Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Qinella]

You know the ones I mean - they've always got an answer, and they're the first to blurt it out. Whether they're smarter, study harder, more adept at learning English, show-offs, or some explanation that accounts for their uberprominence within the classroom, I don't know. Of course, I wish all students were this way, but they are not.

And so arises the existence of problems from these children. See, I like to involve every student in my exercises, even those who may not be as quick to the answer. Nearly every day I have at least one class exercise. Here's an example scenario from today's exercise:

- I've made a chart with topics for various categories of words made sure the kids understand what's going on.

Teacher: Okay, Tom, please give me one adjective.

Paul: Red!

Teacher: Paul, you already said "fat". Should I change it?

Paul: Arrg.....

Teacher: Tom, give me one adjective.

Tom: Hmm... (thinks about it)

Paul: Crazy! Fast!

Teacher: (sarcastically) Thank you TOM!!

Paul: Haha... I'm not Tom.

Teacher: Aish. Please TOM give me an adjective.

Tom: Umm...

Paul: Yellow! Big!

Teacher: Paul, be quiet! Let Tom answer. Tom, one adjective please. Do you know "chonchonhi"?

Tom: Umm...

Paul: Oh! Slow!!

Teacher: Paul, Let Tom answer! Tom, one adjective please.

Tom: Umm...

Paul: Car!

Teacher: That's a noun. Be quiet!


And on and on it goes, every day, in every class. I wish there was a way to make these kids wait their turn. I appreciate their knowledge and enthusiasm, but they drive me crazy sometimes! Once, I actually grabbed the back of Paul's chair and dragged him out into the hallway until the slower kids had a chance to answer my questions. I haven't done that again, though, because the looked so dejected when I went back to get him, and I hate to squelch students' fervor.

As they say on TV, there's gotta be a better way!!


Blears,
Q~

[peppermint]

Not sure if your classes are big enough to make this work, but I've got mine grouped into teams (pairs would prolly work too) and that way the smart kids help the slower ones instead of getting bored and getting into trouble.

[Ya-ta Boy]

1. Reward Paul and any other over-eager students for being quiet unless called on.

2. At the beginning of the activity, ask all the students to write the kind of answers you will be wanting later. For example, "Everyone, write as many adjectives as you can think of in 3 minutes.....OK, stop!"

"Paul, give me one adjective."
"Tom, give me one adjective."

I'd call on the weaker students first so their words aren't given by other students.

3. Team work for list-making is really good.

[bosintang]

With kids (all ages) I always ask the class generally, even if I have a specific kid in mind I want to answer. I make them raise their hands. If a kid blurts out the answer I pretend to ignore them and maybe say "raise your hands" again. If the smart kids don't blurt out the answers I'll pick them the first few times. If they blurt out answers, they get ignored, and another kid gets the credit for their answer, so they eventually stop doing it.

[TJ]

[sheba]

Perhaps you should let Paul know that what hw is doing is wrong. Like raise your voice or something. We tend to let the brighter students get away with a lot more... had it been the naughty student I bet you would have got angry!