Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Sapa]

So the time for me to give my first ever lesson is fast approaching. I have had a ball of knots in my stomach for the last few days thinking about it! I'm just looking for some general advice and ideas of what to do with a young class where I have no idea of their level of english.

I'm going to do the usual intro stuff, bit about me and my home/family, show some pics, a liitle activity where they can think of some questions to ask me perhaps.
Can you advise on anything else that would be a good activity to do. Just looking for some good games and things like that.

Thanks

[I-am-me]

...You should be worrying more about your second day!!!!

[Sapa]

why's that?

[lorenchristopher]

Play scattegories! The kids LOVE it and it will give you an idea of their lexicon for sure.

[Sapa]

Thanks, never heard of scattergories before, will have to google it later

[marlow]

[Sleepy in Seoul]

If I were you I would set the rules, make sure that the students understand them then have a little fun before the lesson is over. Good first lesson.

[lorenchristopher]

[icicle]

Will you be working in a public school or in a hagwon?

[tomato]

Your main goal should be to show the kids that you are interested in them.
Whatever the subject matter of the lesson, use the kids' names over and over.

The first item on the agenda should be to learn the kids' names.
There are several ways to do it, but the way I do it is to start with the child on my left.
We say rhythmically, "Her name is Suzy, her name is Suzy" while beating rhythmically on the desks.
(Close the door, or the other teachers will complain.)
Then we observe that Suzy is next to John, whereupon the process is repeated.

Here is a song which you can use:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v500/pentatonika/friend.jpg

Watch out for any items which the students bring in.
If a child has a pencil case in the image of a rabbit, beat the desk rhythmically while you say, "Karen has a rabbit."
You can extend any lesson by making variations.
You can shout the sentence, you can whisper the sentence, you can speak in a high voice, a low voice, a shy voice, a haughty voice, a robot monotone, growl, cry, whine, or giggle.
That adds a touch of humor.

A lesson on colors might be good.
You can personalize this by observing what colors the children are wearing.
Here is a song for the occasion:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v500/pentatonika/mary.jpg

Find some picture books which you can personalize.
Look for a pattern book in which the subject of each sentence is the same.
For example, I See Colors goes:

I see red.
I see blue.
I see yellow.
I see green.
I see orange.
I see brown.
I see colors all around.

Read it as it is written the first time, then read it again, substituting a child's name for the subject.

Some singing games can be personalized.
For this song, join hands and walk in a circle:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v500/pentatonika/gravel.jpg

For the second stanza, sing:

Dear Nathan, dear Nathan, your true love is dead,
The king wrote a letter to turn back your head.

Nathan drops hands, turns around and faces outside the circle, and rejoins hands.
Repeat the process until all of the students are facing outside the circle.