Learning from Seniors

[Anchor Lead]

With so many married couples working these days, parents have little time to teach their children at home. Nowadays, children have the option to visit senior citizens to learn about etiquette and traditions.

[Pkg]

Elementary school pupils learn how to greet people in a traditional way.

[Soundbite] "Boys should put their left hand on top. Take your hands off your tummy."

They are taught by ordinary elderly people at a senior citizens' hall instead of a classroom. The children play with traditional bean pouches to a children's song...

[Soundbite] "Let's only raise it until it's two years old."

...and learn how to play traditional games, such as cat's cradle and the game of "gonggi." This class was organized by the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education for the first time in the nation for elementary school students in cooperation with a local senior citizens' hall.

[Soundbite] Ji Young-jin(Elementary School Student) : "Learning how to say "Hello" and family relations was a bit boring, but playing with the elderly people was fun."

The elderly residents, who didn't have much to do before, now can provide their services to the younger generation.

[Soundbite] Woo Byung-chul(Instructor) : "You have to be able to speak well to teach children. It's an opportunity for me to learn. Playing with children is also very invigorating."

The Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education plans to provide the senior residents with professional training to improve the quality of classes.