Korean Job Discussion Forums

[captain kirk]

I'm supposed to teach 30 minutes for the elementary teachers for grades 1,2,3,4 one week (all grouped into one class). Then elementary teachers for grades 5,6 the next week(all grouped into one class). Leapfrogging this way. The result is each of the two groups gets a thirty minute English class every two weeks on Friday from 4;10 to 4;40.

This is just when they're about to run out the door for the weekend!

My Korean co-teacher suggests I do the same class for each group. She said 'introductions' as the theme for the first class.

I'm curious about what many other foreign English teachers (you on Dave's) have done or are doing for this type of class.

Thanks!

[aarontendo]

Most teachers will stop coming after the first couple of lessons. At that point I make free chatting mostly because I'll be damned if I can make a lesson to hit such widely varying levels.

Example: I was supposed to teach my English teachers, who yes have a wide variety of levels. We're down to 2 (from the original . They even set aside that period every week so NONE of them are scheduled to teach.

I guess that wasn't much help though was it

[Becka]

I'm not sure how well this will work, but this is how I think I'm going to tackle my teaching teacher classes this term:

15-20 min text book (which they insisted on getting)
10-15 min free talking - topic
5-10 min supplemental practice (tongue twisters, etc.)/q&a from teachers (specific questions)

Once a month I'm having a special 'activity' day where we do something totally off book and social (watching a popular tv show in English, cooking together, fieldtrip, etc.).

I *had* started the term focusing on classroom English for teachers, and in one school it totally bored them - so I figure we'll work a bit of classroom English into each lesson in the context of whichever book lesson we're covering.

...................................
It's taken me a couple weeks to get to know these teachers better - the other day I decided to make the free-talking topic about teaching - "Why did you become a teacher?" Blank stares. OK... easier question then?

"What do you like about teaching?"

A few titters, some blank stares. OK. I erased the "what" and the "about".

"Do you like teaching?"

I got one "no!", a "sometimes" and two "a little"s.

Sure gave me a better idea of where they're at! Guess we won't be talking pedagogy this term.

[crusher_of_heads]

Right beforeleaving? Such sparkling planning.

I teach middle school teachers for 20 minutes, before classes start every Tuesday.

[pkang0202]

I'll be amazed if you get 5 teachers to come on a regular basis.

[poet13]

22 teachers a week. 90 minutes. They get homework too. It's some kind of professional developement thing. Good group.
Our first topic was, "On being a teacher." We opened with a free discussion so I could get an idea of levels, and how to group them. For the activity, I separated them by group, including higher level people in each group of five.
Each group randomly selected a question.

Whats the hardest part of being a teacher, and why?

Which teacher in your life do you consider to have been the best?

Are your personal hobbies or interests involved in your teaching?

What do you expect from yourself or any other teacher?

Why did you become a teacher?

If you had the chance to "do it again", would you still be a teacher?

How do our former teachers influence who we are as a teacher today?

If you had the opportunity, would you teach the Korean language to Western children?
etc....

Their homework was an essay on, "What was your first day as a teacher like?"

Next class is common errors Korean to English. Then, "Teaching Methodology, Ideal and Reality." Don't remember what's next.

[passport220]

Here is a thread from the past that offers some advice and resources:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=81110&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

[Eedoryeong]

[jkelly80]

I have a pretty good idea as to how to teach the more intermediate students, but not the lower levels. Should I split the class into two sessions? Or make two groups? The disparity in levels is getting me.

[mnhnhyouh]