Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jkelly80]

So I'm coming in to SMOE with zero classroom efl experience (I've done classroom and EFL but never both) and I have to teach my fellow teachers once a week. I'm hitting a wall here. Are there any resources online I can peruse to get an idea? I'm going to do 30 min classroom English and 30 min general conversational but I have no idea what level they're at or even how many people I'm teaching. Any help is great.

[waynehead]

I was in a similar situation about 9 months ago.

Don't expect a high level. I created handouts with questions & answers provided, and that worked ok, even tho a lot of teachers stopped coming (not that that's a big deal, the 5-6 that stayed were at a higher level...). There are lots of websites with ideas for conversation topics, just do a google search and you'll get some good questions/topics from them.

Off the top of my head I've done Introductions/Favorites/Family/Would you rather?/the Paranormal/Foods/Korean culture/history/Western culture/history and most of them worked well.

[Shredd]

I have the same dilemma coming up, any other advice would be great.

[fromtheuk]

I was worried before I did my first teachers class.

A helpful poster on this forum told me about this website:

www.breakingnewsenglish.com

Pick any topic you like, and edit the article to suit your lesson plan.

Whatever you'll do, you'll face some form of criticism, but at least the website above provides enough material to last for a long lesson.

[ciccone_youth]

they asked me to teach teachers but i said no. i feel uncomfortable doing so and i came here to teach children, it was in my contract.

unless they give me extra money i'm not doing it. they always try to sneak things up on me.

[maingman]

yes why should you be asked to teach teachers

[Dodgy Al]

jkelly et al, try this:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/flatmates/index.shtml

My co-teachers really enjoy it. Yours might as well. Probably...

[jkelly80]

Big ups dodgy Al.

[ddeubel]

Here's what I wrote elsewhere on this subject....

Come to EFL Classroom for lots of presentations, click and play and stimulating ideas that will get conversation going....many teachers WANT structure/grammar but actually need controlled practice in a quite open sense. Put up pics and ask questions/discuss.....also, note the advice here....I also have on the site a good ppt about teaching adults. (god I hate this site, like a dinosaur when you can't embed anything....
http://www.myplick.com/view/fYquPb6weq7/Teaching-Adults

Many EFL teachers in a foreign country get "saddled" with teaching their colleagues English and helping them with their own language skills. A very rewarding but tough assignment!

Teaching adults is its own "kettle of fish". Meaning, teaching adults warrants a different approach. I go by the gospel of Jane Vella who has written passionately about "how to" teach adults.

1. Safety -- believe it or not, adults need a very secure, personal and warm learning environment. Teachers must create a very friendly, cozy, comfortable learning environment, first and foremost. That means the teacher must be super approachable, positive, friendly, respectful and genuinely interested in their well being. Even more so than kids!

2. Choice. Adults need choice and respond when they are actively able to choose content, procedure, routine. Give them choice!

3. Immediacy. Adults need practical things they can use the moment they walk out of the classroom. Teach towards their interests and what will be most applicable to their lives.

4. Team work. Adults must have teamwork, partnership and be taught with a cooperative framework.

That said, I try to find a proper balance of structure and easy going stuff which plays to their specific interests. Conversation works great but it must be topical. I use many of my own conversation powerpoints (in the batcave) and also at itesolj.orgLook in our media fire account and download the books from EFL teaching books. You'll find a great conversation book there.

Breaking news english also works well but can be a bit too "heavy", so depends on the class.

But what works BEST is to give them a needs assessment first. And then talk about Korea, life here, about their opinions of Korea. Andrew Finch has two super books out for just this content. 1. Visit Korea! is just new on the market (I got it when I attended and presented at a conference with him). Great book and lots there for teaching teachers..... 2. Teaching Reflections. I've attached here and take a look. It has plenty of quizzes, forms, assessments and interactive, group/task based activities which are for teachers to talk about their own teaching and English ability. It can also be found at his university site www.finchpark.com/books/ unformatted. As mentioned, I have them formatted in our media fire account [you got the password and Id when you registered here -- if you don't have them, message me!!!}

Happy teaching and enjoy your colleagues!

David
http://eflclassroom.ning.com

[Hollywoodaction]

www.handoutsonline.com

Another good source of handouts...but not free.

[jkelly80]