Korean Job Discussion Forums

[happygirl]

"What is your name?"

"What.... is..... your.... name?"

"What.... is..... your.... name?"
Moreuyao (SP?)

Yes, these are University students. Not elementary, middle or high school students. Yes, these are credit classes. There are quite a few students(more than 10%) in two different classes who have zero comprehension. I can only go so slowly. A specific number of chapters must be completed prior to the exam. The students who do understand are getting frustrated. Any ideas?

[Sine qua non]

[ChuckECheese]

Show them western porno movies. That'll get them excited about learning Englishee.

[babtangee]

Give them some coloring in alphabet sheets and ignore them.

[happygirl]

Come on guys. I'm being serious. I was almost ready to cry today I was so frustrated. I am not angry with the students. I AM upset with the educators that could put these students in this position.

These kids were so embarrassed.... I know what it's like not to understand a word someone is saying to you. You want to either melt into the ground or slap someone.

How can a student complete high school, pass their exams and be admitted into a UNIVERSITY and not have been taught or comprehend the most basic English sentences? Many of them couldn't tell me their student numbers in English. In Korean yes. In English no. zero, one, six, four?

[SuperHero]

The only students I have that poor are my chinese exchange students. If they attend class and try, I give them a C just for trying. I can't slow down the class for them when I've got 24 other students who can do the material.

You could try preparing two lessons. One you teach to the whole class and the other you give to your weaker students and have them do in class. Worksheets etc... it's more work, but the students would probably love you. I haven't tried this, but it was recommend to me by a colleague.

[goodgood]

[gsxr750r]

[ChopChaeJoe]

Shouldn't they have been taught English all through high school, if not middle school and possibly even earlier?

Wha happened? Just tell them, "You screwed up, jack," and fail them.

[happygirl]

[Hanson]

happygirl,

If you work where I think you work, pay the prerequisites of the program (certain number of units/chapters before the exams) no mind. Go in there and do stuff that is more of their level. Giving them a worksheet they can do in groups works well - it keeps them busy, the better students can help the worse ones along, and everyone has made an effort to learn something new.

I would go so far as to have the better students stay behind one day and make them an offer: If they help out the weaker students, they will get an automatic A grade. You (the teacher) know they will get the A anyway, but this way they feel like they want to help you (by helping the weaker students).

I wouldn't advise that you give them an easier/different activity to do as that would mean a loss of face.

Hope this helps.

[gsxr750r]

The toughy is when the schools insist the students need to learn from uni-level books, despite not knowing a thing... went through that fiasco at a public school (private, actually) once.

A good bet is to have them learn some of the top 100 English verbs, and how to use them in past, present, present continuous, and future/future with going to. Side By Side 2 and 3 can be a useful tool here. Works for my lowest-level uni students.

[happygirl]

Thanks Hansen. I appreciate you taking my question seriously and offering a potentially workable solution. Have a great week.

[Pak Yu Man]

You want annoying? I have two conversation electives.
Most of the students (all but 3) are advanced speakers. They are interested in learning and want to be there. Two of them are low level and one student didn't know how to answer "How old are you?"

I'm not teaching the middle of the class. If these guys were too dumb to figure out how difficult the call was going to be (to them) they can drop out or fail

[Vicissitude]