Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Pwillig]

TL;DR version: What do I teach GEPIK middle schoolers?

Okay, I'm posting this in hopes that out of the inevitable "LOL GO HOME" and "LOL TEACHER WHO CAN'T TEACH" posts, I'll get some good advice.

I just started at this GEPIK middle school last week, and I'm almost completely lost as to what to teach these kids. Their books offer no structured grammar, vocabulary or theme I can see. In order to keep my post short, I'll just say they're garbage.

I teach 1-3rd graders, and I want to structure classes around conversation, listening and pronunciation, but I'm really confused as how I'll achieve this over the long run? I mean, this week I have numbers review, giving directions, occupations and something else set up. Next week I'll bombard 'em with St. patty's day junk to buy some time for me to make lesson plans, but after that... I dunno.

Should I just take it one day at a time and just accept I'm going to suck at first?

[refikaM]

Sorry you aren't getting more support! If you're lost as to what to teach, look in the chapters you're supposed to be studying that week (someone should be able to tell you where you should be in the books) and create your lessons around the main grammar/vocab points focused on in those chapters. Perhaps create some simple worksheets to introduce the points and then do some kind of speaking exercises to back those up...It'll be a bit of a challenge since the books don't really have any kind of main grammar focuses... There may be several! In MS, the teachers take anywhere from 2-3 weeks for each chapter. Sometimes way too long! Good luck!

[Pwillig]

Thanks I've also gotten some great PMs, so maybe I can do this :-p

[D.D.]

I have a simple formula for midle school. Find topics they like on youtube.

Make sure in the first month you do listening exercises so they get use to your voice. Say simple sentences or words and have them right them down or say them back to you.

Next step get them to make mind maps after watching a short video listing all the words they can think of.

The get them to write sentences of 7 words or more from what they saw in the video. ( I get them to write 5 sentences)

If you have group tables give them a task and go sit at each table and get to know them. Ask them stuff they like such as why do you like Big Bang. Why is she cool that singer whats her name?

Get down to their level by sitting down and talk about what they like.

Spend more time with the kids that talk to you so they know trying is awarded with more attention.


Make sure you don't do what 90% of teachers do like using crap books, or having them do dialogues.


Making their own sentences in writing and speaking is the foundation of a thinking individual.

Dialogues and using words given to them without meaning or self- generation is the start or a robot.

Go to China and see how many students talk at you rather than to you after years of dialogues and lack of thinking in English.


It's easy get them to use the words that they know to talk about what they like.

If you are American don't shove America down their throats. They care more about Kim Yu na than something in your country. Talk about stuff they can relate to.

[ChinaBoy]

[D.D.]

The point was made to yanks as most other countries tend to be free of the need to do this.

If I had a dollar for every American teacher I have witnessed boring the crap out of their class with American stuff I could afford to buy a house in the current housing market in your lovely country.

[sonicmatt]

thats funny, i hear the same thing coming out canadians and brits mouths as well. i am sure koreans care more about american pop culture then whatever canada produces. i have yet to hear a korean kid say they love bryan adams.

[nicam]

I agree that popular culture is the way to go if you aren't required to teach from the book.

Korean dramas are popular, bands and singers, movies, etc. Split them into groups and give them each a Korean movie. Go over basic movie vocabulary, like genres and plot, then make a question sheet with English questions about the movie (i.e. What is the plot... climax, target audience, why do you like it/recommend it, what makes it unique, etc.) Have each group present in English based on the question sheet. You can do this for music groups, dramas, current events, anything.

Sometimes I print out articles from the Korean Herald, which is a Korean news site in English, make a simple question sheet based on the article, read the articles out loud and have the kids, in groups, come up with a summary of the article, and some opinions on the content.

There's a blog called K-popped (google that, or Korean pop culture) by Malaysians obsessed with the Korea wave. I get a lot of ideas for lesson themes from this site.

As an American, if you are American, you will be the target of true ignorance, hypocrisy, and blind hatred from foreigners in Korea who think it's okay to disrespect, berate, stereotype, and judge you out loud and to your face just because of your country of origin (and most are not even bright enough to realize how vast America is and how we all differ so greatly and can't be lumped into one category). These people employ the same method of reasoning any standard hate group would employ, from the KKK to Nazi Germany, and yet they probably consider themselves "liberal" or "tolerant". It's actually good for a laugh.

I have taught my classes about Koreans in America (went through the different K-towns in each state) and Korean celebrities (from actors, to models, to chefs) in America. They loved both.