Korean Job Discussion Forums

richardlang · Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Location: Gangnam

I will be teaching English to high schoolers in Korea. However, I have no idea what level of English they will have command over. Also, to be honest, I have only tutored English students but never started teaching grammar and English from the ground up.

I need help, forum members. I want to learn basic teaching skills and basic teaching methodologies.

I have about a month to teach myself whatever I can, as I will arrive in Korea in late February.

Questions:

1.) What level can I expect these high school students to be at? They are, I believe, 15 to 18 years of age.

2.) Today I ordered two books on teaching English that I believe will help me.

1) Learning Teaching (by Jim Scrivener)
2) Highway to E.S.L (by B.A., TESOL, Pinky Y. Dang, Psy.D, CELTA, Rik Ruiter)

3.) Can someone refer me to a post -- or share with me his/her own experience -- on high school students in Korea. I am sure they are just like American high school students, to be sure. However, I would like to know what kind of English knowledge content and grammar they may have.

I am certain this question has been asked, and I did use the search function on this forum. These are the two books that I found most heavily recommended, but I am sure that by posting I will find yet more books or proper advice on this recurring/perennial forum topic.

SuperFly · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Location: In the doghouse

I didn't read your whole post, in a hurry to get home....but this website (Look on the right towards the bottom) has a lot of good resources...she's a regular poster on this site I think...

Good luck!

http://esl-teaching-resources.blogspot.com/

richardlang · Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Location: Gangnam

Thanks.

I hope my high schoolers will be great fun.

lover.asian · Joined: 30 Jan 2006

Be sure to read "The English Verb" by Michael Lewis.

Then "Teaching Collocation", also by Michael Lewis, et al.

These two books should be mandatory reading by all ESL teachers.

tophatcat · Joined: 09 Aug 2006 Location: under the hat

What does being a virgin have to do with teaching hs English?

Hotpants · Joined: 27 Jan 2006

I've done a few H/S classes in Korea. As a generalization, I found that they are studying from text books which are way beyond their conversational level. Unless you have an elite class of students, don't expect them to be anything like a US high school class. Korean HS students will often sit and look disinterested and can't communicate beyond basic sentences ("TEE-CHAAAA!" they will often moan) - if they are not asleep on their desks from all the work they are doing (many are studying in the school until 10pm or beyond). They often don't show initiative in taking the lead with activities which can be a real drag. Again, this is a generalization, but it is not an easy class level to teach in my experience.

It may be an idea to prep yourself with some 'teen' resources such as music CDs and magazines and be up to date with who's hot in Korea if you have a chance of being in tune with this group.

richardlang · Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Location: Gangnam

tophatcat · Joined: 09 Aug 2006 Location: under the hat

Yes, I understood. A little humor helps get us through the bumps in the road from time to time. Don�t be too worried about not being prepared for your students. It seems as though you are concerned so you will adjust and do fine. After a few days in class you will have a better idea of what to do.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

One other important thing - don't rely on the Korean teachers for anything. If they provide useful assistance or advice, great, but be ready to handle 100% of things yourself if need be. Take the initiative with everything, but be very diplomatic with teachers who are older than you. Also, don't assume that at first the students understand what you're saying and doing just because you're new and everyone's following you at the beginning.

rothkowitz · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

HS can be a real drag,with a lot of students feeling resentful at being told what to do(you won't be seen as a real teacher,more like someone off the street)or deciding they can't be bothered and going back to sleep.

As far as I can make out,public school is of equal or lesser importance to their extra classes/lessons.

They want it to be "fun",the school will want you to be "active".Yet,where do you start from when the bulk of the class simply couldn't give a toss?

Some things will work ok,some will fizzle out after 5 minutes.Working with newspapers,karaoke,role-plays,presentations,games,skits etc.Keep it varied.

Quite frankly,don't expect too much even if you do notice they're reading a Poe short story for their test.

rothkowitz · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

OP,

I used "Learning Teaching" as part of my CELTA.Don't know about the other one.

I don't think it would help you much.The CELTA is for teaching self-motivated language students.After the novelty factor of having you has worn off you may well notice the honeymoon period is over.

I'd recommend activity- based books over theory-based books.

It's a useful book to have though.

I guess a lot will depend on your school?The type of HS and the amount of support and input you get from your co-teachers.I have 6,only 2 participate in any real way.