Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Derrek]

I had one class teaching TOEFL writing. The students complained after one class. They complain I am not teaching TOEFL writing.

After the first 20 minutes of class, it became apparent that the students (high school girls) could not even form opinions on TOEFL questions provided in my TOEFL book. They just stare at me with blank looks and can't even argue one way or another on questions like, "Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? A person should never make an important decision alone."

I tried other TOEFL topics. Nothing.

They couldn't handle it, so I made up some simple questions about our school, which I knew they would have opinions about. From that, I had them create an outline to use as the basis for writing their introductory paragraph, two or three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

I want to get them to first learn how to at least form an opinion and write those opinions down in an outline, however they seem to want to go from crawling to sprinting through the TOEFL in a few classes!

So today, after one class, my advisor says, "We have been hearing complaints from students and parents that they want you to teach TOEFL writing."

I explained that I have only had one class, and I have been teaching writing for the TOEFL.

No, but they want you to teach them TOEFL writing.

GRRR!!!! They can't even figure out an opinion on a topic, much less write about it!!!!

I feel like they expect some "magic bullet" that will help them get around this big, scary reality that they have no clue how to write anything at all.

And now it's becoming my fault.

[JacktheCat]

Just mention the magic words ... "Dok Do"

They will spew forth an outpouring of opinion.

I've found the hard part is getting them to form an opinion in the first place. Let alone an independent opinion.

As for the writing, you would have to go back to basics, as they don't teach how to write a standard 5 paragraph essay in Korean schools.

[weatherman]

[JacktheCat]

As to your dilemma.

What they (the parents, students, and school) want is for you to give them examples to copy and memorize. They don't want you to show them how to make their own TOEFL essays.

Maybe I am jaded from teaching in Korea too long, but I'd suggest just going with the flow and giving them what they want, not what they need.

[manlyboy]

[Saxiif]

Ouch that's got to suck, am having some fun with my TOEFL class. I had them write in favor of a position they disagreed with and I had one kid produce an excellent essay about why Korea should hand over dokdo to Japan

[iiicalypso]

One thing I have done in the past is find sample essays, either in toefl practice books or on the internet, and assign them to copy them by hand for homework. As much as I hated doing it (I think it is a pretty inefficient use of time) it killed two birds with one stone. It exposed the students to reading good essay examples, and at the same time the parents were satisfied that the little ones were studying TOEFL writing.

[Zyzyfer]

Feel for ya, really. But at the same time, what others have said is true. Go with the flow. I play dirty when politics (parents and crap like that) starts rearing its head in my classes, and I've never had students complain twice during this contract, because they learn real fast that I don't give a damn what mommy and daddy think when it comes to real education. I actually am starting to enjoy it when students complain now, because it means I can be a jerk of a teacher for a couple of days, strike a lot of potential fear into the hearts of my students, garner their respect, and embarass some spoiled rich kids, all in one fell swoop.

What you do is walk into your next class and give them one topic for every 30 minutes of class. Give them some paper and tell them to start writing. When they look at you like you're supposed to hold their hand or something, you simply tell them that they want to write TOEFL essays, so that's what they're going to do. You'll check the completed essays and return them the next class (this absolves you from being called a slack teacher). Also, don't goof around while they're "writing"...pace the room, egg slower students on, nod your head a bit at the students doing well, give spelling hints or maybe explain a word in English that they don't know, but whatever you do, DON'T TELL THEM WHAT TO WRITE. And don't let them whine the whole class...dig into them. They don't know that you know.

What this will probably do is make them think that your class is too hard. They will go home and complain that night most likely, and you might get some complaints, but don't let it get to you since you've got a class to save, just plan a nice, proper lesson for the next class. Don't focus on getting them to form an opinion at all; it's one of the least important parts. Get some example essays, show them the various parts of an essay, take a topic and deliberately choose what their opinion is and show them how to make an outline. Teach them the real dirt basics of essay writing.

Inevitably, they'll realize from that one insanely hard class that they don't know SFA about writing, and when you come in for the next class with a lesson that involves little time wasted with thinking and a lot of organizational information to absorb, they'll realize that you know your stuff and start listening up. Save the opinion-choosing for later, after they know all of the parts of an essay and you've shown them several argumentative essays and they've seen an effective argument.

For homework, give them writing assignments, but not normally actual essays. First assignment is an essay for homework (to see their abilities), check over each one briefly and be blunt with their scores: "One sentence intro, only one support paragraph, no conclusion, 2." Something like that. Then give them proper homework assignments, like writing introductions or comparing/contrasting two very simple objects. Also, I posted a book before on a thread of yours called "Great Essays" which is a really useful book so far and has a lot of great information in it, but it's only in English. Lots of VERY good non-essay homework that gets them looking at essay structure.

Save the opinion battle for later, when they actually know what to do with it.

[Kimchieluver]

Make them write out "The Ballad of Sam McGee" and then have them critcally analyse it. After that. .There will be no more complaints.

Three of the Kts at my old hogkwon spent a couple of weeks on it out of morbid curiosity.

[ajuma]

Find a book with the TOEFL essay topics and choose one that they MIGHT have some opinion about. Teach them brainstorming first! THEN how to write an outline, THEN how to write a topic sentence, THEN supporting sentences. You'll be "teaching TOEFL" but in an organized way.

[Canucksaram]

Ajuma is right!

Those students who care will catch on and do the work.

Those students that don't care will be just a trifle's worth of marking effort into marking into oblivion.

You will soon know whom to concentrate your teaching efforts upon, and whom not to bother with. All within three to five easy lessons.

Ajuma-power . . . "Go!" (cue cheesy Asian "action cartoon music").

-Canucksaram

[redbird]

[Derrek]

[Canucksaram]

Edited post, due to drunkenness.

-Canucksaram

[Zyzyfer]