Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cdninkorea]

My university is requiring that we teach 4 graded readers in our classes on top of the main textbook. It's a lot for students to read, especially because, as a whole, their English is not great (they are EFL classes, not English literature classes). I'm trying to decide exactly how to use the graded readers in the classroom, and I was hoping I might be able to get some help from others who do this kind of thing too.

Right now I'm toying with these ideas:

1. Assign a chunk of reading per week along with a list of comprehension questions. Students would be required to choose a question and write a short answer in response.
2. Assign a chunk of reading per week as above, but summarize the sections in class. With 4 graded readers in a 16 week semester, this would obviously mean a lot less time on the main textbook.
3. Let students read at their own pace (bad idea, I suspect) and have them do a few larger assignments throughout the semester to check that they've read and understood it.

Of course there are many more approaches I could take. If you are in the same position, I'd greatly appreciate if you'd share what you do.

[mumblebee]

I'll tell you what has worked for my students:

Assign the reading as homework in manageable chunks. Encourage students to meet with a partner to read together if this helps them keep up with the reading. Stress to students that they only need to do a basic reading...just get through the text at least once. Tell them to make note or underline any words/expressions they don't understand, but to NOT spend a lot of time with a dictionary for this first read.

When students come to class, put them in groups. Give ONE worksheet to each group, and do not let them photocopy it for each member. This worksheet you will have prepared in advance, and has basic comprehension questions about the story, as well as a semi-controlled vocabulary activity, like matching words from the book with simple phrases or synonyms. As a group, students complete this worksheet. Students should use their own wording to answer questions, do not let them copy from the book.

After students have completed the worksheet, let them photocopy it for each member.

At this point, I would sometimes (not every time) assign a small task related to the text. I tried to keep the tasks short, and to give them a few options to choose from. One of the options was always more creative...a diary entry of a major character, retelling a scene as a minor character, gathering images from the internet to create an artistic photo essay to depict a dramatic moment in the text. Other taks would require the student to revisit the text, finding details, summarizing, retelling etc. These options were to be discussed and brainstormed by the group, but then each individual would choose their own option and then complete it for homework By the end of the term, student had 4-6 of these assignments completed, and they would be handed in together as a portfolio for marking.

Students usually really enjoyed this kind of work. PM me if you want more details.

[mumblebee]

Oh yeah, I alternated novel classes with regular textbook classes, to give reading time, but I saw my student almost everyday. If you see them once a week, you could incorportate group work into every class, just keep it shorter. Use the groupwork for assessing participation.

[MoonDuck]

I have never used graded readers in Korea, but I did use simplified literary classics a few years back in Taiwan at a uni with not too brilliant kids.

One of the things I did was to have them each read a paragraph aloud in class. This was awkward for many, but it got them participating and I could correct their pronunciation.

A better activity was writing up plot summary worksheets with blanks for the names of characters, places and things, etc. Students could fill them in individually or in small groups during class, then we could go over them to check comprehension.

East Asian kids aren't too literary, so you've got a challenge. However, I believe that reading some creative literature does help their language and general thinking skills, so I applaud what you're doing.