Korean Job Discussion Forums

oneofthesarahs · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Location: Sacheon City

I teach a variety of classes each day, ranging from hellish kindy kids to advanced middle school/high school students. But with one class I have run into a strange problem. They don't talk.....ever.

They are an advanced class. I'm bad at guessing ages, but I'm going to have to say they are all in the 13-14ish range. Once a week I teach out of a book called "Happy New Ear." It's all listening, and I'm only there to read stuff for them to dictate. Judging from their dictation work, and the few conversations I've had with them, their English is quite good. But they sit virtually silent in class. Even if we finish early and I tell them that they can have free talking time they sit there silently, with maybe a whisper or two. I ask them questions, and they answer in the shortest way humanly possible. The silence is almost creepy. It's like Children of the Corn.

How can I get them to open up and talk? It's not like I'm particularly frightening as a human being. But I also can't amuse them with silly antics like other younger classes, because they are too old for that kind of thing. I would just like to see them smiling and laughing occasionally! Any suggestions??

rothkowitz · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

Beat,rinse,repeat.

ChopChaeJoe · Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul

Make them talk even if you have to use whips.

Junior · Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Location: the eye

~Another reason i don't teach teenagers. Too worried about looking cool..

plokiju · Joined: 15 Mar 2005

I don't think there's an easy answer. I had the same problem in a few of my classes. Only really bad in one though. I'd just end up telling them stories or something, well more just me talking to them about random things. It might help them see you as a person or something, I don't know. I thought it was better than really awkward silence while everyone just waited for the bell to ring.

You could try asking them broader questions and delve into their answers a bit more with a lot of 'why' type questions. I was supposed to use a newspaper with that class of mine but middle school kids don't care about the news. I'd have to find obscure articles about music downloading or something. My most frustrating class really.

You can really only try to ask them lots and lots questions and try to find something that interests them. They won't talk to you unless you force them.

Guess4me · Joined: 02 Dec 2006

Try icebreakers (tons on the Internet) or assign 5 minute roleplays. If they are advanced, they should be able to think of some interesting ones.

Dan The Chainsawman · Joined: 05 May 2005

I have classes like that.. I make them all stand up and no one sits until questions are either asked or answered. Despite their tendency to be quiet, Korean students, are lazy as hell and don't want to stand for to long. Just don't let them sit till they ask or answer a question. Turn it into a minicoversation. Try to get them to speak at least once a class and then expand on that to something more significant. The chances of you engaging in free and open conversation with them is not likely, but at least they will get the point and open their traps and say something when asked a question.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

I've had a good number of classes like that. I have one or two really quiet classes now as well. One is a writing class, so that's not so bad. The five students all attend different schools, 4 first year middle school studentst and one elementary grade 6 student. I think it's just that they are strangers that they are so quiet, but also they all seem to have quiet personalities. The only time they speak are short answers or when I tell them to read aloud what they wrote.

Another class is not so quiet but generally dislike speaking English. They'll gladly babble away in Korean. The problem is that we are doing the Beginning level IBT Toefl book in Speaking, and it is quite hard for them. It's frustrating the material is really too hard for them though they seem to know a lot of vocabulary. So they can read at a level way higher than they can speak. Even basic questions can stump them in listening or speaking. One girl is extremely shy and it's a bit painful for her to even be there. She is the same age as the others but does not even talk to them in Korean. Her face tends to be red from social embarrassment, and I feel a bit sad that she doesn't seem like she has a happy life (even though she is pretty). She'll read aloud but asking her a question directly is a trial for her.

Generally I prefer the quiet classes to the noisemakers. At least quiet students are likely to pay attention when you write on the board or explain something, and you don't get as stressed or get headaches from them.

One suggestion: If they write first then you can ask them to read it aloud. You could even ask other students to retell what one students said in their own words (paraphrase, that is.) When you read something, you can ask students directly by name questions about the reading. Sometimes you got to force it and try to make it seem like it's worth their while to speak English.

Fat_Elvis · Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Location: In the ghetto

Hmm, I've had experiences like that. I guess the first thing is look at what you're doing. You can't just say "Now, speak!" and have them start conversing in English. Try integrating the discussion topic into what you've been teaching. Putting them in small groups to talk about set topics also works well becuase then they overcome that fear of speaking in front of the whole class. I've also tried getting my students to write sentences then share them in groups and expand upon them, which helps them build confidence.

Also, lecture them every day about the importance of developing speaking skills. They know their speaking is bad and they are perhaps too lazy or afraid of failure to do something about it. Marking them on speaking is a good way of giving an incentive to students. Give them some topics to talk about in groups and then mark them simply on participation and whether they are using English. Don't allow Korean to be spoken in class but make a little joke out of it when they do.

mrd · Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Location: fluorescent-filled paradise

I have a class just like the one you were describing above. I'm teaching them godly boring TEFOL material, and they are smart, just not into what we're doing. They are also a new class of mine, so there was the initial "who is this new teacher lets be quiet" thing happening.

So I decided not to open the book again until they were familar with me and having fun in class. I've done three things: first, I brought in monopoly for our two hour classes. They seem to like it, and when they speak Korean (I'm the banker) I take away $100 from them. It really seems to work in getting them to speak English.

I've also brought in a travel Scrabble game. They like this too. I have them work in pairs so they can come up with words easier. This game really illustrates the brillant kids, I can't believe some of the words they can come up with! When they put a word down, the they have to use it in a sentance in order to get the points. It works too, I see them smiling and having fun, and compared to the boredom before, its a great change.

Lastly, during our regular classes, I bring in baloons. It sounds funny, but it really works. If I ask someone a question and they are taking their time answering, I start to blow up a baloon, tie it, and wave it around... pretending I'm going to pop it. They freak out! "Don't pop it!!" etc. Until you do, its so loud, they'll do anything to stop you from popping another one, even speaking English. Plus, its kinda fun to do that in class.

Hope that helps!