Wednesday, July 26, 2006

On the nature of the english camp

From the Korea Times:

"The number of students joining English camp programs during the summer vacation this year surpassed 90,000, up 135 percent from last year."

Now if I were a sociologist, or cultural anthropologist, or a member of any number of academic discourse communities, I'd consider this news evidence of overt cultural imperialism. After all, these camps offer training at the "Bank of America" and "Holiday [insert e.g. Flag Day, Thanksgiving] sing-along chorale."

But I am a mere language teacher, happy in my role as miniscule imperial adjuvant. O who will help me to carry the heavy burden of the White Man?