Korean Job Discussion Forums

[NoDolan]

So I just started on the first of November and I'm teaching Toeic. I have no idea what it is, and why I'm teaching it or how to teach it.
From what I can tell most of my students in my class speak little English.
I really don't know what to do with this class. There is no curriclium.

[PGF]

TOEIC

Test of English-e for International Communication

A lot of business type english....

It's a test that a lot of students in Korea take before they can get a job at a bank or an airline, etc. Some of my students have used their TOEIC scores to get into special English High Schools.

How to teach it? Depends on the book(s) you are using and the level of the kids. You say your students speak little english-e......how little? What age-e are they? I've noticed that a LOT of the TOEIC books my students have are in Korean and English. um, that is the explanations are in Korean and the questions are in English-e.

There are reading sections, listening sections, and a weird "look at the picture and guess what's happening section".
go here http://iteslj.org/Articles/Gilfert-TOEIC.html

In general, TOEIC is easier than TOEFL for Koreans. There's less focus on the ability to comprehend academic lectures, etc and more focus on real world English-e.

Just roll with it. TEPS, TOEFL, and TOEIC are all boring classes to teach, so try to make them interesting for you students. Otherwise, you'll end up with blank stares; especially from the lower level students.

[fancypants]

TOEIC is a pretty easy class to teach if you like teacher-centred classrooms. The students will pretty much expect to do practice test after practice test class after class. You basically sit there while they do the practice sections and then explain vocab after they do them. You can get them to do pair/group work by getting them to brainstorm strategies to "beat" each section.

There are 7 sections: 1-4 is listening comprehension and 5-7 is reading and grammar. The test doesn't measure productive skills. Longman and Oxford put out pretty good TOEIC prep materials. The most popular materials in Korea are the "super elite" series put out by Sisa.
It baffles me how you are expected to teach TOEIC without a myriad of test prep stuff. Good luck!

[Young FRANKenstein]

[PGF]

[Young FRANKenstein]

[spliff]

You don't teach it you floss your teeth w/ it.

[babtangee]

[PGF]

[Roch]

[Roch]

[Roch]

[fancypants]

The TOEIC is easier for Koreans because it doesn't require them to speak or write. As far as I am concerned it's a totally useless test and it completely baffles me why so many employers require it of job candidates.

A few months back, I was pleased as punch at the rumours going around that Korea was going to weed the TOEIC out. I assumed that they were finally seeing what a useless test it was and that they would adopt a much better test such as the IELTS or the FCE (both put out by Cambridge University) which give a much better indication of real, functional English skills. I was totally shocked when I found out that they were rejecting it in favour of the TEPS - a test that is even worse than the TOEIC, if that's possible. Apparently, the TEPS measures proficiency in the "special" English that "Koreans use" as if they are somehow different from the rest of the English speaking world. Agghhh!

The FCE is widely used in Europe as a requirement for entry level positions in business. It has not one but TWO speaking tests as well as writing, reading, and listening.

[babtangee]