Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jakda meori]

I work at a special place called Yeongcheon English Town, which is a public Educational Institute. I am one-week new to the profession but I love my job. It is pretty unique as I work in a place that is like an...American museum. Basically our school is set up like a town. Each room is modeled after some type of location (ex: Pharmacy) and we teach the kids how to relate the english they might know to real world situations. Every day, I have a totally new set of students so I never know who will show up. Last week I had a deaf student in class and I realized that I did not really know what to do with her. I tried my best and I think that I was actually able to teach her a few things using acting, games, pictures, props and face-to-face interaction. Basically using as many modalities as possible.

But does anyone have some specific advice they can give me for those situations?

[Meenam]

You could always learn a little Korean Sign Language. I taught myself (because I had a friend that was deaf) in a matter of a few weeks. I mean, I wasn't fluent in it by any means, but it certainly helped. You can pick up books at most local book stores. At least you could learn the signs for "repeat" or "watch". Just simple stuff. You could even learn the signs for the words you are trying to teach them. I have to say though...it does seem kinda odd that a deaf child is trying to learn english. How in the world would they know if they were even close on the pronunciation?

[winterfall]

I've got 3 deaf students in a public high school. Dunno why they're not at a special school. Haven't figured out a teaching method for activities.

But they can learn and do pronunciation. Though it'll take a lot of work on your party. For example short 'B', 'P', L, 'Eh', etc. Exaggerate your lip, tongue movements, a few times slowly. Then do it fast fast.

They're silently model you. Then you've gotta get them to speak it with more volume.

Only problem, I've run into a are throat sounds like R, where you can't show it to em.

If they're really motivated they can learn rythmn and word stress by clapping. They don't need to hear the sound just see the motions.

[cruisemonkey]

I wish all my students were deaf - they'd never hear me sneaking up on them when they're not listening.

[jakda meori]

Thanks for all the replies. During my class I used most of those techniques and at the time they seemed effective. I was able to get the student to approximate pronunciations through careful lip-reading. She also had a buddy in class who was constantly helping her and was coincidentally quite proficient in English.
Afterwards I sent an email to my mom who was a National Board Certified teacher of special ed students back in the states. She sent me their official list of what to do if you have a deaf student. I'm going to post them here for you in case you're interested.
1. Does the child lip read? If yes, make certain that you and any participants face her when giving responses, directions, talking. She should have what is termed "preferential seating" meaning that it may be a specific place in front, side or back. Or may be fluid depending upon the activity and layout of room/area.
2. If not, does she use sign language? Find out what kind. There are various ones used internationally. Learn basic signs to assist her with directions and communication. Let her teach you and other students too. We all benefit by opening doors to other worlds.
3. Pair her with another student, "buddy" who is very willing to take that role. Make certain the other student is genuine and really is a buddy. Sometimes students volunterr to garner good grace with teacher...
4. Provide her with specific responsibilities like passing out papers, role playing actions...you can do activities that are not speech dependant but represent cultural norms or a game of charades.
5. Tap into all forms of modalities when teaching: kinetic(students are up and moving during lesson or acting out directions), visual(pictures/photos, demonstrations), tactile (tracing in air spelling/letters, using shaving cream to write letters), tasting, smelling, hearing.

On Friday I found a cool article on the history of Special Education in Korea. I bookmarked it on my computer at work so I'll post it for y'all tomorrow.

[yingwenlaoshi]

[tomato]

Send for a few English sign language dictionaries.
I don't have any deaf students, but I teach English sign language to all my students anyway.
I consider it a preferable alternative to TPR.

[Rokteacher10]

You may want to try Minimal Pairs exercises. I recommend the book by Cambridge publishers entitled Pronunciation Pairs. It features diagrams of tongue positions. Great book for hearing impaired students.

[le-paul]

ive taught deaf kids and kids with 'learning difficulites' and hears what I did-
give the hearing impaired people a few writing tasks if they are stuggling - you can show them how to complete if you give them a few extra minutes (if its a class)./

can they lip read?
if they can, they may be able to pick up what youre telling the rest of the class if youre clear - if not write it down. Im sure they can lip read - they will probably be deaf, not stupid.
(Incidently (previous poster - just out of interest, hearing impaired people can pick up on pronunciation and adults can usually tell that people have accents by how they move their mouths differently).

As for 'learning disabilities' - just be your normal self - be fun but try not to be patronising - just the same as you do with the other kids (after all statistically speaking, their IQ is probably what our great grandparents were in the 1920's) I taught a bunch of learning disabled kids how to navigate across a mountain once and they loved it.
There are loads of learing disabilities kids here who can speak great English.


By the way are you an 'merican? People stopped saying 'handicapped' in Europe in the 1970s because it means 'you have a cap in your hand' meaning - youre a beggar. It's very derogatory.
Im just spreading the word, language is powerful thing and all that...

[Boodleheimer]