Kids Are So Smart

Sometimes these kids really amaze me. Actually most of the time they do. With their insane schedules consisting of public school, acadamies, and various other lessons...not to mention some of them speak Chinese too!!! Three languages before high school? Wow. I pretty much only count myself as monolingual, though I think if I brushed up a little on my Spanish I could get by.

So, most of my classes are awesome...except for that one. But today I had Times classes, which are basically newspaper reading classes. And my first class is considered Intermediate for their level but they are so great. They can hold up a good conversation in English, which they proved today. One of our articles was a discussion about whether or not scientists should continue to develop new weapons. The arguments were that we could get useful things out of the research such as computers and GPS (which we wouldn't have if it weren't for weapons research according to the article). The other side of the argument was obviously that it could start wars and people could get hurt and what not. And that we can study other areas of science instead of developing weapons.

Oh so I need to throw in here how surprised I am that the rest of the world finds America to be so powerful. I mean, I guess I see it, but it's just not something you think about until you're not in the country anymore and cab drivers say "Oh, you're from America, very powerful country."

So we finished the article and one of the students commented on America having scary weapons. And I asked if he meant now. I think he might have meant now, but he said that historically America has had scary weapons. Obviously the bombing of Japan is a scary one, haha. I can understand that. "Much destruction, the air was very dirty," he said. Yeah. But he also said how he doesn't like Japan, so it's all good. (Just kidding) So I told them that I think North Korea is hiding scary weapons and I would be the most worried about them, but then proceeded to downplay it by saying that it's OK because there's American military presence here to protect us. However, I didn't want to seem to overconfident so I mentioned that South Korea obviously has a competent military as well.

These kids are probably about 12 years old and one of them said to me "Teacher, don't worry about North Korea, there's nothing to be afraid of. Teacher, you don't need to be worried." He basically told me that South Korea can take North Korea. Haha, I just am amazed sometimes by their ability to understand and process things and then try to reassure a 23-year-old. Not that I really am that worried :-) I guess maybe this isn't that great of a post for everyone else, but I just thought it was a great class and probably something I won't forget for a while. I love working with kids.

So, other than that, I really wish I could find a live stream of the America-Algeria World Cup game, but it's pretty hard and I just gave up. It doesn't matter though...S. Korea made it and plays again Saturday night!!! Yay Korea.

Tomorrow/today is the one month anniversary of my arrival!! I can't believe it's been a month already :-)