Korean Job Discussion Forums

sojourner1

My co-teacher today showed me a Korean word on her cell phone translator that had an English definition of saying, "Constraint in a persons presence." She was explaining that my 5th grade students needed basic nursery rhyme songs like, "10 little Indians," and "Twinkle, twinkle little star," "The Alphabet Song," as only 4 out of the 32 know any English at all. I have taught them twice so far and they can't stop speaking Korea nor do I try to strop them as that would be in vain to do so. I guess this brings me to the problem of teaching toddler nursery level of things to 10 to 12 year olds who will think it's rather lame, but they need to learn their alphabet, phonics, and vocabulary.

I've never heard of an English word for the Korean word used so I'm trying to grasp what they mean. I understand that constraint means to restrict freedom and I'm not a bit strict nor demanding, but acting as a funny edutainer and getting some laughs. It can also mean repressing feelings, but I encourage questions and statements though few can or will speak English and require speaking Korean. It was specifically requested to approach PS teaching from an edutainment and conversational teaching standpoint with no curriculum; not constraining to lecture, drill, ceremony, books, and wrote memorization. I think she's saying the students are confused by not knowing anything I'm saying. Things such as what day, month, and time is and the weather and verbal actions. It takes time to get results as I've seen before, but they'll be speaking by Christmas. I'm using video as well as slapstick comedy acting and getting laughs, but can't figure out why they'd feel constrained in such a fun and easy environment. I think it's just new to them and they feel uncomfortable at first due to not knowing anything in English yet.

Any one know something I don't? Thanks in advance for your insightful replies.

jkelly80 · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Location: you boys like mexico?

Koreans are not good language learners because of their gi bun and some other BS. Maybe they're looking for excuses why it's your fault rather than their own.

DRAMA OVERKILL · Joined: 12 Apr 2005

blackjack · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Location: anyang

maybe she means they are shy?

Konglishman · Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Location: Nanjing

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

gi bun = something like emotional state, feelings, self-respect

aka Dave · Joined: 02 May 2008 Location: Down by the river

Modesty? Discretion? English has a lot of words. State more explicitly what you want to express. Your post is unclear.

aka Dave · Joined: 02 May 2008 Location: Down by the river

aka Dave · Joined: 02 May 2008 Location: Down by the river

Actually, I just realized what your post is about. I was talking about this in my classes today. It's the "affective filter" (in linguistic jargon), it simply means students are shy and are uncomfortable speaking in front of the class for fear of making mistakes.

This is a challenge for instructors who teach adolescents.

Tiberious aka Sparkles · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: I'm one cool cat!

aka Dave · Joined: 02 May 2008 Location: Down by the river

http://spzwww.uni-muenster.de/~griesha/sla/krashen/affil.html

Starla · Joined: 06 Jun 2008 Location: Seoul

OnTheOtherSide · Joined: 29 Feb 2008

Shy, conservative, modest, uptight, reserved, self-conscious............ that one is easy.

sojourner1 · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 3:47 pm Post subject:

hugekebab · Joined: 05 Jan 2008

Composure.