Korean Job Discussion Forums

JoelCosmeJr · Joined: 01 Mar 2006

this is my first day teaching public school after two years at a private school. i have biweekly classes (20 per week) so I teach about 1400 kids (giver or take). i see the kids for 45 mins every two weeks. I have not had much conversation with my co-teachers (about 8 of them) about the expectations I am to have for the classes. with this number of kids and such little time i believe i am not expected to teach them much. How do the people who have the same of similar situation as me deal with it? i am told the previous teacher used to show films on the big screen and music and studied the script. i have done research and have my telf class for ideas, but just did not imagine this.

curlygirl · Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Location: Pundang, Seohyeon dong

Yep, you've just described my situtation except that you didn't mention the lack of a textbook for yourself.

There is no way you can teach the kids anything in a 45 minute class and expect them to recall it when you see them again two weeks later. So...I make every lesson about reviewing. I read the textbook they're currently learning with the Korean teachers, and pick out sentences, items of vocab etc. Then I work these into as many games and activities as I can. The kids like it because they feel smart 'hey we already know this stuff' and I like it because I give them the chance to actually use the language in many constructive situations.

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

That was my situation earlier this year, but I got lucky and had one of the grades eliminated from my schedule, so now I get to see the first graders every week. The downside is that I have to teach from the book now, which is TERRIBLE! I usually make fun activities on my own, but I feel like my reputation with the students is going to take a nosedive because of the unoriginal content that I'm supposed to teach from.

Try to mix up your activities, focus on group/pair work as much as possible, and don't expect your students to volunteer too often, especially the 3rd graders.

I never showed a film or studied a song until the last 2 weeks of the semester, after they finished their exams. I think that teachers who use movies or music too often are just looking for a way to slack off

Smee · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do

I just started a situation like that last week. I've taught in Korea for two years, but was nervous about having to design my own lessons. So far things have gone pretty well, but then again it's hard to screw up the first class.

I've met a lot of foreign teachers who think a good class consists of going to bogglesworld and printing out a few worksheets. Or they'll "preteach" a list of ridiculous vocabulary words and play a puzzle or a game for 35 minutes. I've also seen lesson plans that say the teacher and class will "brainstorm" on a topic for half the class. That doesn't seem like a wise use of time. Also, keep in mind that your students have probably done most topics already with an earlier teacher. Eventually I'll have units on shopping, or the holidays, or visiting the zoo, or whatever, but my goal will be offering the students something different from what they've already had.

As I posted in a different thread, i'm playing it by ear. Designing only a few lessons per month means that usually the hardest part is thinking up the lesson in the first place. As I only see the students twice a month, compared to the Korean English teachers who have them 3 times a week, I realize that my job is basically to give the students experience around a white person.

genezorm · Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Location: Mokpo

for me i would think teaching that many different students would be a but futile....i imagine it would be pretty difficult to build any relationship with the students....and trying to keep track of any progress would also be pointless

i would say you have your work cut out for you, but good luck or just get used to being Isaac Durst lite

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

cbclark4 · Joined: 20 Aug 2006 Location: Masan

Songs - Give them lyrics with words missing, have them listen and find the words, fill in the blank. John Denver "Take Me Home Country Roads", Westlife is pretty popular here try "Season's in the Sun".
See youtube for videos.

Scripts - From TV shows "Friends", "Seinfeld", "Sesame Street".
Read and act out the dialogue.

Pronunciation Drills - Stress the "F", "V", "Th", "L", "R" use minimal pairs, help them t discern the difference between the "P" and the "F" the "V" and the "B" etc.

Get a good 4 or 5 lessons then recycle to strengthen the skills, being exposed to these things only once does not help them to learn.

bosintang · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:23 am Post subject:

bosintang · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:50 am Post subject:

I also think it would be important to work with your co-teachers. If you give homework, have the co-teacher check it in her class. If you teach vocabulary, let the co-teacher add some of that vocabulary to their quizzes.

I think the point of this post and the one I wrote above is that you should integrate light, simple lessons with what they're doing in their regular program. If you deviate completely and your class becomes a once-every-two-weeks "completely out there" kind of thing, I don't think it will be particularly useful or seen as such.