Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Darkness]

Anyone got some good ideas for ice breakers etc? I'm a bit nervous about starting, I haven't even seen the classes, or I was going to bring in powerpoint stuff about Canada etc. Just something to get the ball rolling, so I have an idea of what sort of level their English is at.

[curlygirl]

Here's one of the simplest ice breakers around and I found it in Dave's "Stuff for Teachers" list.
The kids are going to be really curious about their new teachers so here's how you can introduce yourself and guage their level at the same time.

Draw a circle on the board and inside it write about 6 words and numbers that are related to you in someway; when I did this exercise I wrote curly, 닭갈비, New Zealand etc. Then I asked the question "What's this?" Someone would always call out "You" or something similar. "Well done, you're correct. This is curlygirl's world and these are all facts about me." I'd then ask the students to guess what all the words and numbers were e.g. curly (my hair), 닭갈비 (my favorite food), New Zealand (my country). I made the examples easy so that even low-level students would have a chance to answer. If you get one word sentences e.g. hair, food, country, then you've got an idea of their level. If you get longer sentences their level is higher. If the Korean teacher needs to translate the whole thing you've got low-level students

Have fun

[Darkness]

That's great, thanks! Just for the record tukgalbie is my favorite food too, I love getting cheese added, lol.

Anyway, I also did a powerpoint about Canada to show them where I'm from etc, and I have one explaining the rules of my classroom.

[Dome Vans]

Along the lines of curlygirl's idea about the students being curious about you.

With my level 1 middle school students I put some sentences up on the board about me, four sentences but only one is true.

I met David Beckham in Manchester.
I am the heaviest baby born in Blackpool, England.
My Dad is a priest.
I went to the Olympic Games in Seoul in 1988.

Put them into teams. Get them to guess the right answer. If they get it right then they get a point. After a couple of these then get the students in their teams to write 4 sentences with three lies and one truth. Get them to come to the front and write them up on the board or speaking if they wish. Out of the group there should be a student with good enough writing/speaking skills for this. Give out points for the teams guessing the right answer or a point to a team if nobody guesses the right answer. Also bonus points for good speaking/inventive ideas. Also so if you want you can have team teacher so no student team actually comes last.

Good luck, darkness, you'll do fine!

[mrsquirrel]

[ddeubel]

Darkness,

The ppt of Canada will do well but keep it personal as was mentioned. They dont "really" want to learn about Canada, just you. Also, use question prompts in the ppt to help guide their questions.

Also you could bring in items from yourself: pictures, small things and let them ask questions...

I really like the idea, first day, of a radio interview. Students come up with questions to ask you and you run a radio show. Next day, chart the questions and get them to ask the questions to a students. Keep repeating to warm up each class...

Lots of warm ups and ice breakers here and other threads.

http://eflclassroom.ning.com/forum/topic/show?id=826870%3ATopic%3A17990&page=1&commentId=826870%3AComment%3A18170&x=1#826870Comment18170

My advice, leave the rules for a second class.....leave the first for getting to know each other and breaking the ice. Also , make sure they participate and discuss the rules in some form. Make a chart of the rules they come up with and have them sign it. Also, you sign the rules you agree upon for the teacher! 5 max and make sure they are all positively stated....

DD
http://eflclassroom.ning.com

[Darkness]

From what I can tell, I only have each class once a week...They gave me a schedule, and it's in Korean, but from what I can make out, I only have them once a week. Then I have 2 Korean teacher conversation classes, and another teacher conversation class...which I'm NOT looking forward too!

[Cerriowen]

A friend of mine tried this... but I haven't... it was for an adult class, but might work for H.S. also.

He brought in a few personal things of his... a couple of books, a few pictures... He broke the class into teams, each with one or two items... He had them try to guess something about him, based on what he gave them. They had to try to write out (even if it's just words) what ever it was they assumed about him, then tell the class.

After he'd tell them if they were right or wrong in what they guessed.

[Easter Clark]

Two words:

Smile Sparingly.

[Kimchieyescream]

I did something similar to the things suggested before. I got it off Dave's. I broke the class up into four groups (30 some students in the class, public school) and I had them write five questions that they wanted to ask me. I walked into the room, wrote my name on the board and talked about the rules of class (important). Then I showed them what I wanted them to do. I wrote the numbers one to five on the blackboard and gave them the first question. "Where are you from?" then I told them to think up five questions to ask me. They love this, the typical questions will be "do you have a girlfriend?", "how tall are you?" , "where do you live?" and oddly in a couple of classes "What is your cell phone number?". answer a few questions from each group, going around in a circle sort of thing. Then bust out your power point / slide show presentation. I tell kids that I am from Colorado and they nod and say "oh, yes" but as it turns out they have no idea of where that is. Throw in some personal photos and they will love you forever. But make sure that on the first day that they know not to take you lightly. Start out hard and ease up later, you want to have control of your class. Be confident and remember, they are a bunch of young punks, set the tone for your classes and be fun. You have to find the balance between circus show and prison guard. No matter how nervous you feel, don't let it show and you will be fine.. Go teach a good class. And have fun, you are not teaching astrophysics, and as you shall soon see, it is more about how you teach than what you teach. Good luck and have a kick ass day.

[nobbyken]

After I introduced myself, I also played the Yes/No game in the idea cookbook on Daves. Split the class in 2 and give 5 points for a yes, 2 for a no then alternate the points when the get the hang of it(no PPT here!).
For the lower levels, you may want to have typed questions on strips for them to handout and read.

They will love humour, relax and show them you are not a boring teacher^^

[mrsquirrel]

I sometimes write the answers to questions about me all over the board.

Then get the students to write the questions for the answers and ask them.

[Easter Clark]

[WoBW]

[crusher_of_heads]