements which are too suggestive, too violent, or make some people sick. Why did they make those kinds of advertisements? Becasue they didn't expect the bad reactions from the people?
If the advertisement becomes a big issue (with a bad image), how will they feel? Will they feel guilty? .... Well... I don't think so. maybe or maybe not..
Most of countries have some guildlines or rules for advertisements, and many companies make some advertisements which break the rule, and they pay a fine.
They do that on purpose. Why? To make a issue.
There was an advertisement of an insurance product which made a lot of people upset in Korea. It was on the chopping block. So many people criticized the advertisement. It was appeared in some news articles as well. The company had to change their advertisement. Did they feel guilty? No, actually they were happy. They made the highest profit in that year.
Then who are the oppressed? The asian girl in the advertisement? Or the audieces who feel sick after watching the commercial? (If it was made on purpose.)

What Does it Mean to be Literate in the 21st Century? (short version 8 min)

Social linguistics and literacy

Gee, Social Linguistics and Literacy

Literacy

Literacy and the Literacy Myth: From Plato to Freire

When I saw the word 'literacy' at first in a graduate school, I searched the dictionary. In English it means 'the ability to read and write', and in Korean it also means 'the ability to read and write'. In a English-Korean dictionary, it literally says like that in Korean, which means we do not have any particular word for 'literacy'. 'Literacy' seems to be very important for many countries like USA and Eropean countries. Many people think it's been playing very significant roles in a lot of fields like sicientific civilization, modern civilization, liberty, democratic society.... (It may be just myth like someone said..)

If it's that important, why do we have no word for 'literacy'? Korean people don't care for 'literacy'? What is literacy in Korean? What does that mean to us? How has the 'literacy' influenced Korean society?

.... Let's say a computer is broken. A person asks some help to his friends or family. Or he could call the A/S center and ask some help.  B person reads the instruction carefully and tries to fix the computer by following the instructions there. ... Anyway both fixed the computer. Which one is more intelligent?

'Literacy' seems to be difficult to define. In a English dictionary, it means 'the ability to read and write' but many people think it's more than it.

Then,
What is literacy?
Why is it important?
If there are certain age when chidren can get a 'literacy', what should we do for them? How can we help them? What are the roles of parents, schools, and so on?