Korean Job Discussion Forums

[I_Am_Wrong]

Just wondering if you usually teach from a book or just wing it? If you teach privates from a book do you buy a copy for the student and you or what? Also, have any good book recommendations for middle or high school students? I've been winging it so far, but I think it would be good to get some books and just supplement. thanks in advance.

[Homer]

Basic wrong right there: I have been winging it......


Its kind of basic common sense that a teacher, any teacher, should work from a book or follow some sort of lesson plan. That's why its called teaching and not improv and thats what your pvts pay you for: teaching.

Just buy a book and plan some lessons...its the minimum you can do for what they pay you.

[I_Am_Wrong]

well, i'm not just making stuff up on the spot...that would be ridiculous. I've been looking for a good series of books to use but haven't found anything I like yet. I've been using things that I make up myself, newspaper articles/ discussion topics, and internet resources but it's time for a good conversation book or two. Can you recommend a particular publisher or series? Thanks.

[crazykiwi]

hey, i reccomend you use a book called "teentalk" published by LIS KOREA. its for a moderate to high level, but the writing in it is teen based and the questions are reltively simple enough or you could just make thgem up according to their level. also you could use "lets talk 1 &2" for advanced students. talks about issues related specifacally to korean teens and you can easily get a 40 minute lesson out of it, using the other 20 for other stuff.

anyway, i have 2 lessons where i "wing it" becaus ethats exactly what the parents wanted. conversation english. my kids are advanced enough to talk to me about anything for 50 minutes so its great. anyway, hope this helps

crazy

[Homer]

Teen talk aint bad.

As for what the parents want crazykiwi do not equate concervasional class with winging it.
Conversation can and should still be planned to attain certain language goals no? Hence lessons should be planned and topics carefully chosen so that each lesson works on certain areas.

[crazykiwi]

conversation can be planned, but makes a lesson very stiff and regimented. A normal conversation, which is what i have with my kids, should be unplanned, as it creates the type of environment that they will face later in life. Who meets another english speaker with a topic already written down and sits and talks about it for an hour? I know this is not what was implied, but im trying to be as realistic as possible. for my students and i, we easily get through the hour, talking freely about all sorts of things going on. It doesnt mean im a poor teacher for not going there with a topic and saying "right, we are talking about this today", it means im capable of holding a conversation for an hour with 3 kids. if they wanted language goals, vocab building etc, go to a hogwan. Im there to teach them how to interact with an english speaking man, who they will ultimately meet later in life.

[eamo]

Go for the old favorite, New Interchange. A breeze to teach and there's 4 levels from beginner to advanced.

[paperbag princess]

side by side is good for dialogue practise. it can be a bit boring, but it does do the trick.

[riverboy]

I like side by side as well.
I also use Reading Advantage by Casey Malarcher(sp). It is a reading based conversaiotn book with interesting topics and good vocabulary quizes at the beginning of erach chapter. There are four books in the series. I highly recommend it.
Just buy the book and the parents will reimburse you.

[I_Am_Wrong]

so you buy the book and the parents reimburse you? Do you buy two copies...one for you and one for the student? or one copy and leave it with the student?

[livinginkorea]

Well for my private class I just photocopy chapters at school (without their knowledge hehe) but I don't stick to it. I mix it a bit to make it interesting for them, especially kids. The Side-by-Side is a brillant book in my opinion. It's a huge section that Koreans forget about -- Grammar!! But it's a little boring if you do it all the time. Play hangman or Bingo or even bring in a video with Korean subtitles if you get a chance. It's all good!!!

Anyway, whatever book you decide on maybe you can ask your student's mother to get it. Or even you could buy it yourself and they might be really impressed by it. Depends on the number of students you have, how much the book is, do you think that the class will last for a long time and on your mood!!!

[The Man known as The Man]

[Toby]

First class to assess level.

Second to start on books.

Harry Potter is a good one to use as there is reading and lots of vocabulary.

I have also started using a good book called Writing To Learn. 4 levels, published by McGraw Hill. I am also using tat book for material in my middle school as I have no textbook.

Makes a good mix and it fills my two hour class very well, after 20 minutes conversation.

[TJ]

Krazy Kiwi you signed off with "i miss my mums roast lamb, god damn it, give me my sheep!". What about grilled lamb chops with sprigs of rosemary and mint sauce. Accompanied with boiled fresh green peas (not the bullets you get here) and garden fresh boiled carrots all covered in melting NZ or Aussie butter. A heap of mashed potatoes on the side would be nice as well.

I dream of meals like that !!!

[Play_Doh]

What was, the name of that band that Paul Macartney formed after the beatles...and oh yea, what was their Number one song?