Korean Job Discussion Forums

[lesza]

I heard a quote from a guest lecturer at teaching college that a person's attention span is about eight minutes. It doesn't mean that we completely zonk out after that, but we wander. The lecturer was great, he then changed the overhead and we got to be amused by a silly cartoon. It really lightened the mood and helped to reinforce his point.

We teach mostly elementary and all the classes are 50 minutes. We spend the first 15 minutes singing and checking homework (often at the same time). Then we move to the heart of the lesson for about 20 min, assign homework, then play a game if time allows.

I like the 50 min class because there is some flexibility within the lesson (keep singing if you feel like crap) and you can sometimes keep the students on track by reminding them that their behaviour can result in more or less game time. As for class size, the hagwon limit is ten which is really nice for the teachers. We even have some small remedial classes for the most hardened non-English speaking criminal types among our enrolled (joke!)

On a roll, late at night, in the hagwon, summer sleep-over

[Cuatemoc]

Oh, c'mon. Two students who want to be there and who want to learn English can go until their bladders burst. Students who are just punching the clock can drag anything down. Don't give yourself too much credit, the students are in control of their educations. It's about motivation, not math, and as a teacher you only influence a small bit of the picture.

[SeoulShaun]

I think 40 minutes and 8-10 students is perfect.

[mishlert]

SeoulShaun said

[bucheon bum]

I teach 50-minute classes to all my students. Not bad for most of them, but sucks for the following groups:

1) Any of my 6-8 yr olds. 30-40 minutes would be great for them
2) when I have 1 student. I can get through the first 35-40 minutes very easily but that last 10-15 minutes kills me 90% of the time. You can't have them do any activity that involves a group and your game options are VERY limited. Thankfully this rarely happens to me these days
3) my 6th grade girls, who are obnoxious as hell. Amused last March when previous 6th graders quickly became rather quiet and well-behaved. Guess Middle School knocked them on their butt a bit .

At my last hogwon, I had 40 minute classes. Now that sounds like a walk in the park after a year of 50 min. classes.

[camel96]

Ha that's funny B.B.
Usually Middle School turns the cute little elementary school puppies into mad, barking dogs. Interesting that sometimes they go opposite.

[bucheon bum]

yeah, i've heard that before but out of all the middle school classes, i've never had problems with them. Well a slight problem: most of the girls i've had don't speak. When they do, its a whisper.