Korean Job Discussion Forums

mua'dib · Joined: 29 Sep 2009 Location: sweating pure pocari

About half of my kids seem to be totally new to speaking. I am attempting to teach them conversation but all of the information I get off of the plethora of ESL websites seems to assume a basic level of english, they also assume perfect student behavior (a whole other matter). with very few exceptions my students are below "basic". Any ideas on how to get (and keep) them practicing english?

I must again emphasize, these kids need practice, they can't pronounce 'sk' 'f' 'ks' 'w' 'th' 'v' and a host of other sounds, I'm working on basic linguistic training but I need something that holds their attention a little more.

Any ideas for teaching beginners conversation?

Chet Wautlands · Joined: 11 Oct 2008

Check out "we are busy beavers". It's a decent site that I'm using with my lowest level classes. Things like "what's his name? What's her name?" etc.

Too easy?

andrewchon · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 7:43 pm Post subject:

How old are these lovable creatures?

Fishead soup · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Location: Korea

Go into the site EFL NING. download lots of Power point with pictures and Baam games, What's the Wordle is good too.
The Stuff from Side By Side is awesome. David Duebels hosts this site.

mua'dib · Joined: 29 Sep 2009 Location: sweating pure pocari

they are middle school students 13-15 i think. some are doing fine, but mostly I'm having problems with pronunciation. Comprehension is a can of worms I haven't really cracked yet.

Also: I am supposed to do daily interviews with two or three students at a time. Any ideas on how I can communicate with these non-english speakers? What should I be asking them?

Fishead soup · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Location: Korea

andrewchon · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 11:09 pm Post subject:

There are many things you can do for Middle School deaf-mutes.
Let me suggest:
If it is a class of 40. Do the Telephone:
Let them make cup and string telephone. Practice repeating with changed pronouns. Tell them what questions to ask after repeating back i.e. where, when, what, who.
If it is a smaller class:
Let them play conversation Baseball. Divide into two teams. Find a book of conversations that they can read. Work out a system of out/hits, how many bases from a die toss. For a beginner class you might have a lead quite a bit during first few games, because some don't have clue how to play the game.

mua'dib · Joined: 29 Sep 2009 Location: sweating pure pocari

For some reason I don't have any idea how to teach a game just from reading the instructions.

Thank you fro the finchpark reference I am sure this site will come in handy. mostly though, all of the websites I have visited are next to useless.

One more question: I feel like it's good to get the boys and girls used to speaking with each other, if only in their English classes. I'm not saying I want to buck tradition but the simple fact is that if these kids plan on ever visiting an English speaking country it won't pay to freeze up around the opposite sex. Is this a legitimate concern?

Either way I feel that taking the students out of their comfort zone on a regular basis will help them abandon their fear or embarrassment when speaking (or attempting to speak) English.

laoshihao · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 7:40 pm Post subject: Games

Try practicing the game with some friends. It will help you see how it will actually work. And you'll get an idea of how long it may take to play.

mua'dib · Joined: 29 Sep 2009 Location: sweating pure pocari

What does a typical class look like for you? Seriously I've never seen anybody else do this.

I'm all alone in the middle of nowhere..... I got here they said "can you start work tomorrow", I said "sure"

Y'all know this part: then they plopped me in a class room and said "teach".

I think that so far my little dialogues have been working but I'm gonna need some fresh material here..... I don't want everybody to get bored.