Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Panda_Dude]

(I originally posted this on Dave's Teacher Discussion forum. However, I know a ton of people post on this forum. So I decided to post this thread here too for more suggestions or criticism).

Seeing as comics are quite popular with children in Korea, I am thinking of bringing over a substantial percentage of my comic collection to my job. These would mostly be one-off issues of Superman, Batman, Spiderman... (In other words, no continuous story that would leave the children wanting more, and me lacking the next issue).

Now, I am wondering about some suggestions of how to implement my use of comics. My ideas so far are:

(A) Split the classroom into groups. Obviously, I will have to choose the groups to make sure there's a reasonable balance of abilities. (This would be four groups of three at a typical Hagwon). Hand out photocopies of a quarter of the whole comic to each group.

(Each group will receive a different quarter of the comic. Since a comic is typically about twenty four pages, that would mean each group goes through six pages. I think forcing students to read a whole comic in one class is asking too much. I mean, it takes me five minutes to go through six pages of a Korean comic just trying to read the Hangeul).

Then I'll give about ten to fifteen minutes (more or less depending on age/difficulty of comic) for the group to read through the portion of the comic together. Aftewards, I will ask each group (in order of first quarter of comic, second quarter...) to tell me what the characters are talking about in the comic. For the more creative/outgoing students, I might give them five minutes to actually act out the scene (minus fighting).

(B) Make photocopies of a comic scene, but remove the text within the speech boxes. Hand out a page to a group or each student (depending on the grade level and ability) and tell the students to look at the actions of the character and to write in their own dialogue in English. Hopefully this one does not get out of hand

(C) Simply give out the comic as a reward or gift for a student's effort in class. Obviously, I will have to be careful on the type of comic I give and if the student wants to read it.

Of course, I am inexperienced at teaching. So if anyone has any other ideas for activities I can implement with the use of comics or other suggestions, please let me know

[Derrek]

As long as you don't mind your comics being destroyed/stolen/given out.

I have a subscription to two teen magazines, which I have mailed here from the USA. I copy articles from them and we read/discuss in class sometimes. The students love 'em, because they're interesting and filled with lots of new slang. Also photos of pop stars, etc.

They're difficult to hold on to!

[dogbert]

Anyone use Chick comics in the classroom? They're educational and easy to follow.

[jajdude]

It sounds like a good idea, but unless the kids are at quite a high level, most English language comics will be way beyond them.

Actually I think they are beyond most "semi-fluent" adults, with their slang and expression like, "It's been a blast, catcha later, gotta split!"

They might like the pictures though. And filling in the bubbles.

I can just see it: Superman says: "You is babo and ddong michinom, haha I kill you!"

[Grotto]

Try this site out

http://www.archiecomics.com/comic_shop/foreign/korean/korean0101_1.htm

[Panda_Dude]

[jajdude]

Maybe I was wrong. Maybe the language of many (most?) comics is not as "slangy" as I seem to recall. Hope the idea goes over well. They sell western comics here with Korean translations too, which you could use or not, like "Garfield" and "Snoopy" comics and others. They're cheap.

[matthews_world]