Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nicam]

Ok, so I was told these would be the more advanced kids (middle school), or the kids who really are interested in English.

Well that's partially true, although interest doesn't speak for their proficiency at all, but the main problem is that the class also comprised of the kids who FAILED their English exams and are seeking extra help!

I don't know what do with these classes! I can't even get them to utter their names, and they have absolutely no clue what I'm saying when I attempt to teach the most elementary lesson!

My computers suck, so that's out. The group is too small for a lot of games, and anyway I'm not supposed to be playing games with them, and I don't want to screw the students that actually want to learn!

Ugh! Any suggestions would be helpful!

[Gamecock]

Middle Schoolers? You can't get them to even utter their names? Well, they probably speak more English than you think and are shy or embarassed to speak. Perhaps they are intimidated by you for whatever reason...I don't know where you are from, but i know some students who got a new British teacher and all they had ever heard was a North American accent and they had a hard time understanding the teacher and wouldn't say a word. The teacher thought they didn't know any English, but they were just embarrassed about not being able to grasp the accent right away. It could be something like this.

First, knock your expecations way down. Second, SPEAK VERY SLOWLY AND CLEARLY to them. For students with low skills you can't speak at a normal western pace.

If they are all that poor, it's easy..you start at the beginning. "My name is_______." Go around the room and have them repeat it several times. I like ______ (food). Have them choose a food they like. They all know pizza, hamburgers, kimchi, etc. Get them talking with simple phrases. "I like soccer, I like computer games," etc.

Find out if they can read or not. If not, you can teach phonics with vocabulary (maybe 3 words for every phonics sound, do perhaps 5 sounds per lesson). Have a key sentence or phrase for each lesson ("Do you like soccer?" "Yes, I do/No, I don't." Do simple dialogues. Repeat, repeat repeat. Make sure you review and practice what you learned from the previous lesson.

If they can read, you can build up their vocabulary doing topical lessons (like transportation, holidays, sports and hobbies, etc.). Have "activities" that incorporate the new vocab so they are using it while doing something fun.

Really, you have to get them talking a little to see their English level so you can prepare lessons...they may know nothing or they may just not want to talk to you. Getting middle schoolers out of their shell is half the battle.

[nicam]

Yeah, shyness is part of it. I do speak slowly and enunciate, etc., but I honestly think they get about half of it. I have several fearless students who hang around me all the time and communicate with gestures, etc., but not much English. My star kids are the few that can afford to go to hagwons, and they speak fairly well and usually carry the regular classes.

Good tips though, and I will put them to use. Whoops, I realize I posted this 2x by accident...

[wylies99]

It must be one of those schools where the kids have NEVER had a foreign English teacher.

[esetters21]

[nicam]

^^^ Yes, and yes! I AM the first foreign teacher, and it is in an economically challenged neighborhood where only a handful of kids can afford to go to hagwon.

It's not so bad when I have the guidance of other teachers, but...