Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sirius black]

My uni is using Jazz English for conversation. The class length is 50 mins. 10 minute break then another 50 mins.

I don't like to teach boring classes. I taught a freshman level class (this is the next level up) and I made it fun and interesting by doing the book (Smart Choice--boring book by the way...lol) in the first 50 minutes and then in the 2nd half of the class I had a speaking exercise. Things such as tell the class about your bucket list. Interviewing another person in the class about a wide range of questions that I chose and the questions were fun, interesting questions.

Problem is I have some of the same students so can't do that again. I am using Jazz English 1 and I used the family section on page 19 of the first chapter already in my freshman classes.

What can I do to make the classes interesting and fun? It would be great if it were based on each section (Chapter 2- Hobbies for example). I plan to choose some or all of the questions in the book in the first 50 minutes and have them write out the answers in small teams and help each other, then I ask everyone at least a few of the questions in front of the class.

Second 50 minutes is my quandry. I would love to do a group discussion but most of them just sit there. Unlike adults most won't participate in an open class discussion even though a good percentage of their grade is class participation.

Any ideas?

[Captain Corea]

Any chance you could add a video/audio listening section? Maybe grab an applicable clip from a sitcom?

[busanliving]

Make interview sheets, a bingo sheet, get them up out of their chairs and practicing the language with different people.

[Unposter]

While I do some things similar to you, half textbook, half conversational exercise, I usually connect the conversational exercise to the textbook lesson.

But, if students don't like to discuss your discussion topics, ask them to choose topics and select a student or students to lead the discussion. Students will be more vested in a positive outcome of their discussion and it can generate interest. Just give the students enough time to prepare for each subject.

I think Busanliving has the right idea, though. If the problem is your students just don't know English to discuss things, structure more - write down questions and structured answers and let them "interview" each other or do a role play where parts of the conversation are written out and all the students have to do is fill in the blanks or gaps. Try to target your blanks or gaps toward the lesson's target such as particular vocabulary or grammar.

Just having a new textbook should provide enough "change of environment" to keep things lively.

[augustine]

Easy. Scat singing contest.

Does it cover all periods of time? I'm a huge jazz fan and a lot of those guys were pretty interesting characters, I've read about a lot of good stories. Although talking about some of it might land you in trouble.

[Los Angeloser]

Let them listen to these jazz tunes by Dave Brubeck, play them in class while doing whatever.
Take Five
Theme from Mr. Broadway
Blue Rhondo A La Turk
Unsquare Dance
Trolley Song
Bossa Nova U.S.A.
It's a Raggy Waltz
The Duke
Camptown Races
In Your Own Sweet Way
I'm In A Dancing Mood

Those above are pretty short in length, Or just click here and listen to many(45 song mix) where some can get long but still good stuff...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faJE92phKzI&list=RD02SVGotpIxkGU

If the Jazz English you're talking about is what I'm thinking of at it hasn't changed much then there are at least two good lessons in that book which could be stretched into 2 or 3 days each depending on what "Uni class" means? The directions and describing people lessons are pretty good aren't they?

Give them an intro to Louis Armstrong and make them give a presentation...Give them a list of possible performers or let them choose.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Armstrong

See who can play an instrument, put together a group, be their manager, assign a group of managers, take turns, come up with managing plans, and/or do "Show and Tell"

[watergirl]

Hi
so I used to teach Jazz English to adult night classes in my college.
I only had each class twice a week so I used to
-start with a typed up sheet of Qs and put people in pairs to ask each other the Qs ..just general what did you do yesterday? how many cups of coffee did you drink? so they practiced past tense . They were a high level, but you could have different kinds of Qs each week. Look at the back of Jazz English..it has pages on different topics and Qs practice.. Ie: how many? once a week/
then,I introduced the book's theme - discussed the vocabulary
The next class, i typed up a sheet to review vocabulary. Eg: match, fill in boxes.
-then I asked the whole class the discussion/speaking Qs and we had a group discussion. of course, i would bring up my own more interesting Qs
-then i had people pair up and ask the 'discussion Qs' in the book

If you have the class many times a week, I would have 'news discussion or reading article day, or a practical english once a week. See boggleseslworld website for someone's whole class on this. They have worksheets and everything from travel language to restaurant language. You can also find news lessons on a website.

what u do will really depend on their english level. I found the students are there to have fun, interesting discussions as well as learning.