Adventures in Teaching: Children are Gullible!

I teach an English class where the kids are pretty low level. The focus of the class is a short reading passage (3-5 pages) and several activities that go along with the reading. The kids have to answer questions (verbal and written), write a summary, do vocabulary exercises, etc. Currently, we are reading chapters in a book called Unsolved Science Mysteries. The unsolved science mystery that we read about today is whether humans are alone in the universe or not.

During class, I told the kids that humans are not alone and that I had proof of it. They were skeptical but, I told them that I had Korean government approved proof that aliens exist. That got their attention. I then told them that I was an alien and I could prove it. They were skeptical but, asked to see the proof. I showed them my Alien Registration card.



One student, Sue, said that I made the card myself. I told her to look at the card. I pointed out the government seals and such and she declared the card real. The younger kids began to get nervous. One little girl, Kelly, started to stare at me with giant, round eyes. Kelly then whispered "I thought you were American..." I just smiled at her. One boy, Jihoon, was super excited by the news. He couldn't wait to go home and tell his parents.

It was really funny to see the kids so confused. The younger ones (3rd and 4th grade) were very nervous and starting to get a little scared. The older ones (5th and 6th grade) were excited and eager to figure it out. I decided to end it because Kelly and Michael (3rd graders) looked like they might cry or run out of the room. So, I gave Sue (a 6th grader) an English/Korean dictionary and told her to look up the word "alien." I told her the definition would solve the mystery.

Sue eagerly flipped to the definition and started to read it. All of a sudden, she yelled out "Oegug-ui!!! You are oegug-ui!" (Korean for foreign.) I told her yes and then we talked about the two definitions of alien. The kids thought it was hilarious that I was an alien in Korea. Now, Jihoon wants to come to the US so that he can be an alien too.

Anyone else want to come to Korea and be an alien with me?