The Classroom Culture Clash

Not what you expect!
Scene:
A university in Korea. During an evening, 3hour block "English Communication and Writing" class, 7:50-10:35 pm. Eight students, mostly English major juniors and a couple of seniors - multi-media engineers.



Script:

Student (a senior, engineering department, has lived and studied in Vancouver for 2 years), dressed all in white, very good English, very pronounced whiney intonation, though : "Professor. This class is too hard ("ha-aaa-aaaaard"). Too many things to do. Too much homework and too much writing."

Instructor (smiling, used to this kind of complaint): "Well, it might look like a lot, but really, it's not.Let's see - it's a bit of reading - 4 to 5 pages a day - and a bit more writing - expected in a class that calls itself a "writing" class, wouldn't you say? It's also guided writing, taught step by step, with examples, practice, peer editing, instructor's feedback. You can handle it, don't worry. I'm here to help you. Ask as many questions as you want. Come to my office any time, send me an email, call me" - on and on go the instructor's assurances that all will be fine.

Student (sticking to his guns): "Oh, but we are seniors. It's our last semester. WE CAN'T STUDY. WE NEED TO LOOK FOR A JOB, ALL THE TIME. Understand our situation (situ - ay-SHUNG) ."

Instructor ( with a fake smile): "I'm sorry, I cannot and will not change the assignments - they happen to be appropriate for this class. If you find this course too difficult, there's still time to drop it. It's your elective, no penalty involved. I know you're looking for a job, but you're a student, and it's expected from a STUDENT to STUDY and submit assignments." (sarcasm highly inapropriate but unavoidable).

Student (angrily): "Oh, professor, you CAN'T understand Korean culture."

Instructor, aloud: "Well, that may be so, but I don't need to here. When you enter my classroom, you leave YOUR Korean culture outside, and you find yourself in MINE. You may want to try and understand Canadian culture."
Instructor, to herself, hearing the thud of her sinking heart: "Right on."
Student: silent, hostile, frozen. Will he show up on Monday?