Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Zutronius]

Today with my one second grade high school, I decided to use the class to give my students a chance to talk with my mom and dad. It went absolutely amazing!! They were so excited to talk to my parents and were speaking lots and had fun. Some students got very shy and could barely speak but most really enjoyed the opportunity to speak to a person in another country.

Has anyone else used Skype in their classes and how did it turn out?

[plynx]

i did the same thing at my last school. it worked really well with the younger students. it was a little strange, but fun.

[Zutronius]

Strange indeed. The whole class broke out into a Wondergirls song for my parents at one time. Classic!

[ddeubel]

Zutronius,

You win the teacher of the month award!

It is just such brillant ideas (but there are so many) that make students see the immediacy and relevance and necessity and practicality and.... that are so needed.

Without such gas in the engine, we don't go very far pushing the Englishmobile....

Cheers,

DD
http://eflclassroom.ning.com

[bobbybigfoot]

Great idea, truly. Perhaps have a weekly phone call session. If the kids are good, or do their homework, etc...they get to talk to your parents, or your friends etc....

GG to you.

[Otherside]

I use skype in class pretty regularly. Every so often my after school class gets a bit rowdy and I decide @#$% it, and spend the rest of the lesson chatting to my mates back home.

[Kurtz]

I mentioned this same idea to my friend in Australia who is a primary school teacher so his grade 2 and my grade 3 students here can maybe have a little chat, he said no way! he'd have to get written permission from his school, and send a note to each kids' parents to cover his arse.

[ddeubel]

Here is a really great blog post about connecting with many classrooms around the world using Skype. Really inspiring.

If anyone does want to do this sort of thing - EFL Classroom has TWO free flash conference rooms. Click the smiley on the main page for the one with the whiteboard and browser....great for eteaching also.... Thurs. 10pm I'll be giving a tour/greet to members - all welcome. Click http://eflclassroom.com/events to find out more.

cheers,

DD
http://eflclassroom.ning.com

[Teelo]

Get a video conference going, and show them some nice scenery out the window in your home country, and say "This is what I get to go home to. What about yoooooooooou??!"

[jadarite]

[ChinaBoy]

You guys have computers?

[ardis]

Thanks for the tip! I definitely want to try something like this for my winter camp.

[Zutronius]

[Jimskins]

How would i go about setting that up? I've got a massive LCD screen at my high school and I use Skype all the time on the computer in class with a headset. I guess I'd need a decent web-camera and a large condenser mike to pick up the kids voices if they wanted to ask questions?????

It's a great idea and I'd love to do it.
Any suggestions???

[JBomb]

Great idea! I was just showing the parents how to use it. Be educational for them too.