Korean Job Discussion Forums

Rock · Joined: 25 Feb 2005

Just found out today a company has hired me on to teach their company workers. It's a big company and I'll be teaching those business guys.

I'm nervous because I don't know exactly what to do. I've had these guys as students before, these office workers and blue collar workers, and they always seemed so uptight, stressed out.

I need some interesting activities for adults. Just letting them talk doesn't alway cut the mustard.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

In my experience, adults like competitive games and activities as much as kids do.

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Buy the appropriate level of Interchange and related CDs and teacher's book.

pegpig · Joined: 10 May 2005

Good luck. They generally love to spend their free time studying English. Confused

If you do actually have some that want to study, they'll probably like articles.

If you do get some that like activities, you might want to try a crossword puzzle. When I did this most liked it, except of course for the dead serious ones who only want to "study" the traditional way.

You take a regular crossword puzzle with all of the answers - obviously not too difficult, and you make 2 copies. Each one has half the answers whited out. Then you pair up the students. They take turns giving each other clues to finish their puzzles. They obviously have to use English to try to explain their words.

If there's an odd number of students I team up with one (hopefully the sexiest one). Sometimes they cheat and sometimes they race to finish. But, generally it works fairly well. Unfortunately, I didn't save any of the ones that I made, but it doesn't take that much time.

Good luck.

the eye · Joined: 29 Jan 2004

asking this question is rather useless unless you know what level they are.

animalbirdfish · Joined: 04 Feb 2004

pegpig · Joined: 10 May 2005

Flossie · Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 4:40 pm Post subject:

I hope the OP doesn't have the situation I have. Four guys, two who just want freetalking-no text book, one who wants to study 'the proper way' (but hasn't turned up for class yet) and another who also hasn't turned up for class. So far the only two that came have different levels and I know the study guy is better than either of them. Oooooh, what to do??

Voyeur · Joined: 19 Jun 2003

When teaching adults it is not enough to be teaching them well and for them to be learning.

The students have to think they are learning.

The agency you work for (if you do) has to think they are learning.

The company itself has to think they are learning.

So you usually have to balance the preconceived notions of all these groups - some of which, no matter how wrong, you will EVER talk them out of. SO be prepare dto make compromises and not always teach the best class in reality but rather the best possible class that will still also conform enough to the preconceived notions of the other interested parties that it makes them happy.

Adults will go along with your class, praise you, say they are having fun and loving it - then go back and write a scathing feedback report saying the teacher doesnt know enough, is only playing games, and isn't a "real" and "professional" teacher. Its a tricky balance.

pegpig · Joined: 10 May 2005

Some want this and some want that.

At the beginning of every class, at the beginning of every month, I gave my adult students a very short questionnaire. Four questions, if memory serves me correctly:

1. Do you want the test at the end of the month? It was part of the curriculum, but most didn't want it. I figured since it was part of the curriculum I'd do it unless there was overwhelming disagreement with it.

2. What % textbook/other material do you want. I gave them a few options ranging from only textbooks to only newspapers and other stuff.

3. When do you want group work? Never, only if more than 4, 6, 8, 10 students show.

4. What topics interest you? I gave them a few choices and asked for anything else that they could add.

In the end if students bitsed, I would show them the results of my little poll and say nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah. Just getting a show of hands isn't the best because of peer pressure, especially if you have students changing each month. Some of the long-running students could get a little aggressive in campaigning against tests especially.

At least if you give them a questionnaire it improves your odds of giving them what they want, which is ALL it is about.