Korean Job Discussion Forums

y0itztara · Joined: 27 Apr 2011

I work in a hagwon and I have two 45 minute sessions with an individual student. It is supposed to be an individual conversation class, but the student seriously has no interests or even WANTS to talk. She is a 14 year old girl. She's not into boys (or girls), shes a tomboy (so no makeup or anything girly), she does not like sports...I have even gotten her kakaotalk to open her up a little more and ask about her interests...and still nothing. When I ask, I always get a "uhh...i dont know..." response. Any ideas? Any ideas on what I can do with the lessons that will last 45x2 lessons? It is a conversation/do whatever you want kind of class. So ANY idea will help. Thanks! (I am scared that if the lesson continues to be this "i dont know"/doing nothing lesson, she will drop out and it will all be on me, so please HELP!)

andrewchon · Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 5:45 am Post subject:

1. If you are a male then try get her to talk in third person.
e.g. not "do you like ice cream" but "Does Snow White like apples?" "Yes, she does."
2. You and/or her can use a 'mask'/role play/given a character
e.g. let her play the role of her mother

see if she can imitate Donald Trump: "Yooo are fired!" Laughing

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Boardgames? Cards?

NohopeSeriously · Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 5:06 pm Post subject:

She is going through the adolescent period. I recommend you to make some distance from her first.

Who's Your Daddy? · Joined: 30 May 2010 Location: Victoria, Canada.

Ask her to tell you about her friends, why she likes them, etc. Then school teacher, what does she look like, what's funny about her. Ask her about other people.

What music does she like? why does she like X? What's her favorite song?

young_clinton · Joined: 09 Sep 2009

Maybe you could get a LOR from the Hagwon that is setting you up? This is a fail situation unless you come up with games that she is willing to play.

wes1989 · Joined: 07 Jun 2012

kimuchiii · Joined: 02 Dec 2007

That sounds like...fun. Has anyone else taught her? Maybe someone could give you tips? Even if it is a conversation class, what about bringing in a short article and talking about it with her or even reading short stories or a book together and discussing it? What about activities where she has to form questions or answer more open ended questions like, would you rather? If you could....If you had.. I second the board games- or other activities where you two work together to do something initially but the focus isn't 100% on her answering questions she might feel are too personal or she just doesn't want to answer. What about making things? Small handicrafts, game boards, stories, scrapbook, etc-Good luck a 1-1 conversation class where the student doesn't want to talk isn't easy -_-'

le-paul · Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Location: dans la chambre

read a text and ask her questions about it.

It doenst have to be personal when youre talking to people. Just keep moving the tenses around and concentrate on making good grammar - past present future.

YTMND · Joined: 16 Jan 2012 Location: You're the man now dog!!

I agree with andrewchon. One change would be, maybe she needs to see some videos. If we have a social and language skill problem, a video might help her talk more. Then introduce the language.

Farron T · Joined: 12 Feb 2012

Do you play any instruments? Everybody loves music, right? Maybe you can play an instrument and sing and have her sing too. Or you could look up karaoke songs on youtube and try sharing that with her.

Sorry if my idea sounds silly, but I have no teaching experience. Just try to offer an idea.

joeteacher · Joined: 11 Jul 2007