This has led us to a little online research and here are a few links that we found:
South Korea has one of world's highest smoking rates. (2014 July 20) http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/attractive-smoking-ads/1271548.html
South Korea's War on Tobacco (2014 Oct 8)
http://thediplomat.com/2014/10/south-koreas-war-on-tobacco/
South Korea No Longer a Smoker’s Haven 2014 Aug 7
http://thediplomat.com/2014/08/south-korea-no-longer-a-smokers-haven/
Almost all of the articles above puts Korea in a place where smoking is quite a problem. I guess they haven't been to the Ph. Nonetheless, it is in comparison with other OECD countries. With the latest improvement in national laws, this can be remedied soon I hope.
Going back to the homework, I found out that my son's writing skills really need a lot of help. Book review has been covered but we seem to be in unchartered territory in terms of essay. I'm not sure if it was taught in school up to third grade that he stayed in Ph or during the first semester that he has attended here. If it's in English, I really don't think they have covered it here. As for the Ph setting, at least the basics of paragraphs like unity, coherence and the likes would have been covered at least a bit in the second or third grade.
Teacher Mom has to step in right now. I've already prepared for the book review part but I have yet to prepare the basics of writing. Basic writing would cover writing paragraphs, basic research skills needed for writing, and common writing task like essays, book reviews, book reports. Target date would be for the one month winter break.
More sources on preventing smoking:
Preventing the uptake of
smoking in young people
http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/crd/EHC/ehc55.pdf
SMOKE-FREE LAWS ENCOURAGE SMOKERS TO QUIT
AND DISCOURAGE YOUTH FROM STARTING
http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0198.pdf
New Zealand site
http://www.smokefreetoolkit.org.nz/getting-started/preventing-smoking
As for writing resources:
(essay)
1. http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/homework-and-study/english/english-tips/writing-essays
It has a great video on essay writing.
2. http://www.kidslearningpro.com/essays-for-kids/
