Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Howard Roark]

A student asked me today to suggest some English novels that wouldn't be too hard for him to read. His level is definitely advanced. His TOEIC score is about 895, not that I believe TOEIC scores mean a hell of a lot. But reading a book is a lot harder than having everyday conversations.

Please suggest some novels. Think back to the kind of novels you (had to) read in high school, I think many of those would be suitable.

[crazylemongirl]

if he's game for it, suggest he check out the teen fiction section of one of the books stores. Roald Dahl is all good, esp. something like boy and going solo. Harry potter is all good.

most of the stuff I liked is very girly so I don't know if he would be into it.

[Ody]

Jack London, Call of the Wild

' have heard The Phantom Tollbooth is a classic that appeals to Harry Potter fans.

[silver]

Why don't you check some specialized, adapted literature? It comes in various levels, some less complicated than originals of the novels.
I think it can be available in some big book stores.

[Zed]

Well, Hemmingway novels aren't difficult to read in my opinion.

[tomato]

If you want something short, how about The Little Prince,
Jonathan Livingston Seagull, or Love Story?

Life with Father and Life with Mother by Clarence Day use a small vocabulary.

Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger is narrated by a high school character. A native speaker could get tired of hearing the word "phony" overused, but an ESL student might not.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is allegedly written on a junior high school reading level.

Up the Down Staircase has a lot of white space.

[kangnamdragon]

I heard a few of my Korean friends have read Catcher in the Rye.

[Paji eh Wong]

I've never read it with a class but I'd like to do 'The Old Man and the Sea' some day.

[igotthisguitar]

>. Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath".

[schwa]

I think you'll find a lot of adult students have already tackled Jonathon Livingstone Seagull & The Little Prince, they're kind of the obligatory easy intros into english lit (I know, Little Prince is french). Tuesdays with Morrie is popular here nowadays too.

Catcher in the Rye is tough for most Koreans, a lot of slang & they miss most of the humor.

The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho might work, a simple & interesting tale. Some of Hesse's shorter novels might be suitable, he's popular here & many Koreans have read him in translation. Animal Farm & Lord of the Flies also spring to mind.

Respectfully disagree with the suggestion of the abridged & footnoted versions for Korean learners. They remove much of the joy & mystery of the originals -- better for learners to work their way up to the real thing.

[the_beaver]

[kangnamdragon]

For businessmen, try "Who Moved My Cheese?" or "Rich Dad, Poor Dad"

[Corporal]

Dickens.
let's unbeep that, shall we?

D-I-C-K-E-N-S, Charles

(kidding.)

[jajdude]

Yeah Hemingway may be good. "The Old Man and the Sea" I have heard is at about a grade 5 level.

[Scott in HK]

There have been studies dealing with L2 students understanding of texts and one thing they show is if the students can make a connection to the text...their understanding will increase...some people think that it is a good idea to take translated novels from their L1 and use it as a text as the students will have a some knowledge of the text before they start. So I would recommend finding some translated books first...and them moving into other books later....

if you can find books dealing with subject matter that is of interest to your students you will have a much easier time....