Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gollum]

Looking for ideas to make an adult class more interesting.

Mostly, they are of a high level. After 2 months, I am hearing rumors that they want to do some different stuff. Right now, we follow a time schedule like this:

Review of last class: 10 to 15 mins
New words and phonics: 10 mins
Topic discussion: 25 to 30 mins
Break: 5 to 10 mins
New Idioms: 15 mins
General discussion: 10 minutes
Quick review of day: 5 minutes

Any suggestion of what I can do to "spice up" the class? I'd really appreciate the help, as this is my first time teaching an adult class.

Thanks

[peppermint]

What level are they? Most adults want to try freetalking and can do it- if they are willing to try, and you are patient.

I like to get students to bring in pictures of vacations or things, and tell me about them. It seems that having props helps an awful lot for beginners.

[Gollum]

I have 3 separate classes. The lowest class is able to make slow, shy conversation if they take their time. They aren't so confident. The 2nd level class are able to converse well, and indeed some will talk your leg off, but their speech/accent isn't that great. The third level is made up of people who speak very clear English (mostly) and have lived overseas in English-speaking countries for a time. A few of them have excellent ability, and are only lacking in idioms/slang expressions, etc.

I have missed a lot of class in these past 2 1/2 weeks due to many reasons, and one student told me that some people are upset about it. There wasn't much I could do -- went through a move and caught a nasty flu (only missed 1 class due to that and had to shorten a class because I was on the verge of puking). Also, I had to go to Japan for a visa run, so I missed 2 days due to that. Also, I have an "orientation" thing I have to do for the school next week, so I'll miss a class due to that. Administration wants me to miss 3 classes for every class I miss, so one class doesn't get ahead of the other. The classes are paid-for by the company, so if I miss a class block, they will just add it on at the end of the schedule as a make-up.

I've tried to explain that things will normalize now as far as the schedule is concerned, but there seems to be some complaining about it. Not much I can do there.

This, however, has led to some complaining that I am not putting much into the class, etc. Everyone seemed happy a month ago, but now some people are grumbling. I've pretty much stuck to the discussion topic schedule provided by my boss (which he handed out to everyone in the beginning). I did have input on the first 8 lessons, but to my sadness, he had created a lesson plan for like 3 or 4 months, filling in his own material. He hasn't provided me the material for the plans, and was gone of vacation this past week and a half (ironically during the time I've been busy and sick) so I've had to scramble to do some lessons at the last minute or while really feeling very ill. So I will admit, I can see where the lessons have seemed less exciting.

So at this point, I'm looking for some really fun and interesting things to do so that I don't get a reputation of being a "bad teacher".

[peppermint]

First off, you can't teach these three classes with the same curriculum. The lowest class will get discouraged and blame themselves, the highest class will get bored and blame you.

Low level: I like guessing games as a structured way to get them talking, and give tons of praise. Try to incorporate a little grammar- just one point a day, and get them practicing that point during the discussion.

Mid level: Try tongue twisters and perhaps music for accents. It seems a little silly to adults but they seem to like it,, and let them try to teach you one in Korean if you're brave. Most people mimic accents when singing so that might be something to consider.

Advanced: Bring in newspaper articles, (CNN or the Joong Ang Daily are good resources) and a few questions about them. Take idioms from the articles. If they're really brave, let them bring in a topic and tell what they think about it, to lauch class discussion. They'll often surprise you with what they choose.

Hope this helps!

[Gollum]

I agree with you about not being able to teach the classes all the same, however I'm sort of up against a wall on this one. The often "float" a lot between classes, due to their work schedule. I can keep the easy class separate, however. The high-levels are not allowed to attend those classes.

I've incorporated many of the things you spoke of before. It's hard, because the company has made this a required thing for them to attend, or they are fined for missing a day. They don't want to come, but have to.

I have to make this super-interesting, or I'm going to have some bitchy people.

[riverboy]

Did you ever think about having your students do five or ten minute oral presentation wioth a class critique to follow?

[canukteacher]

Here are some ideas I have used successfully in higher level classes:

1. Have each student prepare a presentation telling the class about one or more people whom they consider to be hero/s in their life.

2. favorite quotes --I gave my students a website to help them find the quotes. They had to talk about the meaning of the quote and why it was their favorite. (my advanced students really liked this one)

3. favorite english books

4. favorite english movies (many of them brought in the video, and we watched a short segment)

5. travel is always a favorite topic. Have them bring in pictures of their vacations

6. panel discussion...........pick an issue.......one side is pro/the other con

7. find a website personality quizz and have them do the quizz and bring in the results for discussion

8. favorite english and korean music. We listened to the music and then discussed



These were all successful for me. I guess the one thing is that the students have to be prepared to do some work outside of class.

Hope some of these ideas work for you!

[Corky]

A book I have success with is "Small Group Discussion Topics". I think it's by Jack Matire and put out by Pusan UP. It comes in different levels for higher level students and each unit is a general topic from a Korean angle (abortion, women's rights, computers, cars, etc). Each unit has expressions and vocabulary explained, and at the end there's a section of discussion leading questions. You can order it on-line or get it at Kyobo bookstore in Seoul, or just get your assistant to order it at the school.
There's also the Oxford UP books "Impact: Issues" and "Impact: Values". You can get a look at them on-line at the Oxford UP site.

From what you wrote about your students and your lesson plan, I think you need to give the students more time for conversation. Talk less and make sure that you don't let anyone else dominate the class. Try using a teacher talk-time of around 10-20% and see what happens. If the class isn't too big, you could get them sitting in a circle or in a horseshoe.

[captain kirk]

If I may butt in here and plead my woes (which have learned to swim, to quote U2 (greatest hits, 1990-2000) may I say that the top Korean teacher for middle school has cool advanced articles given her ability to bridge (and quickly) their gaps in reading comprehension. I can't do that! (but that's besides the point, me taking a minute thumbing fast as possible thru the dictionary! FAST as possible, THAT is!). Those advanced middle schoolers are a PROBLEM! My biggest problem in this school I've inherited since two months ago. Because the book is Side By Side, be it edition one, two or three. If it's the upper echelon students (bitchy female teenagers, angry they're not getting out of Side by Side three in class) I want to take up with management how it is they can BLUNT the 'wow, we have a foreigner' experience' by stipulating it must be ENDURED via the repitition of Side By Side, which is the lash, the burden, the lesson at the end of all misdemeanours, haha! But seriously, out of this dry land I say! On to something else! My predecessor used the newest Harry Potter book (the movie isn't out yet). These students have been throught he closed doors drill scene ad infinitum and it's 'ok' with a Korean teacher ('I guess') because they can make witty, supposedly hilarious small talk in between (with a lot of in between). But with the foreign teacher the content based activities have to be fresh, involving and novel! So I have these classes where the 'sentence' is Side by Side before anyone has had a chance to live! Iron Maidens, racks, and thumbscrews! Have you all noticed it's so busy (bali bali) and you're so busy (pant pant) that curiculum change takes a couple of months at best by which time the kids have been a month on the rack, haha!