Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cubanlord]

I'd like to get everyone's input regarding an email I recently received. In summary, the gentleman claims that his friend, a hagwon owner, has created a new and innovative way to teach Grammar to Korean students. He has requested to speak to me regarding possibly giving a presentation on his book that, of course, outlines how to teach Grammar to Korean students.

I have a few reservations regarding this.
1 - teaching grammar does not facilitate language acquisition. All research in the field indicates this.
2 - it seems like he only wants to pitch his book rather than share some useful pedagogical knowledge
3 - The email flat-out said that it, the book, is primarily geared towards NNESTs

Here is my concern: If I let him present, then I feel as though I am supporting teaching grammar to students who should be learning how to speak. What are your thoughts?

~
www.ralphsesljunction.com

[Fishead soup]

I can imagine his lecture is in L1 Korean.Lots of tid bits on how to score high on University exams.

[littlelisa]

I was actually thinking no, but then I thought, it can't hurt to see an abstract first, so I voted for that. But my guess is that the end result will be the same anyway.

[some waygug-in]

I think your instincts are correct. It will most likely be a waste of your time.

There is way too much stress placed on complicated grammar explanations in this country.

[blackjack]

[HapKi]

There is a difference between teaching grammar explicitly, and students learning grammar from such inductive methods as consciousness raising (C-R)/noticing, dictogloss, reformulation, etc. All of these methods can have a speaking element tied in. Even TBL (and it's supporters) deals with grammar learning, to some extent.
If the book presentation has activities with grammar in these ways, it might be interesting to check out.

[ddeubel]

[cubanlord]

Certainly, I agree with those that have stated that grammar can be taught when coupled with, as DD would say, a "how". E.g. I recently taught my students, in my speaking class, how to use tag questions. Sure, tag questions are part of grammar, however, I incoporated it into my speaking class where they interviewed each other, in English, using the tag questions. Small dialogues were created by the students using the vocabulary from the chapter and the specific grammar component and they were then required to use it with one another.

My main concern is that this guy will not use an integrated approach. But, I guess as of right now, I am merely conjecturing. I'll have him send me an abstract and a copy of the book so that I can better evaluate it. If he is serious about this, I think he'll send both things I am asking for. If he doesn't, then I think it safe to say that he was only interested in selling the book.

[cubanlord]

[T-J]

I voted to let him present. The only thing it is going to cost you is your time to listen, and it costs him an equal amount of time to make his pitch.

I'm a little taken back by the anti grammar sentiment in this thread. While I agree that the Korean methodology tends to over emphasize grammar, I can just as easily say that the majority of native teachers ignore grammar education equally as grievously.

Anyone that has learned a foreign language knows that an understanding of the target languages grammar is not a luxury, but a necessity. The devil of course is balancing the understanding of a target language's grammar to the point of being applicable versus merely memorizing grammar, which doesn't facilitate its application.

[blackjack]

[T-J]

[T-J]

I think that the word precise, 정확하다 in Korean, is an appropriate word to use in this discussion. Let�s consider the grammar, shall we?

My explanation is precise. 정확하다
It is a precise explanation. 정확한
I explained it precisely. 정확히

Can you explain the difference between 정확하다, 정확한, and 정확히 to me as a student of Korean without discussing grammar? How does the proper use and conjugation occur without some kind of grammatical explanation? If the person in question claims to have a unique and interesting way to incorporate grammar with functional practice, I say give him his thirty minutes to make his case.

[Privateer]

[Nowhere Man]