Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mrsquirrel]

It's sitting looking back at me from my timetable.

teachers Thurdsay 3:20.

I have asked about it. Teachers want to learn English. Not sure what teachers or what level but the smile suggested pretty much a mixed bunch.

What the hell do you teach teachers? I have avoided this like the plague in my last job. I always found that snarling at them kept them away but in this nice new one with a nice new desk and really nice people (so far) I need to think of what to do with them.

Any suggestions.

Do they attend regularly or does their interest wear off after a few weeks?

[butlerian]

I'm much happier having teaching teachers as part of my contracted hours than having to teach children all of the time. At least with teachers you can have a chat and it's unlikely to be taken too seriously. Just get a conversation book (Jazz English) or, if they're generally of a lower level, try a textbook like Interchange. Some teachers are bound to disappear after a week or two once they find that their level is way above or below the mean of the class, and so then it'll get much easier.

[mrsquirrel]

I will have to dig through my computer and see what books I have.

I much prefer teaching kids to adults. Particularly teenagers. I maybe the only one I know of though.

[Pak Yu Man]

I'm the opposite. After a couple of years at a high school I can say I don't like teenagers.

Adults and kids are fine, but I wouldn't want to do one or the other all the time.

Low level-use a book
More advanced-get them to bring in interesting stuff.
You can start with the FTA and what's good or bad about it.

I have a uni class like that. Every week a different student is supposed to email with a topic for next weeks conversation class. It's worked so far (once).

[butlerian]

[Scouse Mouse]

I'm in a similar position and I am looking forward to the challenge. I am pretty lucky because the teachers adn administrators at my school have a pretty good grasp of the language and they seem to just want to spend time conversing with a native. One of the people who has signed up speaks as well as I do, and I honestly don't think she can gain much from any class other than the conversational practice. I have around 10 people interested so far, and most of them can hold down a good conversation 1-to-1 so I expect the classes should be pretty informal and good fun.

For the first session I am going to give them a simple questionairre asking them to grade their reading/listening/conversation skills so that I can get a better idea of where the average for the class lies. The questionairre will be anonymous so that they don't feel that they could embarrass themselves with honest answers. I will then do an ice-breaker so that I can get a way to remember them and judge for myself where the class are at. I will probably also spend some time having fun wit an introduction to Konglish...

Lesson 2 I will plan based on the answers they give and the observations I make, but my ultimate goal would be to have an open discussion forum where people talk about current affairs. If they really get stuck in I may plan a debate session every month and allow them to do all the talking whilst I just sit back and monitor, providing feedback where necessary.