Korean Job Discussion Forums

[JacktheCat]

Like my fellow Gyeonggido public/private school teachers I am contractually obligated to teach 'winter camp.' And like the others my school is having a hard time finding enough work for me to do to fill up all those weeks.

So in their infinite wisdom, they've decided at the last possible moment to call all the high school teachers in for a week during their vacation and have me teach them for two hours a day for a week.

Their suggestion to me: "oh, just give them lecture on English for two hours."

Anyone have some ideas, lessons, etc., that worked for them in a similar situation?

It's not the class size of 50 teachers of wildly varying English abilities that worries me, so much as the hierarchical mess of having the 56 year old male VP in the same class as the 26 year old female first year art teacher.

[crazylemongirl]

ok, I think the KISS (keep it simple stupid) approach will work. Do something on food, greetings, weather, countries, a sing a long session (koreans love abba). Group the older males with the older males etc. (no point in fighting culture).

Jeeze talk about sucky.

[babtangee]

Get this book:

http://www.cup.cam.ac.uk/elt/interchange/

Make lots of photocopies for everyone. You probably want the first one (yellow, 'Starter'). It's low-mid intermediate. Damn easy book to teach. I taught about twenty elementary school teachers using the red book (as they were all pretty good at English). The book is interesting, lots of speaking, reading, writing practice to wittle away the time. Works a treat, trust me. Get the Teacher's edition if you can. It has all the pages from the Student book, so no need to buy both. The 'Work Book' is also great for reinforcement (and more time passing). As far as teaching goes, you can't go wrong with these books. As for class dynamics, well you're on your own with that one.

[Ya-ta Boy]

The Interchange book is decent. Just a suggestion: Choose an active game to play for part of each period so they leave smiling. If you can make them laugh, at least they won't be pissed at you for making them come in during their vacation.

[JacktheCat]

On the bright side at least, I've convinced them to pony up some money for this bullshyte, or otherwise I'd have said point blank no *beep*ing way.

[manlyboy]

I'd ignore the suggestion of giving a lecture. Some of the teachers will probably be quite resentful of having to do this, and unless you're an extremely charasmatic and lovable guy, they may very well project their discontent on to you. I'd be looking at doing something very student centered where you can circulate and assist, and basically stay out of their crosshairs.
I suggest screen English. Show something like Seinfeld or Friends. Make sure it has the Korean subtitles so everyone can follow easily. If they hate English, at least they'll be entertained. You can go over some of the vocab before watching. Then, have them find those words as they watch. For low level students, you could just have them find who said the word. For the higher-ups, they could write the sentence in which the words were used. After watching, you could go over some of the dialogs from the show, simplified if need be. Role-plays, subject related puzzles and discussion questions, information gap activities...there's tons of student centered stuff you can do with screen English.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Gee I really feel sorry for you. I can't imagine having to teach all my co-workers at once. The goofy PE teacher, the ultra-serious math teacher, the super-smart Korean lit teacher who can write English better than any of the English teachers, the super-keen-to-learn-English but not-so-smart geography teacher, the young computer teacher who knows a bit of English but is too shy to talk to me, all in one room. What fun.

Why not bring in the drinks and try singing?

[ilovebdt]

[quote="JacktheCat"]Like my fellow Gyeonggido public/private school teachers I am contractually obligated to teach 'winter camp.' And like the others my school is having a hard time finding enough work for me to do to fill up all those weeks.

"

OO, I think I am going to have to check my contract. I don't remember seeing that clause in it. I have also been asked to do a winter camp. Only 5 takers so far

[Incognito]

[idealjetsam]

[JacktheCat]

Good one.

Idiotsyncrasies should be the copyrighted description of Korea, it's culture, and it's people, not just it's educational system.

[Grotto]

buy a couple of bottles of soju and do shots.

They will probably appreciate it