Korean Job Discussion Forums

[crazylemongirl]

turns out I have to give 7 15 minute classes for the parents and their offspring in a few weeks... anyone got any good ideas for what to do?

For the older kids I was going to do a few easy riddles, but I want stuff that's got heaps of participation..
CLG

[waterbaby]

Do you mean an "open class" where the parents are allowed to watch you teach? I did that last year and it was hilarious... we had to make materials that we normally wouldn't, practice for weeks with the kids... rehearse, rehearse, rehearse, so that their little darlings sound sooooo smart when I ask "What's this?" and ten littles hands shoot up and ten little mouths scream out the right answer and I pretend to look surprised at their amazing knowledge and the parents beam proudly. GAG!!!

But seriously, I wouldn't actually teach the kids something new that day - review something they already know that's not too hard as they will probably be a bit nervous, shy and unsettled with so many adults in the room. Try doing an easy warm up to start with for a few minutes... depending on their age and level... sing a song, play a quick game that everyone can participate in - get the student's minds off the big folk watching them (and you!)

What is your director's goal? To give the parents a good representation of your teaching style and a typical class? Or is it to make them feel pleased about their child's progress? A big PR exercise? I'd probably avoid any writing tasks because you have only 15 minutes. I think the parents would most want to see and listen to their kids speaking English.

I did a simple game in one open class, maybe an eraser game (write a bunch of words they should know on the board and call out a particular word for them to erase) and the parents became horrid, competitive, cheating freaks!!! It was so weird, watching them call out the answers, trying to help their little darling to win a point for their team. I thought a couple of the parents were going to have it out with each other.

Without any more information about your students' ages, levels or what kind of syllabus and books you're teaching, it's a bit hard to give specific ideas... so how old are your kids, what level etc?

[crazylemongirl]

whoops,
in my rush to type thing during my lunch break I forgot to add some stuff.

First up, I kind of got told about it in an off hand way by one the korean teachers 'do you know that you have to do a parents class?"

So basically all I know is that it's my elementary classes only so kids range in age from 6-11 years.

Apart from that I have no idea what the purpose is or in fact the date, apart from it being on a saturday..

CLG

[weatherman]

What about reading storybook were the kids and parents can participate together? After reading it to the class, make up some activities on the board related to the book, such as pictures to retell the story, a game where you use the charactors to make new conversations, or somethings along thoughs lines. It takes some prep work, but it seems to impress the parents.