> Mr. Sam,

> Firstly, I think you are taking this rather too personally! However..

> What I have stated is MY opinion from direct observation and from
> what my students have told me. My students are a clever lot. Far more
> hard working and talented than I am! I try my best to do right by
> them and teach them English that will be useful, and I consider it a
> privilege to be here.

> I stay in China because I like it. I like the people and the social
> environment. I enjoy the challenge and the more dynamic culture you
> have here. I stay here because I think I can do some good. I stay
> here because my Chinese girfriend is here! I stay here because the
> beer is cheap! (that was a joke). Well the beer is cheap!! Anyway,
> lots of reasons!

> When did I say people here were not clever?

> If you are going to take everything that people say about China
> personally, you will have a life full of stress and worry. Instead of
> just telling me to get lost perhaps you can come back with a rational
> rejoinder?

> I assume you are a

I agree. The article seems as if it is describing the chinese education system. AND, I am not prejudice either. I totally respect China as a country & the people that live here. The education system is like that. its fact, not opinion.

Thats why people here want foreign teachers, because we learn differently. They are interested in other learning styles. That is why it is hard for FT's in the classroom. Students in China really are amazing at remembering even the tiniest of details, but they can't explain or understand why things are the way they are.

Here's a quote directly from one of my Chinese students:
"We don't have time to think about why...just remember."

PS: Sam, I'm just curious, are you a native of China?

> EH? I'm not being prejudice, I'm just saying it like it is! (Is that
> prejudice? :-O

> Even my (Chinese) students complain about the Chinese education
> system!

EH? I'm not being prejudice, I'm just saying it like it is! (Is that prejudice? :-O

Even my (Chinese) students complain about the Chinese education system!

> Mr. DoS.

> Prejudice never shows much reason.

> Good luck!

> Sam

> Incheon
> PS: Just heard our gov. will spend $US43B to build a new capital in
> the middle of the country.

Good on your gov.
So, how many New Korean grads will they be recruiting based on university affiliation, and out of the $US43B how much will they be spending to train them. One more question, how many arts graduates will they be engaging as engineers for the project?.

Whiteman:

And your point is?

Incheon
PS: Just heard our gov. will spend $US43B to build a new capital in the middle of the country.

Report from Singapore Strait Times
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/asia/story/0,4386,266954,00.html?>

South Korean grads unable to do the job
Employers complain that they have to spend money training staff who are ill-equipped for the workplace

By Lee Tee Jong

SEOUL - Owner Kim Jae Shin of a semiconductor firm has not been hiring any new graduates for the past four years because of several bad experiences.

'While they are good at following instructions, they lacked technical skills and I had to spend money to send them for courses, something that the university should have done,' he said.

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Many employers like him blame universities for turning out graduates ill-equipped for the workplace.

In a recent survey by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), human resource managers gave new employees only 26 out of 100 points for their level of knowledge and technical skills.

Samsung Electronics says it spends more than US$65 million (S$112 million) every year on retraining about 6,000 university-educated engineers.

An FKI spokesman said: 'If we continue spending money on such training in this poor economy, it will make us less competitive and we will lose out to rivals.'

The education system, which stresses rote-learning and conformity, has also been blamed.

Seoul National University's Professor Roh Geum Bae explained: 'From elementary school, there is only one message that is drummed into the students, and that is, to excel in the university entrance exam.'

Students spend hours mugging for this all-important exam, which determines the university one goes to, and which in turn influences one's choice of career, lifestyle and even spouse.

Prof Roh lamented: 'Our students are good at regurgitating facts but lack the initiative and creativity to apply them.'

A human resource manager said his company often recruits workers based on university affiliation even if the worker does not have what it takes for the job.

He said: 'I have had arts graduates being accepted for engineering posts.'

The quality of university education has suffered due to a glut of mainly profit-oriented universities, which now number about 130.

Any comments from you guys over in Korea.