Well, we read a newspaper in our older level classes called "The Junior Herald." It's a newspaper written by Korean high school students with very high English proficiency. This past week there was an article about Britney Spears in it and the students wanted to read it, obviously. The journalist wrote about Britney's lastest custody fisasco and drinking problems and I saw this as a prime opportunity to teach my students about American pop culture, the paparazzi, and Hollywood stars who are on a downward spiral. I also saw it as an opportunity to teach them that acting in immorale ways can cause self-destruction. Most Korean students love a lot of American pop idols and listen to some of their music. My students loved to take a break from the usual political and current event articles they were reading to read something that interested them. I thought I would be able to work a fun activity into the mix as well.
I made a worksheet with vocabulary and opinion-based questions and on the back, I gave the students a chance to write a letter to Britney. Most of the teachers here all thought it would be cool to make a little booklet of the letters afterwards. We can bring it home and show you guys how once in a while, North American culture is stirred into the mix of our teaching and it can be a relaxing and fun topic. I started each letter out for them, having typed:
Dear Britney Spears,
I am a middle school student in South Korea and we recently read a newspaper article about you in our class. I know you have been going through some problems lately.
I left lines for the students to fill up with their own advice to Britney and was anxiously awaiting their responses. I thought I would share some of the cute, hilarious and insightful reach-outs to Britney with you. I am leaving them in their original form, so many times the sentence structure and spelling is incorrect, but I think that makes them even cuter. So, there goes:
As all of the letters start.....
Dear Britney Spears,
I am a middle school student in South Korea and we recently read a newspaper article about you in our class. I know you have been going through some problems lately:
"I think you should relax. Why are you change so much? Come down. I love your Christmas carol and I hope that you make more sings. Take care.
From Judy"
.....
"Why are you so erratic? You are similar with me. I'm erratic too."
......
"Hello Britney, my name is Kristi. I think you did bad thing very much, like drinking and smoking. But I know you as a famous pop-star and singing very well, but you still did bad thing! Then you will be not popular anymore. You should stopping drinking, and taking music video. So, you became good girl again. I love your song (Like, My Only Wish This Year, Toxic) I wish you became good girl again. Please Britney! Good bye.
From Kristi"
.......
"I think you didn't care about your kids. GO to play, drink and do strangely. You don't have right to protect them. Just give up and live alone. It's good to all.
From: Lee Young Ryul"
.....
"You are a famous pop star and our idol. But you are so tired and hard. We want you take some rest for you. I think you need your own privacy but paparazzi makes you tired. I want you back again teenagers' idol!
From Vicky"
........
One of my favourites:
"I'm your big fan since when I was elementary student. 3 years ago, whem you visited Korea, you was so kind and wore our traditional clothe too. Unlike other Hollywood stars. That was attracted me and I love your songs too. But I know that you changed now. You drinking a lot, play with Paris Hilton, divorced. I think that's not your fault.All of the enviroment makes you crazy. So I always supporting you with my heart. And I believe you can up to grace again. Cheer up! Britney Spears! For your children!
From: Lee Jae Joon"
.........
"First, I think you have to stop much drinking and taking drug. Recently, your behavior is really strange. Most of Korean teens know your problems and many of them are love your songs. Please stop your strange behavior and come back to popstar!
From Juliet"
...........
"I just think you are very poor. Some people think you have everything. But I don't think. You can't have anything. My favorite song is "Piece of Me." I know it's your lately album and lyric about you. Everyone want to know about your privacy. Song "Piece of Me" is very sad. But, I think you can do everything again! You just stop drug and drinking and start again singing and dancing. If you do like before on any people will like you again and you can protect your children! You can fo everything again! Good luck!
From Regina"
_______________________________________________________
All the letters ended with the students signing:
"From: _____(name)_____
Seoul, South Korea"
So, it is fun to do activites like that every once in a while. Lately, I have also started Pen Pal letters again with my students, which I started when I got here, and our friend Leah had already been doing it with her friend's students in Arizona. I do it with my step brother's class in Florida and this summer I did it with his simmer camp. The students are really excited and all brought adorable stationary, stickers, and markers to class for the first letters written. I have done some other fun things, like creative stories, class newspapers, Hallowe'en masks and Christmas paper chains. It can be a lot of fun! I feel like sometimes the students don't get to express their creativity as much as they should.
That's it from me! We head to China tomorrow and cleaned up an oil spill tis weekend, so I-Dawg and I will have alot more to blog about coming up! Happy Lunar New Year! :)
PS Sorry if the spelling is bad on this post! The spell check isn't working and I wrote it rather quickly!
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