THINKING ALOUD: CAN ART BE DIVIDED BY GEOGRAPHY?

 

 

During the Covid pandemic, a friend suggested I watch my first Korean drama. I accepted almost out of curiosity, with no idea that one recommendation would open the door to an entirely new cultural world. One series led to another, then to Korean cinema, Korean literature and, eventually, to BTS.

Around the same time, I discovered that Michela Murgia—whose work and public voice I deeply admired—shared the same passion for Korea, K-dramas and BTS. Listening to her speak about K-pop changed something in me. She argued that a genuine passion is never superficial: if it drives us to learn, to understand and to explore, it becomes an act of knowledge. Those words stayed with me. They gave me permission to stop apologising for my curiosity.

Yesterday's news brought them back to mind.

BOOKS & MORE BOOKS - THE VEGETARIAN BY HAN KANG: THE IMPOSSIBLE ESCAPE

 

Some novels leave us with a clear opinion.

Others leave us disturbed, fascinated and uncertain about what, exactly, we have just experienced.

The Vegetarian belongs to the second category.

BOOK & MORE BOOKS: INTERMEZZO BY SALLY ROONEY, THE QUIET MIRACLE OF LITERATURE

 

There are writers we admire from the very first novel we read. And then there are those rare moments when, after following their work for years, we realise they have reached a new stage in their artistic journey.

That was my experience with Intermezzo.

I have read all of Sally Rooney's novels. Normal People introduced me to a voice that felt fresh, intelligent and emotionally honest. I enjoyed Conversations with Friends and Beautiful World, Where Are You, but neither quite recreated that exhilarating sense of discovery.

Intermezzo did.

TEACHING IN THE AI ERA: 10 TIPS FOR TEACHERS WHO WANT STUDENTS TO REALLY LEARN

 

 

When ChatGPT and other AI tools became widely available, many teachers wondered whether homework had suddenly become pointless.

If a chatbot can write an essay, answer comprehension questions, solve grammar exercises and even analyse a poem in seconds, what is left for students to do?

Rather than asking how we can prevent students from using AI, perhaps we should ask a different question:

How can we design learning that students cannot outsource?

After experimenting in my own classroom, I have come to believe that AI has not made teaching impossible. It has simply forced us to rethink some of our habits.

Here are a few ideas that may help.

WHY SCROLLING ISN'T ENOUGH: WHAT READING BOOKS DOES FOR THE BRAIN

 

Reading vs scrolling

A few weeks ago, I conducted a simple survey among my teenage students about their reading habits. The results surprised me—and, to be honest, worried me.

Among fifteen students, only one student reported reading books regularly. Just one.

Most of the others told me that they "read online": social media posts, websites, chats, news snippets, or content recommended by algorithms. While this certainly involves reading in a broad sense, it is very different from the sustained, focused reading that books require.

Their responses prompted me to dedicate a couple of lessons to a topic that has been receiving increasing attention from educators, researchers, and parents alike: the reading crisis among children and young people. Together, we explored videos, podcasts, articles, and studies examining the decline in book reading and its possible consequences for learning, thinking and personal development.

The more we discussed the issue, the more I realised that this is not simply a question of whether young people enjoy reading. It raises deeper questions about attention, language, empathy, critical thinking, creativity  and even how our brains develop.

The reflections that follow emerged from those classroom discussions and from the research we examined together. They are not intended as an attack on technology or digital media. Rather, they are an invitation to consider what books offer that scrolling alone cannot.

BEYOND THE PAGES: 5 JULY K-DRAMAS WITH STORIES THAT MATTER

Hello, FLY HIGH readers! 🪁

If you’ve been following my recent journeys here, you know how much comfort I find in the pages of healing fiction like Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, or in the profound psychological wisdom of Korean literature. Last month, I shared how JTBC's We Are All Trying Here -which I saw on Netflix - looked directly into my soul. It reminded me once again that TV drama, at its best, can be just as deeply human and moving as a great novel.

With July officially underway, a brand-new roster of Korean storytelling is arriving on our screens. While I don't post about TV lineups often,  a few upcoming releases caught my eye and I want to share them with you all.

DIGITAL ADDICTION: WHY TEACHING AWARENESS MATTERS MORE THAN PROHIBITION

This past school year, I worked with my students on two texts dealing with social media, digital addiction, algorithms and the growing concern about the effects of excessive screen time on young people.

The topic immediately generated lively discussion. Almost every student recognised some of the behaviours described in the texts: checking notifications repeatedly, opening social media apps without a specific reason, losing track of time while scrolling, or feeling the need to stay constantly connected.

As teachers and parents, we often hear alarming messages about social media. We are told that young people spend too much time online, that platforms are addictive and that digital technologies are damaging attention spans and mental health. Some governments have started discussing  or even passed  age restrictions and bans.

Yet I have become increasingly convinced that prohibition alone is not the answer.

What young people need most is awareness.

BOOKS & MORE BOOKS - DAYS AT THE MORISAKI BOOKSHOP: FINDING HOME AMONG BOOKS

Some books arrive not with a bang but with the gentle rustle of turning pages. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa is one of them.

Set in Jimbocho, Tokyo's famous book district, this charming little novel tells the story of Takako, a young woman whose life is thrown off course when her boyfriend unexpectedly leaves her for another woman. Adrift and uncertain about her future, she reluctantly accepts an invitation from her eccentric uncle Satoru to move into the small room above the family's second-hand bookshop.

GROWING UP IN AN AGE THAT FEARS ADULTHOOD

 

 

As a teacher, the end of the school year always brings the buzz of the Esame di Maturità. While I wasn’t directly involved in the exam commissions this year, I couldn't resist checking the exam papers assigned on the first day for the Italian essay. Among the several different options available to the students, the B3 task immediately caught my eye.

Ironically, I found myself thinking that the prompt—centered on the boundaries of maturity—was actually far more suitable for an adult to reflect on than a teenager! Yet, if I had been sitting at one of those desks taking the exam myself, that is absolutely the task I would have chosen. The prompt was based on Frank Furedi's book I confini contano (Boundaries Matter), which references Julie Beck's article in The Atlantic, "When Are You Really an Adult?", to show how contemporary culture portrays adulthood as a nuisance where independence becomes loneliness and responsibility turns into stress.

KDRAMA REVIEW: WE ARE ALL TRYING HERE

 

 

Some dramas entertain you. Some make you cry. And then, once in a blue moon, a drama comes along that seems to look directly into your soul.

We Are All Trying Here is one of those rare experiences.

Heart-wrenching, healing, hilarious, and profoundly human, JTBC's latest drama explores a simple but painful truth: everyone is fighting battles we cannot see. Its Korean title translates roughly to "Everyone Is Fighting Their Own Worthlessness," and that theme runs through every moment of the series.

BOOKS & MORE BOOKS: IF YOU LIVE TO 100, YOU MIGHT AS WELL BE HAPPY

 

"Life is a story that deserves to be read until the very last page. No one knows what the universe has in store for us. Happiness can be found in the most unexpected corners of everyday life."

Some books arrive in our lives exactly when we need them. I believe this was one of them.

I did not read If You Live to 100, You Might As Well Be Happy by Rhee Kun Hoo quickly. It was a book to be sipped slowly, one chapter at a time, allowing its reflections to settle in my mind.

I am at a stage of life that often leaves me restless. Time seems to have accelerated beyond measure. Retirement, once a distant concept, is slowly approaching. I find myself confronting the uncomfortable realization that I am no longer young and wondering what lies ahead. When a friend handed me this book after reading it herself, she must have sensed that I needed its wisdom.

WHEN SUMMER ENDS ... AND A NEW DREAM BEGINS

 

There are some posts that almost write themselves.

This is one of them.

Those of you who have been following Fly High for a while know that I write about many things that make life richer: books, travel, languages, beautiful places, inspiring people... and music.

BOOKS & MORE BOOKS: GREEK LESSONS BY HAN KANG

 

In the wake of her acclaimed work, The Vegetarian, Han Kang delivers another powerful novel, Greek Lessons, hailed as the Book of the Year 2023 by The New Yorker, TIME magazine, and Kirkus. This poignant tale explores the redemptive power of language and human connection.

Set in a classroom in Seoul, Greek Lessons follows the story of a young woman who has lost her voice, metaphorically and literally. As she watches her Greek language teacher at the blackboard, she grapples with the silence that surrounds her. Her teacher, gradually losing his sight, finds himself drawn to her enigmatic presence.

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF ITALO CALVINO: FINDING LIGHTNESS IN THE INFERNO

 

This year marks the centennial celebration of the remarkable Italian writer Italo Calvino. As an Italian and a devoted reader of his works, I find myself compelled to share the profound impact that his words and ideas have had on me. While my blog, FLY HIGH, primarily caters to an English-speaking audience, including many Americans and native English speakers, the universal themes in Calvino's literature make this tribute a perfect opportunity to engage with an international audience.

DISCOVERING THE HEALING POWER OF KDRAMAS: MY PERSONAL JOURNEY

 Today, I want to take you on a journey through the captivating world of Korean dramas and share how they became my ultimate source of joy, inspiration, and personal growth during the challenging days of the Covid-19 era and after.

USEFUL OR USELESS KNOWLEDGE: A DEBATE ON EDUCATION

Should schools primarily teach practical, useful skills for the real world, or is there value in cultivating knowledge that some might consider as useless? Recently, I had a thought-provoking discussion with my students on this very topic, and I shared a compelling quote by philosopher Agnes Heller with them: "If someone were to ask me, as a philosopher, what one should learn in high school, I would answer: first of all, only useless things - ancient Greek, Latin, pure mathematics, and philosophy. Everything that is useless in life. The beauty is that in this way, at the age of 18, you have a baggage of useless knowledge with which you can do anything. While with useful knowledge, you can only do small things." In this blog post, I’d like to point out the key moments of our debate about useless versus useful knowledge, exploring the merits of both sides while ultimately standing alongside Agnes Heller's perspective.

WHY I CONTINUE TO CHERISH TEACHING: A TEACHER'S REFLECTION

Teaching, undoubtedly one of the most demanding professions, is often associated with burnout and health concerns. While I acknowledge the inherent stress that comes with the job, I can't help but wonder why I still hold such a deep love for it, even as retirement approaches, casting a shadow over my career. Admittedly, I'm aware that my days of being as effective and active as required to engage with energetic teenage students are numbered. However, instead of succumbing to sadness about the inevitable transition, I'm working on embracing this new phase of life with acceptance. Here's why I still adore my teaching profession...

BOOKS & MORE BOOKS - THE BURNOUT SOCIETY BY BYUNG-CHUL HAN

 

I wanted to kick off this blog post by sharing a little personal journey I embarked on during my summer holidays. You see, recently I've had a deep fascination with philosophy, especially the profound insights that Asian philosophy offers. So, this summer, instead of hitting the typical beach reads, I dived headfirst into a few thought-provoking books and even enrolled in an intriguing online course.

And let me tell you, it was nothing short of mind-blowing! These philosophical adventures turned out to be not only thought-provoking but also immensely motivational and, dare I say it, life-changing. One particular book, "The Burnout Society" by Byung-Chul Han, left such an impact that I just had to share my reflections with you. So, buckle up, because we're about to delve into a world of ideas that might just transform the way you see the world too. Here's my review, I hope you'll find it interesting and enjoy reading it.

Unmasking the Strains of Modern Life

In an era characterized by ceaseless connectivity, rapid technological advancements, and the relentless pursuit of productivity, Byung-Chul Han's groundbreaking essay, "The Burnout Society," emerges as a poignant exploration of the contemporary individual's struggle to cope with the demands of late-modern society. Han's work delves deep into the core of our hyperactive, performance-driven culture, shedding light on the distressing consequences of living in a world that celebrates positivity and convenience at the cost of genuine human experience.

THE TIMELESS ALLURE OF COSTUME DRAMAS: WHY THEY REMAIN POPULAR

 

Rose Williams as Charlotte Heywood in Sanditon season 3, based on Jane Austen' s unfinished novel

In a world filled with modern technological marvels and fast-paced storytelling, it may seem surprising that costume dramas, period dramas, and historical dramas continue to captivate audiences. Shows like Bridgerton, Peaky Blinders, Downton Abbey, Outlander, The Gilded Age and adaptations of Jane Austen's novels transport viewers to bygone eras, providing a glimpse into the past. Yet, these productions are far from relics; they are thriving in the age of streaming services and digital entertainment. So, what is it about these narratives that continues to draw us in? Let's explore the enduring appeal of costume dramas and why they remain relevant and popular today.

THE KOREAN WAVE: AN AUTHENTIC FUSION OF TRADITION AND MODERNITY

 

I recently had the privilege of taking an online course on Korean philosophy, and I must say it was a truly enlightening experience. This course, rooted in the rich cultural tapestry of Korea, delves deep into concepts that resonate with anyone seeking a new perspective on life.

One of the most captivating aspects of this course was the exploration of the "Korean Matrix." It's a concept that beautifully illustrates how Korea has absorbed and transformed external influences, crafting a cultural identity that is uniquely Korean. Understanding this process allowed me to appreciate the depth and authenticity of Korean thought. What follows is my final assignment, an article which had to combine present-day culture and the aspects of philosophy we considered as the most interesting in the course.