Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Tiger Beer]

I have a couple this semester.

3 hours/week per class.

I was thinking of spending the 3rd hour of the week each time on some really interactive like role-playing/performing in front of the class based on the vocab and practice they'd use the previous two hours.

Anyone every try anything like that? Role-playing went over great for my mid-term last semester.. was thinking could be interesting to have more of it to break up just straight conversation-based classes. But if one hour every week.. could be a bit too much.. and if a class didn't go for it.. could be a bit challenging.

Suggestions/thoughts?

[wylde]

what about free talking?

depending on the class size, if it is small enough you can have a conversation about a given passage or news article with each individual or, for big classes, divide them into teams or groups and randomly select a group leader (change them for each passage) who will ask the questions to the group members.. then have the discussion with the group leaders who will comprise their pov with material submitted by the team..

funny as it may seem, i have have a different pov from nearly all the koreans i do this with.. it isn't a bad thing, it just makes for a more interesting conversation which is what i aim for.. the bigger the argument, the more students must think on their feet..

also, use a passage or article with difficult words and explain things as you go along so they still have the feeling of being taught..

works for me..

i never had much luck with role-playing stuff..

good luck!

[matthews_world]

I'd do more role-playing in my adult classes but I find that a book with examples that they can actually see works better than writing them.

Anyone know of such a book?

[Tiger Beer]

This semester I'm using TALK TALK. It doesn't have role-play though. But after they are familiarized with the vocab and sentences from a lesson based on a real-life situation, easy to have them make a role-play based on it.

Last semester I was using Firsthand 1.. tons of set-up discussion topics.. and for the mid-term, I had them plan a role-play with set partners based on the lessons from what we previously studied. It went over really well.

However it was only one class and it was for a mid-term. I'm not sure if they'd have the same motivation for that regularly, but it was a great mid-term that they really got into.

[desultude]

In my intermediate and advanced conversation classes I teach public speaking and presentation skills. I have only found a couple of books that are useful, and I use copies.

I teach use of notecards, eye contact, and enunciation and projection skills. The students really appreciate it as it helps them in both their English classes and in their majors. It really improves confidence.

I got tired of seeing the infamous 5 min presentation for conversation classes being essentially a reading of something off the internet. Teaching them how to do it right is really useful.

The best part is that most of the students really appreciate it.

It is not all I do in class, but it probably is what I do for at least half of the semester.

I am in Bangkok right now, but if anyone wants citations on the books or other info, feel free to pm me, and I'll get back to you soon (I'm back in Korea tomorrow. )

[coolsage]