Korean Job Discussion Forums

[IncognitoHFX]

I've been going back and forth with the idea of using PPT in the classroom. I started using it about two weeks ago, and it's been very useful in terms of integrating video/audio, using picture examples, and getting the kids more involved in learning English (I teach high school).

On the flip side, half the classes in my school don't have powerpoint. I never know which ones either. I find that, of the three classes I teach daily, one or two of them always has a broken TV or some other malfunction that prevents me from using it. It really sucks because I have been preparing classes exclusively for Powerpoint (I use an English video for a dialogue discussion among other things) and with no TV / projector as is the case with some classes, I have to open my computer and try my best to convert everything to the chalkboard which really screws up the lesson. Of my three classes today, my presentation didn't happen with two of them because of equipment malfunctions or the TV had disappeared.

I've also been noticing that the idea of PPT assisted teaching is completely lost on Korean teachers. I've never seen any Korean teacher using powerpoint, which is probably why there is no incentive to fix the equipment in the classrooms when it breaks down.

So, should I revert to only using the chalkboard? Or should I make two lesson plans?

Who here actually uses Powerpoint in the class? Is it even that useful, or am I just using it as a crutch because I'm a new teacher? Which is the superior method?

Thanks.

[teachergirltoo]

I have been a teacher for over 15 years and I use a PP presentation in every class. I run it over a whiteboard so if there are any additional questions or comments that arise we can write the information down or add to the slide at hand. It can be a wonderful teaching tool.

[passport220]

Korean students are �hi-tech� and I think we need to try to compete for their attention in their media rich environment.

I always tried to use PowerPoint, video or audio in every lesson. I moved classrooms for every class so I could not depend on everything working in the classroom. I had it worked out for every lesson to prepare to present with:

�Both audio and video available
�Audio only
�Video only
�None of the above

I did not make separate lesson plans, I just figured out how I would deal with the loss (pictures instead of video, tape recorder to play a song or a alternative activity to replace it, etc.)

[Faunaki]

Ask for your own personal English room and get them to buy you a projector with a fat ass screen then PPT it all day long. Writing on the board sucks ass and should be saved for the students to write down their answers.

[teachergirltoo]

Also, if any of your teaching tools are broken get them fixed. Don't settle for something being broken. When one of my tools goes down in the school I am like the chinese drip on the forehead torture technique. My boss hears and hears and hears about it until it is fixed. Now he knows just to pick up the phone and call the technician immediately. I know it sounds a bit naggy, but they get awesome reviews from my students for the classes so I think they have seen the value of keeping things maintained now. If the students start telling them about your good presentations chances are they will see the value of keeping the TVs working in all your classrooms too.

[IncognitoHFX]

[Thiuda]

I use PPT for all classes, except Basic Conversation. I've found that it is especially useful in writing classes, as it allows me to give many examples in a short amount of time. I also find that PPT is indispensable for grammar instruction; you can give lots of examples and provide time lines illustrating tenses, pictures showing actions...etc. Best of all, I can recycle material over and over again, only occasionally updating it. If you do all your work on the board, you erase it at the end of the class - PPT presentations are timeless.

[passport220]

[agoodmouse]

My high school in Anyang uses PPT pretty often. I avoid it, however. I teach moderately high level students (i.e. in grammar) who need talking practice. How they need talking practice!

[IncognitoHFX]

[Easter Clark]

[marlow]

My school doesn't even have computers in the classrooms because students kept stealing RAM chips.

The Korean teachers have laptops, but the foreign teacher can't have one. No way in hell I'm using my own money to buy a laptop for school use.

Korean teachers use PPT all the time... in open lessons that is.

[IncognitoHFX]

[marlow]

[TBirdMG]

Incognito,

PPT is great as an assistive learning/teaching tool. The nice thing is that if you're any good at the design part of it, you can modify and edit your PPTs for varying English levels and update on a semesterly/annual basis with minimal effort.

You'll have to find your own solution to the tech availability/functionality issues, but the English room is the simplest.

And agreed, relying on or assuming that every classroom's A/V equipment will work will bring your lessons to a halt quickly. Equipment goes down often, and takes much too long to be repaired.

Always have a chalk and handout version of the lesson as backup, but I'm a big proponent of PPT as a time saver. No need to spend half the time facing the chalkboard anymore writing things out. Now you can project a strong, confident voice to the class while they look at well choreographed PPT slides.

Projecting on a white board is also a great suggestion for additional stuff that surfaces during the lesson.

But the PPT lesson shouldn't replace good old student-teacher engagement. PPT is an assistive tool, and not a substitute for actually teaching. So many bad teachers will just project a bunch of images and text without realizing that they still need to monitor, motivate, correct, and participate alongside students as they study with you.

Easier said than done, especially in Korea, but worth keeping in mind....