Korean Job Discussion Forums

aka Dave · Joined: 02 May 2008 Location: Down by the river

Okay, tommorow I start teaching an immersion class for my Uni. I encourage my students to listen to authentic English on the web, like npr.org (because it has text) or voanews.com (for less advanced learners, they have a thing for foreigners where the news is read very slowly).

But I also want them to join a message board and to engage in written discussions in English.

Could the typical Korean University student (most of these are in their mid 20s) handle this web site? Would it be a bad idea to send them here?

Alternately. Do you know of any good forums I could recommend to my students? They're interested in music, movies, soccer (EPL and Euro 0 Cool

, and the typical stuff Uni students are into.

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

If you want all of your students burning effigies of whiteys and chopping off their fingers, by all means, send them here.

samd · Joined: 03 Jan 2007

It would be a bad idea to send them here. The overly negative tone of thse boards won't give them a good impression, nor a fair indication of the average ESL teacher.

aka Dave · Joined: 02 May 2008 Location: Down by the river

Yeah, that's my take as well. If anyone has any good suggestions for forums that are active and have a lot of traffic, I'd apperciate it.

The only reason I was thinking Dave's is, the topics are usually based on stuff relevant to Korea. But I agree, it's probably a bad idea.

samd · Joined: 03 Jan 2007

Send them to bodybuilding.com. Lots of traffic, and maybe it will filter through to the idiot trainers at my gym.

aka Dave · Joined: 02 May 2008 Location: Down by the river

Funny you say that, I have that site on my brouser and have recommended it to a student who works out a lot. He's bigger than me. I'm doing 5x5 atm, though, from a recommendation from a Dave's poster.

gajackson1 · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 5:35 am Post subject:

years & years ago, we used to have a chat module here on DESL - with rooms for teachers, students, & ummmmm 1 or 2 others. It is how I first found the place, really.

I'm thinking, maybe as an alternative, you *could* try Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree??? I don't know if the Wheelers would approve or not, but it is a thought. People post up questions there all the time, asking for help or seeking advice. And LP is much harsher on trolls/socks.

Possibility!

G.

Hmm - here is another choice: World66. I have an inactive profile there, but it is a decent choice, I think - http://extra.world66.com/forum

chapter · Joined: 12 May 2008

I agree. The idea is good but this is probably the worst website you could send them too.

Join Me · Joined: 14 Jan 2008

If you honestly even have to ask this question you need to log off of Dave's and get a life? Do really think reading the posts on this site would be a positive experience in any way for your students (or you)?

ytuque · Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Location: I drink therefore I am!

Have you considered 60 Minutes for viewing? I am not aware of any site where your students would be protected from trolls and other message board low lifes. Have you considered setting them up with penpals in other countries?

http://60minutes.yahoo.com/

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

I also think it's a bad idea to tell your students about this place. The fewer Koreans who know about it, the better. Our reputations are in tatters as it is.

It's unfortunate, too. At one time, there were Koreans who came to the site but they were chased away by the bigots. Some of the justifications that I remember: a) I'm not giving away free English lessons; b) I work with Koreans. I don't want to have to put up with them here; c) I don't want them here because I want a place where I can say what I really think; d) I don't want to read Konglish.

Pooty · Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Location: Ela stin agalia mou

Ya-ta, there is some merit to the idea that we should have a board that we can, as foreigners, bitch and moan and share information about this country without attracting the wrath of the Korean netizens. Everyone who's been in this country longer than six months has heard or read something about the nature of Korean internet netizens. Can you give us a reason why we should have more Koreans here, clogging up the boards with "Please teach me English" posts and threads?

garykasparov · Joined: 27 May 2007

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn40/iloveeslcafe/foreigner.jpg

Kimchi Cha Cha · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: was Suncheon, now Brisbane

The Galbijim forums seem more geared towards and friendly for Koreans wanting to practice their English. Sending your students over there might be worth a shot. I think the overall vibe of this place would be too negative and put off a lot of Korean viewers.

By the way, I'm pretty sure I know the guy in the above linked photo, he used to live down here for a number of years.

Frankly Mr Shankly · Joined: 13 Feb 2008

Didn't Mithradates have a board that was more geared towards that kind of thing?