Xmas and culture
 

Has anyone had an experience where students don't want to do an activity such as a Christmas Carol because of religious or cultural objections?

How do you approach Christmas activities with this in mind?

Re: Xmas and culture
 

I have had many experiences where the sts had no idea what christmas was... but never had anyone to object. Although, they were all youngins!

Re: Xmas and culture
 

I'm teaching at a Christian school and Santa isn't encouraged here.

Re: Xmas and culture
 

so they disparage the commercialisation of Christmas?

Out of interest, jennifer, where is your school located?

Re: Xmas and culture
 

I'm in Suwon.
We also made no reference to Halloween, even though the kids knew about it and I gave them some candy but I don't think it would have gone down too well to have a Halloween party.

We are having a Christmas festival and that is to present songs and dialogues that the children have learned (they teach good character as part of the program) and it is for Jesus' birthday.
Myself and another teacher were going to teach the "Rudolph" song and no-one seemed to object even though Santa is mentioned, but yes, I think Christmas is portrayed as an entirely religious day revolving around the birth of Jesus.

Re: Xmas and culture
 

What's the fun in not having celebrations? You should make a up a fake holiday and get the sts right into it.

Re: Xmas and culture
 

Wow you live in Suwon Jenni? I live about 30 mins from there. I live in Pyeongtaek (평택). I have been to Suwon now and then for shopping and to the immigration centre to get my F2 Visa.

Anyhow, we had a Halloween party to get the kids interested into Halloween and get them to learn something. I understand that you may teach at a Christian school, but the real part of learning a language is to learn the culture. People are unable really to learn one without the other. So for students that is why I introduce themes each week and get the students to enjoy their studies as well as have party now and then.

I hope that you will be able to persuade management that language acquisition consists with understanding culture and an open mind.

Anyways, there have been no problems with parties I have organised in the past. I am not teaching any carols but have them playing in the background so students absorb it whilst they are doing some classroom activities.

Re: Xmas and culture
 

I'll call it emileday, but it doesn't have the same ring as Christmas.

As an atheist, the one thing I really love about religion is the holidays, lol...

Re: Xmas and culture
 

I went to a buffet yesterday with my wife for dinner. It's at the top of a small department store and naturally the store is stocked up with decorations and when we had a nice meal we were coming down from the 9th floor and there was a small lobby decked up with a Christmas tree and had a small desk with a book on it and my wife glanced at it. Seeing that it was in English and not in Korean she contuined to read and after about 5 seconds called me over. I checked out the book and discovered to my horror that it's a home remedy book on how to threat syphilis!!!!!!!!

Re: Xmas and culture
 

Now, that's an interest story. Not my favourite type of reading though.

Re: Xmas and culture
 

Of course. Who isn't sending that one home to their folks for Christmas?

I've never had any objection to Christmas, or any holiday for that matter, in Korea. I think it's a really good way to learn about other cultures. Learning language doesn't always have to be about the language itself. If you really want to do some Christmas things at your school, try to tell your director that the students will be learning things about different cultures as well as new vocab that there is no other appropriate time to introduce. (ie. What did you do yesterday? I decorated the Christmas Tree and ate a candy cane. Hard to teach any other time of year.)

Re: Xmas and culture
 

LOL Nearly spat out my tea when I read that! :)

Re: Xmas and culture
 

You didn't happen to catch the name of the author by any chance?

Re: Xmas and culture
 

That was the last thing that went through my mind when I saw it. It had one of those old binded hard covered books. Looks good beside a Christmas tree and other decorations like a timeless classic but it made us laugh so much. I wonder did they check it up on a dictionary afterwards :)

Re: Xmas and culture
 

Damn I replied in the wrong thread sorry. :(

Re: Xmas and culture
 

Luckily I had finished my tea because I also laughed so hard. You should write comedy Eric, your timing is perfect.

Re: Xmas and culture
 

Oh and on the matter of the theme of this post.
I think it all comes down to the degree of tolerance people have for beliefs other than their own.
Some feel threatened when others do not believe what they believe and want to shut themselves away from other influences.
I think many in the world are moving towards multi culturalism and learning and celebrating our differences and how we are all the same as well. Just because you teach children about religions and customs other than their own does not mean you think they should worship in that way or change their life style, it just offers them the opportunity for a greater understanding of humanity as a whole.
This seems to be a problem for those who feel their way is the only way and they need to convert others in order to save them.
Live and let live
The main message of Christmas is Peace on Earth and perhaps we need tolerance to achieve that.

Re: Xmas and culture
 

We are having celebrations. Next week is our Christmas festival, all the classrooms are decorated with Christmas symbolism.. trees, snowmen, snowflakes etc and I am having a party with one of my advanced classes.
Christmas is celebrated at the school, just not Santa and while I'm not Christian myself, I have to admit I am enjoying getting away from the "materialism" if you like, of a Western style Christmas.

Re: Xmas and culture
 

Also on this subject, I guess I am on a roll here
In my school in Canada, not an ESL school I might add, I organized a concert for Christmas called Festival of Lights. I am actually in the process of writing a book and creating a CD of songs from the concert. It is a great idea because most cultures have a festival of lights or light candles in the darkness of wiinter to spread light.
So this is a way of having the traditional "Christmas" concert, but making it acceptable to the many cultures living in Canada.
In class we studied Hanukka, Diwali, Advent and Kwansaa and heard the stories, played the Driedel game and ate the foods. Each class participated in creating big banners for each festival and we decorated the gym with them for the concert. I wrote a song "Lets shine a light on every corner of the world" and then each class performed Christmas songs from around the world as well as songs from the other cultures.
This way you can celebrate Christmas, but in the context of the world community.
I agree with Simply yes, we all NEED celebrations

Re: Xmas and culture
 

HI Jenniferp
I loved your photos, fantastic