Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mrd]

I have a class of 6 middle schoolers who are 16 years old. They are reluctant speakers, being pretty shy and timid. I'm their new teacher, so that might be part of the problem in getting them to talk, but the material I'm using with them is very dry.

It's a Toefl prep course. The text works on refining important reading, comprehension and speaking skills, so from that stand point the material is really beneficial. Its just I need to come up with a fun and interesting way to present it to the students so they can still develop the skills they'll need to do well on the Toefl.

Does anyone have any suggestions? What have you done in the past?

Thanks!

[Darkness]

ask them how they feel about japan, or gay marriage. lol

That's what I did, took them a while to warm up and talk to me too... It can be very stressful until they are comfortable with you, and there classmates

[spyro25]

not to sound negative but sometimes pointing out what happens if they don't do the work to the best of their ability can help too. the toefl test is a big deal and will open a lot of doors for them if they can get a high score. you could show them two pictures, one of a government worker with a nice car and one of a farmer or factory worker and ask which one of these people got a high score in their toefl exam and which one didnt. thats not to say that you shouldn't make it fun and interesting while actually teaching them (you should!) but at the start of the course it can help the students to know whats at stake.

[Darkness]

If that doesnt work beat them into submission with a big azz bamboo stick...


lmao


I KID! I KID!

[Hotpants]

Teaching TOEFL is not a fun job. Korean teachers alike will tell you how hard it is to stimulate the students in such a class.

My only suggestions are: try and get the students to create their own test material after you have taught each stage of the testing components. They should be encouraged to find real source material including magazines and comics, and find expressions connected to the points you have been teaching. Also, try and turn mock tests into funny games. They can also do funny dub-over versions of listening tests after they have done the 'serious' stuff, since much of the actual listening material is pretty uninspiring for any age group.

[Darkness]

I have free speaking classes (aka: conversation classes) and I just babble to them for 45mins, and they talk back....I used to do sales, so it's really easy for me to ramble on for 1/2 of it, and try to encourage them for the other 1/2