Korean Job Discussion Forums

[blurgalurgalurga]

When you are told to teach a large class 'conversation' English, and by 'large' I mean between 20 and 35 students, how do you do it? Assuming the curriculum is up to you, what do you focus on?
What books do you use?
How do you test--written, oral, or both?
Any insight would be appreciated.
I've done it a bit, with a bit of success, but I'd like to do better.

[Dome Vans]

I try and teach two levels of conversation. Elementary and Middle school.

At my middle school, I have a simple conversation, what do you do at the weekends? What's your favourite music? What do you use the internet for? Going to the doctors. etc. These are all conversations that I've tweaked after taking them from my schools textbook. Having a freer reign by the sounds of it would be great for you.

I have the conversation, with the greeting at the beginning, the middle interview part and the ending.

*Each student has a sheet with the conversation on and a table to fill out with the information they get from their partner.
*I run through the conversation a few times so the students know what they should be doing.
*I pair the group off. I found giving them amusing names is really good. Monkey-Squirrel, Mr Pizza-Lotteria, Chun Kuk Jang-Kimchi Jiggae etc. I love changing it round.
*Then at the back of the classroom there are two rows of chairs facing each other (waiting room style) The most I've done it for is 2 rows of 15 but ideally about 10-12 is perfect.
*Put the monkeys on one side then the squirrels facing them. Get them to go through the conversation and then swap around so the other asks the questions, they fill out the table as they go along.
*Then get one side to stand up, the student on the end comes around and goes to the other end then all the others move along one. They all have a new partner and off they go again. Repeat as necessary.

The thing that I like about it is that all the students get to speak to each other. They're also captive which makes it easier for you to police it. There's no getting up and walking around for them, boys on one side and girls on the other. You can walk up and down the lines listening, helping, praising. It works really well. The first few times are a little hectic but when the students know that's how the conversation is done then they now to sit down quickly and the will start to try and guess how you'll pair them off.

For the elementary, it's a bit different. I have a class with 32 in. I give them the simple conversation with korean translation. Give them the instructions. Then I do the conversation slowly and they write down the phonetic hangeul for it. I have the help of the homeroom teacher for this which is great. I run through it so they know what to do. When they have finished talking with their partners then everyone gets up from their desks and they have to find a new partner within 15 seconds. It becomes a bit of a game, but works really well. At that level, freer talking isn't gonna happen.

Sorry there blurgalurgalurga I don't think I actually answered your question there. Oops!

[captain kirk]

Round them up then take them to Lotteria for W100 ice cream cones. Then say goodbye.

[blurgalurgalurga]

Really? Ten cones for a chon? Awesome. Thanks Cap'n.
Good tips there, Domevans; thanks man.

[aka Dave]

Group work. They can't speak Korean, they have to prepare the conversation in English.

Example exercise:

So, they're opening a restauraunt. First they choose the type of restaurant they want to open (Italian, French, etc.)
Then they prepare the menu (food vocab, things like steamed salmon with hollandaise sauce) then they have a conversation on "opening night" between a waiter and two (or more) diners who order a meal, then have a dialogue with the sever about the quality of the food, the service, etc.

Anyway, stuff like this can be done in groups of 3/4 and they tend to take to it.

On edit: this is a uni lvl. exercise.

[dmbfan]

[TDR]

Honestly, other than the goofy names, I pretty much do exactly what Dome Vans suggested. Practical conversations, with a run through before, then pair them off in a line drill at the back of the classroom.

I got the idea for the line drill and ideas for the worksheets from this page:
http://bogglesworldesl.com/survivalESL.htm

These are university level exercises and so I've adapted the ideas and conversation for middle school students.

Works great!


-TDR-

[Dome Vans]

TDR wrote:

[Fishead soup]

Listen repeat listen repeat listen repeat listen repeat listen repeat.
Co-teacher translates Fill in the blanks
Listen and repeat listen and repeat listen and repeat listen and repeat
Co-teacher translates Fill in the blanks
Listen and repeat listen and repeat listen and repeat listen and repeat
Co-teacher translates Fill in the blanks
Listen and repeat listen and repeat
Repeat the above
Then re-sign the contract again
Repeat above process for several years until you have enough money
to retire in Thailand and then marry a woman half your age.

[crusher_of_heads]

Tell me about Sunday


if silence reigns, write on the blackboard


57 REASONS WHY I WANT TO CONVERSE IN EACH AND EVERY ENGLISH CONVERSATIONAL CLASS.


ask the resident dumbass student about Sunday-no talk


"Copy that down"

"Teacher, finishee!"

"It says 57 REASONS. Copy it down 57 times."

[blurgalurgalurga]

[Fishead soup]

[Draz]