Korean Job Discussion Forums

[DC in Suwon]

Hi,

Starting next Wednesday I'll be doing a conversation class with 10 or so moms at my school. This isn't an illegal class because my school actually advertised it to all the parents at my school. All the moms that will be in the class have pretty decent/intermediate English level.

I've never done a class like this before and I'm having trouble finding any type of information/lesson plans on the internet.

Could anyone give me advice and/or links to sites that are for adult conversation (group)?

We will meet once a week for an hour.

Thanks so much! You can send me PM if you want.

Daniel

[reactionary]

i would request a textbook that you could photocopy - the interchange series works well - lot's of speaking and easy enough/low stress for the students.

failing that, breakingnewsenglish.com works too. but it can sometimes be hard to gauge the students' interest in the story and find articles that can match their level. also, it's *reading* and discussion based around that reading so it would generally be better if they read it before the class, but that's not going to happen.

[lowpo]

[edwardcatflap]

First lesson -

1) standard getting to know you activities - guage actual level of students
2) course overview - tell them what you're going to do for the rest of the course
3) needs analysis - give them a form with lists of topics and get them to grade interest from 1-5. Also give them a list of activity types, e.g. pair work, group work, role play, get them to grade preferences. Also give them opportunity to express course expectations.

Second lesson

Based on needs analysis, introduce topic, brainstorm vocab SS already know, feed in new vocab. put on board, give on handout. Feed in functional language Ss need to know, e.g. giving opinions, agreeing/disagreeing etc... set up activity, monitor, give feedback on mistakes. Repeat for second and third activities

Third/fourth/fifth lesson etc...

1) review vocab from previous lesson
2) Repeat second lesson with different topic, vocab and functional language.

[DC in Suwon]

Thanks so much for the info! Where is the best place to get a book? KYOBO in Gangnam? I've never bought a English teaching book here before.

[ttompatz]

[reactionary]

[DC in Suwon]

Thanks again for your thoughts. I think it is sort of like 'tea time,' haha!!! But yeah, I would prefer to get a conversation book for at least something as a back up plan.

Where is the best place to get a conversation book?

[Caffeinated]

[PigeonFart]

You'll be pleasantly surprised how easy it is to teach them. They want to be there, they have real life experience, and there's no intellectual barrier (like there is with the kids).

For the first class, you can spend time getting them to introduce themselves. Ask them lots of questions about their family.

Maybe print off an article from a newspaper and discuss that. Maybe introduce some idioms at the end of the lesson.

You'll find your own pace in a very short time.

[Steve_Rogers2008]

you could also just ask them in the first class what they wanted to learn. a

At the PS I had a class for mothers, I mean PARENTS... (though only mothers came) and one for the teachers. After asking what they wanted to learn, most all snubbed the books chosen by my coteacher- they were interested in things mostly around travel topics and general language matters.


Be the POPULIST teacher!

[Kikomom]

If these are the mothers of the children that you teach, a portion of the class could be devoted to helping them help their child reinforce what they are learning. I would definitely test those waters and see if it's something they are interested in--keeping up with their kids. Then you could go over the same lessons you teach the kids, adjusted to comprehension, pronunciation, etc.

[waynehead]

ttompatz is right, I've done one of these before. This will be more of a social club than a class. You should have some materials ready, but be prepared for them to lead you way off track.

[scorpiocandy]

[Ralphie]