Pedagogy of the oppressed

Freire's banking concept of education sounds interesting.

... Education becomes an act of depositing...

This reminds me of Korean education system. In the past, I mean, really long time ago, Korean education wasn't like a banking model. What makes the cram schools? I think after the Japanese colonial era, Korea was extremely poor. To be developed, cramming teaching method might be effective, and yes, Korea has been developed rapidly. What about now?
We all know that there should be some changes in Korean education. We all agree there are many problems in it. We all think students should be more than receivers or listeners. Then why does Korean education system stay almost the same? What are the reasons or obstacles to hamper the changes?

... Education must begin with the solution of the teacher-student contradiction...
... The banking approach to adult education, for example, will never propose to students that they critically consider reality....
... The banking system concept does not admit to such partnership...
... The teacher is no longer merely the one who teachers, but one who is himself taught in dialogue with the students, who in turn while being taught also teach...
... In this way, the problem-posing educator constantly re-forms his reflections in the reflection of the students....
... In problem-posing education, people develop their power to perceive critically the way they exist in the world with which and in which they find themselves...

Great sentences...
-Who is the ideal teacher in problem-posing education?
-What are the key features of the ideal teacher?
-Who are the ideal students in problem-posing education?
-What are the key feature of the ideal student?
-Who can make problem posing education? Teachers? Students? Government people? People who make the text books? Who are the opperessor in Korean education?

Korean Students' School Life

Banking model education Vs Problem posing education.wmv

Big car & Small car

Big and expensive car = important, success, rich, power....,



Do you agree?

TOEIC in Korea

News article which criticize TOEIC test in Korea as a way to judge applicants' English skill.

A Teen's culture, a fall for idols (10대의 청춘문화, 아이돌에 빠지다) [Today's blog]

Culture Industry

... The function of the culture industry is therefore, ultimately, to organize leisure time in the same way as industrialization has organized work time......

My thoughts
In Korea, there is a big thing for people, that is English. Many parents spend a lot of money on English education for their children. English kindergardens became very popular. Many university students go abroad to study English like following the fashion trend. More business people attend an English class because they think they have to.
I always ask the reason why they want to study English at the first time in class. I'm surprised to hear that so many people answer they study English because other people do. Sometimes I'm wondering... what makes people study English here in Korea?