Korean Job Discussion Forums

[iggyb]

Hi guys...

I'm now teaching ESL to mostly Hispanics here in the US in High School.

I'd like to set up some pen pal (via snail mail but possibly email) with Koreans.

High school age is preferable --- but I'd also work with younger or older Koreans. The main thing is to find Koreans who are dependable at returning letters sent.

I will use the letters here on my end for grades so we can be fairly sure my students will respond....

I have about 6 lower level ESL students in one course

and

10 intermediate level students.

I have 2 Jordanians and the rest are Hispanic.

I'd like to get this started as soon as possible but I also plan to continue this semester after semester.

If you know your students would be interested, please email me to work out the details....

[email protected]

Thanks.....

[mrsquirrel]

[ddeubel]

Great post/activity and I wish you the best of luck.

I'll PM you. I teach Korean teachers and will ask around for a great class.

Good luck.

[mrsquirrel]

Tried setting up all gmail accounts for them and got blocked by gmail thinking it was some sort of attack having 50 people signing up from the same IP at the same time

[iggyb]

Thanks for the ideas...

I'll go with snail mail to start. It is more special to get a letter in the mail from another country --- and look at the stamps and such...

I just had my beginning level students write a letter. They will be lower than the bulk of Korean high school (and probably middle school) students, but I think it will be good for both.

If you want to help out, you can give me the address to your school, and I'll mail each letter to your school for you to distribute to interested students.

I will have all replies mailed directly to my high school (with the student's name on it) so I can see how the back-and-forth is working.

My letters will be for a grade, so they will do them in class.

I hadn't thought of a blog, but I'll set one up. That is a great idea.

I have thought about starting an ESOL online school magazine --- for those who need the ESOL classes and those who are more fluent but are second language learners.

Doing something like that jointly with classes in Korea might work.

I'll try the blog first....

[T-dot]

Well I teach a group of 11 HS kids that have all studied abroad. Ill ask tomorrow to see if theyd be interested. I like the idea and was trying to work something out last year.

[iggyb]

Blogging will take some time, because the county's system blocks just about everything.

I'll have to get the tech people to see if I can get my classroom computer unblocked for blogging and website design. (Geocities and other host sites were blocked too).

Too many of my ESOL students don't have home computers to have them do it outside of school....

But, both of my classes have now written introductory letters.

If you give me your school address, I can probably get a batch of letters in the mail by Saturday.

[iggyb]

I've got about 15 letters ready to send...

About 5 lower level - probably beginning level in the typical hakwon.

And about 10 intermediate level.

All high school students in the 9th or 10th grade.

2 Jordanians and the rest are Hispanic.

I'd prefer mailing each individual letter in its envelop directly to the school or hakwon the ESL teacher in Korea is at rather than directly to the students...and have the reply letters mailed back to the high school I teach at here in the US.

That makes it easier to keep track of active connections....

[mrsquirrel]

How old is 9th grade?

[T-dot]

that would be 3rd grade middle school here.

[iggyb]

Yes. That is 14-15 years old American age...

I have two ESOL classes. One with about 6 9th graders and one with about 10 10th graders....

[mrsquirrel]

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