Every year my gf and I spend a couple months in Thailand as English teachers. And every year we do something special for the last two weeks of school, we teach the students Starcraft. And they absolutely love it. I’ve been doing this for four years now and it has become a sort of end-of-school tradition. They go nuts when the time approaches and study extra extra hard so that they can be eligible to play. It’s funny how quickly they become addicted. Getting to play computer games with your friends, leading vast armies across virtual battlefields, and waging war with your teammates, any kid would eat that up. But this is especially the case for my students. They don't really have the opportunity. Computers are what rich families have and get to play. Computers are strangers to them and you can see it in their hesitant handling of mouse and keyboard. All of them scroll with the arrow keys, they ain't used to mouse scrolling. I’ve visited their homes for parent-teacher meet n' greets and none of them own computers. I’m sure because I would have seen it in their single-room homes (unless it was in the bathroom).
Anyways, I am just thankful for getting the chance to share a small part of my childhood growing up. You would have been happy to see them too. They are already crying about how strong Protoss units are and how weak Terran is (I haven’t taught them how to make tanks yet). We played 1v7 on Hunters and they giggled like hyenas, watching me knock out their friends one by one.
And holy shit do they learn fast. The most shocking thing I saw was a student’s base layout. Gateways and pylons laid out in perfect symmetry. Wtf. She was the only one while the rest were wondering why their dragoons were stuck behind buildings. She was at 150 supply while the others were hovering around 60. A little pipsqueak of a girl kicked everyone’s ass. Very interesting to see how complete newcomers to RTS and BW, play the game.
I also had to stop a kid from making Dark Templars, because detection is hard for elementary students playing their first multiplayer game. Students were asking, “Teacher Golgotha, why are my units blowing up???” And then you see a 40+ kill DT......that kid is going places.
I think the team aspect is what really draws them. Yelling for help, strategizing about who they should kill first, teaching each other how to play, and fighting alongside your team. Hearing them chatter during and after each match brought back memories of my BW lan sessions when I was a youngin’. Without fail, every year the students tell me how much fun the game is and that they can’t wait to play again. Even the students you would expect to absolutely hate the game or have zero interest whatsoever, surprise me and come up to beam about Brood War.
Thanks to Blizzard for making such an epic group experience. Next week will be a lot of fun for my students.
I have a request to ask TL. I’ve shown my students the Jaedong APM video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQRIxq_cJDE&t=42s) and the 2011 BW Starleague highlight video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjkctj71-aU) to blow their minds. Is there anything else I can show to shock and awe them even more? There are many highlight videos but most are potato quality. I'd appreciate your help and ideas, whatever to make them fall more in love with Starcraft.
On March 10 2018 01:14 fLyiNgDroNe wrote: So basically you go there and make poor kids broodwar addicts? That is brilliant! Did you ever receive a thank you letter from their parents?
lol
EDIT : This is really cool, I love the guide you made
On March 10 2018 01:04 ne4aJIb wrote: I remembered 2000, when we had first computer classes. There were Quake 2 installed and Starcraft. Good times.
Best thing about BW is LAN and any toaster can run it. Thank God.
On March 10 2018 01:14 fLyiNgDroNe wrote: So basically you go there and make poor kids broodwar addicts? That is brilliant! Did you ever receive a thank you letter from their parents?
haha yeah once a year we do this! but I am primarily an organizer/teacher who sets up English camps for disadvantaged children. I work with education majors and we set up English language learning events at schools. They will send me a letter in the future, after their kid becomes a pro BW player =)
On March 10 2018 02:54 ppp87 wrote: เสาไฟฟ้า is better for pylon, otherwise it might be a bit missleading.
Thanks man, yeah fai is a bit confusing for pylon.
On March 10 2018 02:35 bovienchien wrote: Thank you so much for you brought Starcraft to students Thailand. I am Vietnamese and I also want to develop Starcraft at my country.
You can! Kids just need the chance to try it out, they'll have a blast. Are you a teacher in Vietnam?
On March 10 2018 01:47 A.Alm wrote: Omg that looks like so much fun!
I showed them micro stuff like this but they don't really appreciate it yet. They don't know what micro is. They are very good at A-click attack though.
very cool. I love how your school permitted (or dont know) about this. I think this is a great alternative education. Incorporate math, geometry etc. So many educational opportunities! Btw, that elementary girl is better than me. I cant even get over 100 supply with 100 apm
I think the B.Net Attacks are a great way to combine both (or multiple) goals. Students learn StarCraft, learn about the magic of Korean Progamers, and they can find the errors in English in the subs! Here is Part 1 of FBH:
On March 10 2018 04:04 art_of_turtle wrote: Someone taking it as their personal responsibility to ensure the younger age learns strategy, multitasking, and creativity.
Those points are actually why I was allowed to do this. I showed the school director that this wasn't your typical mindless game. Thanks man.
On March 10 2018 05:08 Ty2 wrote: dude....By far you have to show them the July sauron zerg video. I'm pretty sure it was one of the first progamer vids I saw that fully convinced me Zerg was gonna be my race.
You should pause the video at this moment and tell them to pay close attention to the minimap and how July has several dozens of units set up. Seconds later you see all of the circles converging into one swarm. Even someone like me who didn't understand the intricacies of Brood War, on a purely visual level I could see the raw power of the zerg.
Dude, those are perfect. The students are going to love these. This is exactly what I was hoping for. Some historic matches from the pros. They love seeing big battles and gigantic armies fighting each other. Sauron Zerg is gonna make them want to play Zerg though. Now I gotta teach them Zerg =)
Haha yes, the close up of Jaedong's face is priceless. I watched this match live on TL, good times in that match thread. Seeing the pro players behind the game is very important in my opinion. I appreciate these Ty2.
On March 10 2018 04:48 iFU.pauline wrote: export the teaching of the "Great Wisdom" oversea.
Just like you always teach us.
On March 10 2018 07:47 fanatacist wrote: Golgotha you sexy beast. Doing the good work.
I think the B.Net Attacks are a great way to combine both (or multiple) goals. Students learn StarCraft, learn about the magic of Korean Progamers, and they can find the errors in English in the subs! Here is Part 1 of FBH:
These are great, even for me. I started watching pro Brood War very late, so you guys know a lot more about good games and BW history. Appreciate it! The GoRush vod is good because it shows the speed of the player and army management and nothing is more hype than Jangi's storms.
I'm at the school right now and I just showed my Thai teachers the help and support you guys have given. So on Monday and Tuesday, they're gonna let me teach the older kids (grade 5 and grade 6) for 3 hours straight. Extra time to watch all the videos ^^
and Jukado even sent me ally spawn maps! gonna have a grade 5 vs grade 6 tournament. they're hella competitive, there's definitely going to be some bad blood afterwards.
you guys are the best. The foreign BW community is legit.
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