Korean Job Discussion Forums

[inverse_narcissus]

Hullo...

Does anyone have general (or any kind of) tips to offer for a conversation class? I've been winging it with my after-school class for a couple of weeks now and would like to put a bit more structure in place, and have the students converse more in class. Not sure how to do it, though....

Thanks in advance,
i_n

[ddeubel]

You know what one of the easiest and best working things I've ever done in this regard is? something simple, much more simple than giving them conversation questions to ask each other about a theme or topic. Far better than socratic questioning or using video or pictures to get them talking about some theme.....

Simply, topic cards.

What I mean is that I have about a hundred cards with topics....a student turns over the "Tell Us About" card and has to say one thing about what is written on the card. The other students say, "tell us about.....(your first love). They say one thing and then each student has to ask one further question....Who What where when why how...keep these on the board as guidance. Then on to the next person.

Afterwards, share what has been found out......each student has to say one thing they learnt about the others. SO much talking with this....

Also works in the same way with small flashcards/pics (I use a pile from communication games). Student turns one over and the students ask, "when was the last time you.....ed?" The person states the truth and then the others ask 2 more follow up questions...

This works wonders...small groups so they speak a lot... also helps with forming questions.

DD

[Colorado]

Great advice, as usual, DD.

Something I did for conversation class last year was assign students to watch the news or read a newspaper and then report on a news item, Other students must ask questions about it.
It could be hard news, movie star gossip, sports, weather, anything.

[butlerian]

[Colorado]

check this out. Conversation topics using a deck of playing cards.

http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/lessons/index.pl?noframes;read=1275

[ddeubel]

[ddeubel]

Just adding....

I did a search and nothing much out there. The card game looks okay but really not teacher friendly.

Guess like so much, I'll have to do it MY WAY......

I'll look for my cards tomorrow and put them into a computer, printer friendly format for others. I'll somehow find the time. Like Umberto said once before, "time is inifinitely compressible." or like our old adage, "if you want something done, give it to someone who is busy...." Sometimes, you just gotta do....don't think, do....

DD

[Qinella]

What level are the students? And how big is the class?

If the class is lively enough, you can do a debate topic. But it needs to be something lighthearted, like whether or not students should be paid for attending school. However, if the class makeup is wrong, it could end up being terrible for the slower or shyer students.

Start a story. Stop somewhere and the next person has to continue. They stop when they want, next person continues, and so forth. Don't pressure them to go for too long. Just whatever they're comfortable with.

[butlerian]

[ddeubel]

I also do the "finish the sentence" cards game. I have a set of many cards. Student flips it up and has to finish it. All other students in the group also have to finish it, in a different way.....gets easier as it goes from student to student.

this is really good, it models but still asks the students to add their own personal content and values into the production. Plus, they memorize the basic building blocks of language, semantic laden phrases (not sounds, morphemes or any such nonsense the pros will tell you...argggggh..).

The cards go from easy to finish like, "I like .........the best. " to most difficult like , " I would ________ if I didn't have to ________" Teacher roams and monitors and smiles and drinks coffee.... Takes time to make the cards but once you have a set, they last forever....

DD