Korean Job Discussion Forums

marckot · Joined: 16 Jan 2007 Location: Mokpo

My school wants me to teach the English staff at school. We are planning on starting next week so I spent this week preparing some materials. I just want some ideas concerning teaching a group of teachers.

The main goal of the workshop is to prepare the teachers for the future "teach English in English" issue. We decided that we would focus on their conversation skills and on their ability to manage a classroom in English. They also requested that we do some writing during the workshop.

I have been a teacher for almost 9 years but this will be my first teacher class.

Some questions for the experienced:

What pitfalls should I watch out for?
Can you recommend a book for writing and speaking that you have used and actually found useful? (I already checked out many books but found nothing that impressed me.)
How did you deal with teachers not showing up because they are to "busy"?

Any advice will be appreciated.

Fishead soup · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Location: Korea

Pitfalls- Some teachers will use almost any excuse to avoid having to attend. Others will try to turn it into some kind field trip drinking excuse. Which is actually OK. Others will complain that it is too boring and not useful.

If you want it to be a success you're going to have to make it interesting fun and at the same time useful. Be aware that there will be people there who will talk nice to your face. Then won't hesitate to bad mouth you behind your back to a Office of education Superviser.

Roving_gypsy_gurl · Joined: 29 Nov 2007

Where I've seen people run into trouble when teaching teachers, is that they tend to treat them like kids.

Even when you're in charge of the classroom, it's important to remember that your students in this instance are educated adults.

If you treat them as such, you should do fine.

marckot · Joined: 16 Jan 2007 Location: Mokpo

Thanks for the advice. Yeah I know certain teachers will not be happy about the workshop so they will use any excuse not to show up. Luckily I have the full support of the principal and vp. I plan to make it very useful for them so they will realise it is actually a good idea to attend. I think you have a good point to make it fun for them. They will enjoy the classes more if it seems less like work.

T-dot · Joined: 16 May 2004 Location: bundang

Im starting a new course as well.

I am supposed to use "Teaching English Through English", published by Longman. What are u using?

KYC · Joined: 11 May 2006

This is the result of the recent gepik workshop the Korean teachers had to attend. I am in the same situation. I'm the 3rd native speaker here and they never had a teachers class until now.

marckot · Joined: 16 Jan 2007 Location: Mokpo

KYC · Joined: 11 May 2006

well I just wonder how long it will last. Other native speakers tell me that their korean teachers at their school never attends. I always try to make every class interesting, but sometimes it's just not. It's going to suckkkkk big time for me Very Happy

No one will talk; my ct and I will be in very awkward positions.

Anyhoo, I'm supposed to have the curriculum planned for the whole year..and it's due by next week Very Happy

hahhah I have no idea what to do.

Juregen · Joined: 30 May 2006

May I kindly suggest to first concentrate on pronunciation.

The teacher I am teaching prefers this anyway. After that, teach them how to be good in spoken English, it is my experience that Koreans talk the way they are taught to write, in very long sentences.

If you can already achieve those 2, you are 6 months further.

Fishead soup · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Location: Korea

T-dot · Joined: 16 May 2004 Location: bundang

nomad-ish · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:08 pm Post subject:

when i taught teacher workshops, only 1 was always present, 1 was there most of the time, 1 came once, and the last 2 (the ones IMO that needed it the most, because their English is just horrible) never came to a single class.

i have a feeling my handler altered the attendance records after i handed them into her Rolling Eyes

daz1979 · Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Location: Gangwon-Do

I used Jack Martire's books:

Small Group Discussion Topics For University Students

Small Group Discussion Topics For Korean Students

I found them both excellent for discussion classes, especially the one for Korean students. Every week I also asked them to write a page long essay about one of the articles that we had covered (which they usually didn't do).

marckot · Joined: 16 Jan 2007 Location: Mokpo

Thanks for the input. I'll check out Jack Martire's books.

Yeah it seems like teaching teachers can be hit and miss. I will be teaching 8 teachers and they will be divided into two groups of 4 each. Hopefully I will se each group twice a week.

I'll see if I can get my hands on that "Teaching English Through English" book. It might be useful in the classroom management classes.

I found some good material on the internet that would be useful in class. I'll post some of the material if it is successful in class.

Good luck to everyone in this endeavor.

Darkness · Joined: 12 Oct 2006

I have to do this as well,and I'm quite nervous about it. If someone could post some books or something maybe so I can print it off and just do that. That would be great. Thanks