Korean Job Discussion Forums

Jizzo T. Clown · Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Location: at my wit's end

I've read posts from teachers who said they don't allow it at all. This is not an option in my class, because if I tried to enforce a "No Korean" rule I'd spend the whole class putting out fires. This is because my students are so low (many find it incredibly difficult to ask for a pencil).

In addition, my coteacher is always having to translate instructions and takes it upon himself to translate most of what I say. I know this isn't the most effective way to learn a language, but as I've said before, I'm more concerned with maintaining good relationships with my coworkers than changing the face of education in a foreign country.

I'd say, on a good day, my students (tech high school) speak English about 50-60% of the class. What do you think is an acceptable amount of Korean in class?

bosintang · Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 3:44 pm Post subject:

I'd love someone try a "No Korean in class" policy in a public school.

In hagwons, you can certainly do it, but I wonder how beneficial it is. When I first started teaching I tried the "No Korean" thing but after a couple of months I realised it created more problems than it solved.

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

Yes, I tried the no Korean thing in my middle school. But it didn't work. If the communicative tasks weren't translated into Korean, my poor kids just couldn't perform them.

So now, it's a 'mimimal Korean speaking' policy. But some days that doesn't work well either. I'm tired, the kids are exhausted, and we have to get on to complete the lesson. Sometimes, you just have to use L1 to your advantage.

I do get annoyed with students talking in Korean when they should be completing their tasks - but that's not going to stop unless the co-teacher clamps down on them. And as I want a happy, positive participatory learning environment - I don't want that either. It's a challenge.

bosintang · Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 4:20 pm Post subject:

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

If I had to enforce no Korean in the classroom there would be no students in the room.

Only way I could do it.

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

I forgot to mention. I only teach in English. I only speak 3 phrases of Korean (hello, thank you, please) - and have no interest in learning more Korean (it's not an international language).

My students struggle to communicate with me in Konglish/Englishee, but that's part of my job. To get them to interact with 'foreigners' in English. It's a challenge.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

It's possible to keep almost all communication in English if:

- they're all academic HS students who should be in an academic HS class.
- there's no co-teacher.

Of course there'll be a little bit of chatter in Korean when doing things like passing back hand-outs, but when students are properly sorted out by level and there are no fucking Korean adults around it can be done to a large extent.

keseki · Joined: 22 Mar 2007

i teach about 22 classes a week in a hagwon and i have a no korean rule in all my classes. it works wonderfully.

the only time i allow them to speak korean is when they are looking up difficult vocab words in their dictionaries. even then, they always ask me... 'teacher, can i speak korean'.

their english ability is awesome.

albazalba · Joined: 27 Dec 2006 Location: Hongdae

When I worked at a hagwon last year, I always had the "No speaking Korean" rule in class and it worked well, mostly because it's easy to control 12 or less students. We even had the no speaking Korean song, sung to the tune of "오 필승 korea!" (the world cup song). Kids loved it, and whenever somebody spoke Korean the whole class would break out into that song, it was hilarious.

At a public elemntary school that rule is really not possible. And the thing is, we're not really here to have the kids improve their English. We're just a token whitey to show off, and try to have some fun and get the kids interested in learning English. Sure they do learn stuff, but by the end of the school year the progress is very minimal. I just try and concentrate my lessons on cultural awareness and acceptance, because I think that is what the kids can really remember from me. (heh, sorry a bit of a rant there).

Anywho, I'd say that my classes are about 60-70% me speaking English, and about 30% my co-teacher speaking Korean. The kids only speak English when I ask them a direct question or when we are practicing a dialogue.

pest2 · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada

Used the English only policy at my last school, which was a hakwon. It worked great because the classrooms were equipped with audio and video systems to monitor the students. If they started speaking Korean, there was a good chance the director would come in and whack em.

I agree it wouldnt work in public schools. Not so much because the level is too low; actually, its better when the level is lower because it gives them another reason to shut up! Mainly its a problem because of enforceability... Usually the K teacher wont go along with it.. or if they do, its really hard to provide incentives and disincentives. I have 1 co teacher who actually wants it that way in her class. Even still, the kids are chatting away in Korean sometimes when they do group work, and there's nothing you can do to stop it.

As far as effectiveness goes, it works great. In the "ideal class", English only is by far the best rule. It puts the mind completely in the learning zone the entire class and forces comfort and fluency of speaking. The language becomes a tool of practice and not just an academic study.

bosintang · Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:17 pm Post subject:

Something noone's mentioned yet is that in a hagwon, the students are paying customers, and at least in theory, are eager to learn English.

Not so in a public school. A public school is a Korean institution where becoming good little Koreans comes first and learning comes second.

faster · Joined: 03 Sep 2006

none.

Jizzo T. Clown · Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Location: at my wit's end

That's faster for you, the king of brevity. Rolling Eyes

faster · Joined: 03 Sep 2006

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

I had a class last year in the haggie that was fairly high level...for that place anyhow.

They were doing English Time 4 or 5 at the time. I never tried to enforce an English only policy, just tried to encourage them to use English as much as possible and it seemed to be working fairly well.

Then a new Korean teacher started working there and was enforcing an English only rule... She actually told the students to write down the names of anyone who spoke Korean.

My next few classes were a mix of students who were afraid to speak, and others who were constantly trying to tattle on everyone else. It practically ruined a good class.

Instead of focusing on the lesson, they were going "teacher--Min su -Korean speak." over and over. It became one of the most frustrating classes I taught.

I don't know how you guys enforce such a thing, cause it's just been a major headache for me.