Korean Pipe Dream: To be filed under WTF

Firstly, sorry I haven't posted anything in over two weeks.  Life has been hectic.  I just came home from my Wednesday class at the local government office and I was greeted with this little gem from our friendly source of all things asinine the Korea Times.  Apparently, we band of brothers of the noblest breed - The teacher in Korea - have a new threat.   A new threat that is forged from my most beloved of authors, namely Issac Asimov - The Robot.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2010/01/123_59809.html

Korea plans to do away with us all together with the help of legions of robots teaching English.  How does one even begin to comment on this.  Is this the best solution to the problem of English education that the Koreans can come up with?  I tend to think that this is how they have solved the English language broadcasting problems over at Arirang tv.

Imagine millions of students mindlessly parroting their robot instructors, mindlessly repeating emotionless pronunciations, mindlessly memorizing facts to be passed on ridiculous multiple choice examinations.  Oh wait, that already occurs....but at least I can tell them that they are doing it all wrong and aren't learning anything.  I wonder if these robots will also be armed with implements of correction ready to discipline at will without the sympathetic emotions of a shocked westerner nearby to at least mitigate some of the abuse?

Korea if you want to improve English education start listening to your invited teachers.  Start making the students take responsibility for their own learning.  Change your testing systems.  Provide professional development opportunities for all teachers foreign and domestic.  I don't know, maybe read educational journals once in a while to discover new and motivating teaching techniques.....or I guess if you just want to pass the buck of responsibility on, why not sell your children's educations out to something that can be made to be silenced indefinitely.

Cheers,

Adam who is no longer in shock of stupid ideas.