Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Cymro]

Does anyone teach this series?

What are your views on it? I'd especially like to know how much time it takes to get through each book, how long to do each unit or how many pages in a typical 40min class?

Your feedback is much appreciated!

[PaperTiger]

If your current boss is as big a moron as my former boss was (or perhaps
they are the same person...Ewha ALS, Kimpo?) then you're probably teaching that book without the workbook. The tape specifies at several parts that you're supposed to use it so you'll find yourself fastforwarding a lot without out it. The book is moronically easy but you could use it for conversation and Q & A.

[mindmetoo]

[captain kirk]

Haha, what is this, the Backpacker fan club thread? Yes, we have this book. It's not bad, but if anyone's in a position to demand a book the best I've seen is English Time. It's English, as in England, maybe Oxford Press? It's the pictures that are amazing. So detailed, so much to talk about. Rich, pictures like the Amazon jungle, tons of variety. What's this, what's he doing? And so on. No limit.

About the stickers, kind of ridiculous aren't they. Have race, i figure. Open to the page, get ready, and GO. Get the stickers from the back onto the places they should stick ASAP. Worth a laugh.

Project pages. We don't do the projects, stupid like the stickers. Or use the tape. I figure the tape's for Korean English teachers. Who can stop, reverse, play and use it as a screen behind which to hide their poor English ability compared to foreigner. And yap in friendly fashion in Korean, hack around, about this central activity, using the tape, haha.

[mindmetoo]

I try to do 1 book in 3 months, 2 x 45 minute classes per day. There are about 9 units. So I try to do about about 1/3 - 1/2 of the unit per class. If you're just having the kids blindly read and fill in the blanks you can blow through a unit per class easy. So you need to use the book as a base to generate a lot of discussion.

[The Kung Fu Hustle]

So is it popular? This is an important question my boss always asks, and I'd like to say it is instead of just doing what I do every over time and just tell him what he wants to hear.

[I_Am_Wrong]

It's decent, a lot better than some of the books I've seen for Elementary. However, it's not perfect. Some of the workbook exercises always get skipped for sure. Some of the projects are really good, some suck, and some just aren't feasible in Korea's lack of resources teaching environment. Bookstores have told me that lots of Elementary schools are using the books for their special English classes and, actually, so am I.
There are 9 units and we got to the end of unit 7 in 3 1/2 months with 3 50 min. classes a week. The rate was about right for the students to grasp everything and feel comfortable. However, at a Hagwon I think there is usually a big deal made about finishign books.

[lastat06513]

I used the book in my elementary class last year, it is a good series, as long as you use it loosely.

[margaret]

We reviewed the series and didn't use/like it. To me it needs a lot of supplementary material to actually teach them language, not just have stuff to play with.
I agree that the English Time series is the best. We also use Let's Go, Superkids and Go-Go plus a book for the advanced class called something like "American English", I think also by Oxford Press.
Margaret

[mindmetoo]

[bundangbum]

Forget Backpack series and go on to Best Friends. Much better and easier to teach. Basically I can do one lesson (as planned in the book) in the 40 minutes I have. Also learn about other places in the world from it so learning english while actually finding something else out.

[margaret]