Korean Job Discussion Forums

[NoDolan]

I know most of you have this experience and this is my second month here. How would you advise me of teaching this class. I have a middle school students that are 13-14 years old. They can't speak or understand any English. They can't write either. They can't form simple sentances like "The cat is black." Yet, because they are in middle school the director placed them in the same advanced Icon 1 class.
How should I teach them? How long can I fake it ???? Really, the Korean teacher expects so much from me and the students just sit there and stare at each other completely clueless.

[Juregen]

Give them first a sheet where they can color the alphabet so they get used to the shapes.

Then teach them the sound that fits the shape.

Baby steps are advised

[Demophobe]

Coloring for middle schoolers?!

Get them on some phonics training.

[mrsquirrel]

Welcome to the world of ESL.

[boyne11]

Discuss sex.

I'm sure they'd be very interested.

[Juregen]

[gangpae]

At the start of every class say - ja yu shi gan, and the students will know exactly what to do.

[OiGirl]

Beginning phonics for older learners does NOT mean coloring.

I highly recommend Newcomer Phonics or Fast Track Phonics by Kaye Wiley. They are phonics books for older learners of English and age-appropriate.

http://www.altaesl.com/SearchResults.cfm?quickSearch=Kaye+Wiley

[Juregen]

[OiGirl]

[VanIslander]

Beware: Objects in front of you may be more proficient than they seem.

I have seen English speaking wizards clam up and play dumb once they hit middle school. Be careful of how little you think they know based on their lack of answers. If they are saying things with the grammar totally messed up then perhaps their level is indeed as low as you think but if they just utter one-word replies that could be adolescence talking.

(I muuuuuch prefer elementary school aged kids, by a factor of a thousand)

[stevemcgarrett]

NoDolan asked: