Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

Actually, his lesson plan very closely resembles that of many Korean teachers that I know-- sans masochism, of course.

On the other hand, it does sound like he prepared in his own way, which is something, I guess. I would be interested in knowing whether or not the students were actually speaking to him. Were they actually interacting, or just laughing at him?

[byrddogs]

There is a difference between being a clown/monkey and being entertaining. A good teacher is able to make things both interesting and educational. I will never be the monkey teacher, yet my students want my class and complain when they don't get it.

My open class last year went over without a hitch without being rehearsed. The district supervisor and the VPs with English degrees that attended had nothing but good things to say and actually recommend that I train others at the ps training facility.

I'm not trying to boost my ego; yet I'm trying to say that being a "dog and pony" show isn't necessary. To me that is embarrassing and very Isaac Durst. I've never done it and never will, yet I am successful in my methods.

[KuroBara]

[Chet Wautlands]

I missed the fact that it was an academic high school. That makes this story ten times as funny.

[cdninkorea]

[Ilsanman]

He won't like it, since the teacher didn't hit the students or teach them how to blog about using Thai whores.

[T-dot]

what is a semi academic school?

A lower tier Academic HS probably has more in common with a tech. HS than an upper level HS.

[Smee]

[Goku]

Someone needs to do a study about the effects of edutaining.

We all THINK it's effective because kids pay attention.

But we need to realize that kids are paying attention to the wrong things and that we have to recognize that there could or could not be any learning.

For example, it is our belief that if it is entertaining or funny, we will remember it better. Makes sense right? In fact we have an entire mnemonic system based upon humor. However, that system is which is called keyword mnemonic actually has associate connections. Whereas the edutaining we have to analyze the tenants of what is just entertainment for entertainment sakes or associative patterns that aid in memorization, recollection, or understanding.

For example, I had "manners" lessons. There was a joke about what the word rude meant and had pictures and everything. A week later 22 students had no idea what it meant. all tested individually. They really remembered nothing despite all my jokes, stories, and pictures about what rude meant. The whole thing lasted like 2 lessons. They definitely had fun and laughed during my classes but they didn't remember a damn thing.

In some ways, I think edutaining can be effective. However, we also need to be careful of over stimulation and desensitizing children to all learning. If kids expect every bit of information they are supposed to memorize come in the form of a dancing clown, they will harder apt to learn through traditional methods.

I think we are handicapping kids by edutaining. Not everything they need to learn will come in the form of a dancing weigook clown.

[andrewchon]

Goku:
Just out of interest, what was the test of the objective i.e. how did you test whether the students learnt anything during the 'manners' lesson?

[lostintranslation100]

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

This is partly flippant, but to me it comes down to some key things

1, "Fifth Wiggle Syndrome" ie the expectation that English has to be dumbed down and inoffensive. Teaching through distraction. Put simply, English is so daunting that it has to be disguised as entertainment. Problem-students are passive and are merely watching you "teach". Learning by osmosis is a misnomer.

2, "Feel safe culture". Korean pop culture is lame and inoffensive. Lump in edutainment.

3, "Little man of asia complex". We need English but deep down have no confidence in becoming proficient. However we have no problem with keeping up the charade. Chronic overcompensation by obsession with test scores.

4, Education run by administrators. We want to bring over teachers..but also don't want to pay too much. Or train. Or retain.

5, Regionalism. Chinese, Japanese, yes we will approach those as though they were a science. English? Not so much....

[jhuntingtonus]

Some comic relief is good (I made animal noises last week for middle-schoolers - I brought down the house), but all the time? Naah. Still, it comes down to what the school really wants...

[samcheokguy]

I always think of it this way...I'm a game show host. Not a clown. You ARE teaching children (certainly Korean students have a younger mental age than westerners)

[Fishead soup]

"I'm not here to Entertain you.
You're here to entertain me."

John Lydon