Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mindmetoo]

I mostly teach speaking and some essay writing for demonstrably English proficient kids. Recently my "we need you to be a white dancing bear"/"pack 'em in"/"the mothers actually think this will help them learn English" speaking classes have been transmogrified into writing classes. Alright.

The kids are good at filling in the blanks.

"He (has/have) a new shirt."

But hand them a pen, paper, and a question like "what did you do today?" They're lost. Totally lost.

"playing the computer I school going"

Christ. These kids have been studying English how many years and can't write a simple SVO sentence? Sigh. (BTW, they're grade 5.) I'm sure even kids studying French in Ontario can write a simple French sentence by grade 5.

[Dan The Chainsawman]

Annoying as heck isn't it?

Wait till the kids complain to mama-san cause teacha man make-ee them learn-e the engrish-ee.

[Yo!Chingo]

It really bums me out on so many levels when I want my kids to write. All I get is crap from them both in complaining and the actually sentences they provide. Me thinks that I'm going to require alot more reading so that they'll actually visually see what the sentences are to look like.

Reading is ,in my humble opinion, the best way for someone to learn sentence structure; it just starts to penetrate. The problem is finding the books that will interest them enough to want to read them.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Ice hockey is unusual among the major sports in such / that teams frequently play with different numbers of players. ...offender's team must play a player short / shortly. ...provides an excellent scoring / scored opportunity...

'Teachuh, boring. Teachuh too easy. Teachuh, already study last time. Teachuh, we are not elementary students'.


Write a sentence with a subject, verb, and object. Any sentence. First choose a noun or pronoun for the subject - myeong-sa or dae-myeong-sa. Then choose a verb - dong-sa. Come on, everyone choose a subject, a noun or pronoun. Anything. No, don't copy your friend; choose your own.

'Oh, teachuh, difficult!!!'

[jinks]

[teachingld2004]

Off the topic a bit...
We all know that it is better to have the kids read books on their level, or slightly below. But that is not the way schools want us to teach. The kids say, "too easy!" Then they complain to their mothers, or to the director. So, we go to the next level, and they struggle with the words, and do not understand the story. (also some kids who understand practically nill can read well)

In my school we are told to "push them". Pushing, in my opinion, takes the joy out of reading.

I taught the top reading class (for a very short time)in my school. They could read, but sounded like dead wood. So I brought them right to the kindergarden book shelf. "What???? This is so EASY"! they said. I said yes,the words are simple, but look at the beautiful pictures. Pick out a book, read it to yourself for a few minutes, and then read it too the class. Once again they read like dead wood. I picked up a book, and read it with expression. My voice went up and down. I paused when needed, my voice when up and down when it should.........you get my drift.

They loved it. They went for more childrens books, and they learned how to read. I never did get around to work on their writing because my director wanted me to work with the slower class. Too bad.

MOST schools want to have the kids rush. THe parents get bent out of shape when their kids repeat lessons, or go slow. Teaching here is USUALLY to cram in as much as you can, in as little time as you can. Sad, but true.

[Dan The Chainsawman]

Cram in all you can with little regard as if they have actually learned anything or not.

Teacha we know what verbuhs are!

ok what are these mysterious verbuhs?

silence....

ok find a verb in this sentence...

silence....

Is it this word? (points to word)

Yes teacha!!

No that is a pronoun.

Hahaha funny teacha Play game!

or

Funny white monkey NOW DANCE DAMN YOU DANCE AND MAKE ME LAUGH!

[schwa]

Writing is such an obstacle. My best near-fluent adult students write at a western grade 3 elementary level with mistakes in every sentence. I tease them about it, but I also assure them that most westerners write poorly too. No easy fix.

I dont teach my younger students writing at all because I choose to focus on spoken communication. But I got the following email 5 minutes ago from a girl I taught a couple years ago -- average student, a 1st-year highschool girl now. Good on her for trying!

Hi, schwa.

Are you watched soccer game?

Korea & Togo

Korea Team is winner!!!

Wow~

I'm so excited.



In tuesday I'm not here.

My school Freshmen go to camp.

Very near here that our camp place.

It took 10 minutes by bus.



Tuesday night, all students and all teachers are crazy!!

Ha ha !

Everyone shout , clap , hug and jump.

Really fun !!!



Maybe you are fun and excited, too.

Didn't you?



I'm so soon expect game of Korea & France.

That game is start in the early morning.

So early. Maybe 4:00 a.m.



I hope to Korean players are in good condition.

I pray for them .

And you. haha~



Then goodbye .

Take care.



Mi-ra

[SirFink]

[Yo!Chingo]