Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jajdude]

Well we know they don't know much. Sometimes it's a shocker though when you have moments where you know they seem to know next to nothing! Like the other day, regarding these students that had just started at my hogwan for this intensive session (Jan. 5- Feb. 6). Well we're reading a grade 3 American Reader that isn't easy for them. They can say most of the words as they plod through in reading aloud individually, and I correct pronunciation. But when it comes to questions about what they are reading mostly they just wait for me to tell them the answer. Partly or largely I suppose this is because they don't understand it much even though their phonics knowledge is not bad. And also the passive way they study, waiting for teacher to tell them the answers, and fear or embarrassment of being wrong. Anyway, one example was what I thought was such a simple question. It went like this: "The Ship sailed in 1769... how many years ago was that?" So I asked a girl, "Well, what year is it now?" Total incomprehension in her eyes! Guess I have been just cruising through the reading with the busy schedule and all, that after 3 weeks or so with this student I didn't realize she probably barely understands a word I say nor most of the stuff we've been reading. Ugh! It's possible also she was just to embarrassed to speak or couldn't figure out how to say "2004". I just asked it like it was the easiest thing in the world for her to reply.

If "What year is it now?" is not understood..... holy crap! This kind of thing does happen often enough though. Often though we may not realize they really don't understand and just carry on basically talking to ourselves in front of the students.

[ohahakehte]

ya that happens a lot with my students too. i find the majority of students have a passable grasp of my lessons, and then there are minorities who are either way above everyone else and are a pleasure to teach or frustratingly below. many of them are just really lazy, therefore they just wait for me to give them the answer and dont even think about the questions. i really hate it when they do that and let them know it. ive become the teacher figure i always hated when i was their age.

[jajdude]

When it comes to speaking it sure does happen a lot. Some classes I have are reading classes and not exactly conversational. So I don't actually ask them questions directly one-on-one and hope for a real answer. But I know it will happen soon.... the embarrassment will come when a question like "So, when is your birthday?" will draw a poor response. I'm trying to do my job but it is frustrating to see such poor English from students with some experience.

[little mixed girl]

.......

[Ilsanman]

Kids often get things wrong for the sole reason that they don't understand the question. They don't have a keen understand of the 5 w's and how. That's where the root problem is often.

Sometimes I ask the same question in 2 different ways, and usually by then at least one student understands it, and tells the rest of the class in korean what it means.

The kids at my hagwon know so many words, but just can't use them properly to save their own lives.

[ohahakehte]

ya. although i get frustrated with my kids every single day i know its not right for me let it show so much. i doubt i would be performing much better in english if i was in their shoes - going to a hagwan for 2 hours a day three times a week in the midst of an insane load of school work that would throw any canadian student into a fit of overwhelming stress. i think the expectations put on these kids by their parents is really weird. sometimes i have a lot of fun joking with the students i like and they seem really laid back and it doesnt appear that they either enjoy or desire any of the pressures that their parents lay on them. some of them would rather have an easier life free of taekwondo, kendo, piano lessons, english hagwan, academy, public school, family obligations bla bla bla.

[matthewwoodford]

[ffl007]

If the little buggers don't understand...

1. The books are too difficult for them.
2. You aren't going over what is read.
3. You need to change the books and or curriculm. (If you don't have the power to change the books and or curriculm then you are like the 75% of the other native speakers; just a white face for the director to exploit and have the parents thinking you can teach better and faster than a non-white)
4. You don't know what the hell you are doing.

**I changed the whole winter class curriculm (students, books, level up and level down!) One parent called to complain, my director never said a word to me. Our classes aren't perfect, but much better than they were...

Not to get on your case and I am not.
It's just that the English institute scene is riddled with both dishonest directors and inept "teachers"

[kangnamdragon]

Sometimes I realize how little teachers understand English.

[khyber]

i'ts not always the teacher's fault. so long as a system is private, and not legally enforced, students (maybe in the end, parents) have the LAST say as to whether that kids ACTUALLY learns in class.
The old adage comes to the fore: "The teacher may only open the door, the student must walk through it".

That said, changing things up can help a lot.

I've had the same worries. Once a month we have a true "game day" where we learn nothing new but students get a chance to speak whatever English they learned over the month. And what happens? Even elementary students i've had for months:
"teacher, you turn", "me is go", "i am card"
It's insane how that drives me crazy.
I want english just to pop out of their mouth perfectly. I don't want to be a perfectionist but my younguns are lost.
That said, my middle school class, the students who have been with me for the last two years do QUITE well. "Oh yes, now you will die", "Give me my money theif", "you have (they don't know rolled) a 6. Move one more square" Monopoly is great for them and i'm proud of what they have accomplished.

Now dammit! The other 30 children i have better get like that!

[schwa]

Its not just the kids. Sometimes articulate adults go on a brain holiday while youre talking to them & if you ask a pointed question you realize nothing you said sunk in. Sometimes incomprehension, sometimes theyre formulating a comment about something earlier -- its tough to multifunction in a 2nd language.

I shrug it off & try again.

Kids can be exasperating though. After a year of contact I've seen some respond to "Good morning" with a look of panic then "Fine thanks." Often these same kids can do some quite high level stuff in different contexts, but when put on the spot something freezes.

[ohahakehte]