Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ladyandthetramp]

So my school pimped my classroom. I've got my own computer and nine more for students. My computer's even got a pen mouse and writing board. I've got a cordless mike and a wireless clip-on mike. Got a video projector, multiple white boards, DVD player, amp, and two separate rooms with a big glass window to provide a way for lower-level students to get more help from the regular teacher during my class while watching my class. Probably some other stuff, too. (Oh, central air conditioning )

It's nice, but there's a problem. How am I supposed to use this stuff when I'm teaching? They want me to use it all, of course, but until now I've only occasionally used the computer to show pictures or once to watch a video.

Does anyone have any experience/advice using such equipment for teaching English? Specifically for teaching large classes of mostly low-level middle schoolers? The students will usually be in groups of four, and the school wants to focus on cooperative learning.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I think a lot of hi tech bells and whistles have little or no use in a language classroom, but some of it can be useful at times.

For example, there are on-line interactive sites for things like teaching people to type in English. That's good for alphabet practice as well as learning to type.

There are interactive math sites where students can learn their numbers and practice our system so they'll stop telling you a bottle of soju costs W10,000 instead of W1,000.

What about having 'computer races' to find pictures of various nouns they are trying to learn?

I can't for the life of me see what you can do with 9 students and a cordless mike. If it had a cord at least you could tie up unruly students. Maybe give it to someone who teaches 40 students. They could use it.

[blunder1983]

I did a lesson on movies showing trailers from apple for my girls. It worked well.

Other things i would do if i had ur resources: singing songs even louder, having computer games in the lesson (so they do a lesson on amusement parks, some groups do an interview, some do a map and direct eachother around some use rollercoaster tycoon to build a coaster, they then all run the coasters at the end, see which gets best ratings. Or superhero lesson, design a superhero and then let them make it on the computer through City of Heroes or Freedom Force (I think in FF two designed chars can fight) then they judge them at the end.

Internet scavenger hunt

oh and i'd break the aircon so its on permenantly

I'm jealous btw best i got is a board and 4 fans

[The Hammer]

PowerPoint is very useful.

You can use your imagination to create many different types of lessons with PowerPoint.

1. Create dialogs with missing info. (Gap fills)
2. Pronunciation drills.
3. Increase vocabulary with pictures.
4. Show short video clips that you can download from the net.
5. Create stories using pictures of your students.
6. Introduce new language for controlled speaking practice.

Also,www.manythings.org has activities that your students can do online.

My class is pimped too, and I love it.

[ladyandthetramp]

[deessell]

You could try getting them to do treasure hunts. Give them a list of things they have to find on the internet, maps of countries, pictures of famous people etc.

[Hollywoodaction]

[MixtecaMike]

Appoint a class captain to point the browser at your home Webcam site then stay home and give them internet webcast classes.

[The Hammer]

I taught a group of 40 kids to sing the song Puff the Magic Dragon in class using this website:

http://www.smile-a-day.com/puff.shtml

We practiced singing and as they sang along I scrolled down the page for them to read the lyrics. They loved it and they really enjoyed the animations too.

There are some vocabulary words that they don't know, so you'll have to look through the song and look for the words that you'll need to preteach. I would recommend bringing in some realia for teaching them the lexis.