Korean Job Discussion Forums

crazy_arcade · Joined: 05 Nov 2006

That's right, we have a budget surplus of 5 million won. I need to have a list made up of materials that I think would be of benefit to both the teachers and the students. I already told the school to not waste money on flashy English Village scenes (airport/restaurant/post office) because it's just wasted money.

My school is a high level middle school and we already have an extensive English language library (but will be buying more books anyways).

If you have any favorite idea/activity books for teachers, games, board games, computer software etc. please let me know.

karri · Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Location: south korea

Apples to Apples

its a great English game for high level students

KYC · Joined: 11 May 2006

E-books. They come with these textbooks. All you have to do is point the pen on the word and you can hear how each word is pronounced. It's a great resource. It beats having me repeat it a million times.

AussieGav · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Location: Uijeongbu

Always a big fan of Scrabble and Boggle as fun ways to learn/teach English (but not 5m worth).

SeoulMan6 · Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Location: Gangwon-do

Buy some good teacher books - both activity books and resource books.

Then you will have lots of great ideas and photocopiable pages.

EzeWong · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Location: Seoul

If you don't already have it, a laminating machine. I've gotten to know mine quite intimately on these cold lonely nights despites it's old age... I know all of it's buttons inside and out... (^___-)

But seriously, so possibilites present itself when you have one.

rooster_2006 · Joined: 14 Oct 2007

Get some good English educational computer games (when I went to school, these were things like Oregon Trail, Castles: Siege and Conquest, Math Munchers, Dr. Quandary, etc., but these are years out of date and you'd have to find something more up-to-date to keep the kids' attention). The students (especially the boys) will be competing with each other for the computers during break so they can play them, and they'll have no option but to be exposed to English. To find these, maybe you can get a hold of a current Scholastic catalog. My recollection is that all the good educational games were in there.

Though the modern advent of the Nintendo DS might reduce the temptation to jockey for the computers with English games -- of course you could work that system and get some English games to lend your DS-crazy students. Like say "if you cash in this many stickers, you get to borrow Final Fantasy IV DS in English for a week." Then the kid has a good time and learns some English on his off hours.

Chamchiman · Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Location: Digging the Grave

Hey crazy,

This question has come up a couple of times in the last few months. These threads might help you out:

What to spend the school's money on...

If you had a budget to buy stuff for your English classes...

(How about shooting a few tables my way? I've been trying to get my school to change the seating in my classroom for two years!)

ardis · Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Location: Seoul

Scrabble/other English word games. If they're intermediate or above, they can definitely play and actually enjoy it.

Small white boards/markers for activities where they have to write down the answer and the fastest students get points.

Level-appropriate short story books.

Ahhh I can't think of anymore right now, sorry.

Fishead soup · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Location: Korea

Room Salon

crazy_arcade · Joined: 05 Nov 2006

Thanks for the help so far and for the links.

Actually, last year our English lab was fully renovated: new tables, magic screen, computer bank, mini whiteboards, laminator, English library with a couple thousand dollars worth of books etc.

The school just had the second English classroom done and there's 5 million extra that I get to spend. I'm not staying at the school next year but I get to spend the money! So far I've got a big list of board games and I'm looking at some different computer software.

I've always had to make all my own materials from scratch. This takes a ton of time. I'm hoping to purchase some stuff that'll make the job easier for the next foreign teacher and also help the Korean teachers. It'd be nice to have a storehold of materials that the teachers can just grab from when they need a supplemental lesson, filler, or extra stuff.

Its just a ride · Joined: 25 Dec 2007 Location: A galaxy far, far away.

Celebrity Head, Monopoly & Guess Who. A few decks of cards and maybe UNO. Whole bunch of flash cards and a way of organising them like a hanging pocket wall. Subscriptions to some ESL resources website.

RedRob · Joined: 07 Jul 2003 Location: Narnia

A 'team building' weekend for the teachers in Phuket

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

I purchased some teen magazines from the USA, and my former high school students went nuts over them.

You can order with a credit card and have them shipped here:

http://www.mmm-mag.com/

http://www.teenmag.com/

http://www.world-newspapers.com/youth.html

These magazines were an incredible resource for slang terms, and full of photos they loved to talk about. I was able to plan sooo many great lessons from stories in these magazines. It also exposes students to many slang terms that they just can't get anywhere else, but may hear on TV from North America.

kitekid · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 4:21 am Post subject: