Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Saxiif]

I really could use some good exercises for teaching when to use subject and when to use object pronouns. What seems to mostly happen is that kids get a list of the subject pronouns and a list of the object ones and figure out which exercise to use which on without learning the principle behind it for a looooooooooong time. My Korea is too bad for me to explain the principle of it properly, and just giving a lot of examples of when to use each doesn't seem to work for the little kids (who have hard enough time with he/they/we).

Any ideas? This is far and away the bit of English grammar that I've hard the hardest time communicating.

Thanks!

[matthewwoodford]

Not figuring out the principles behind it for a long time or ever is the rule here for all grammatical rules in my experience. Firstly, you've got to keep reminding yourself how hard this is for them. If they're too young they might not get it no matter how well you explain it.

If they're over ten years old you might try giving them a set of cards of transitive verbs, object pronouns and subject pronouns, ideally coloured differently, and have them make sentences. That ought to help them at least remember that subject pronouns go before and object pronouns after the verb. For extra fun you could try them with intransitive verbs making subject-verb sentences, demonstrating that object pronouns aren't needed - and from there you could work up to prepositions, conjunctions, who knows...Can't think of anything better offhand, sorry.

[Son Deureo!]

[matthewwoodford]

Son Deureo:

It occurred to me to use that kind of approach and I would definitely use it with older kids but I just wonder if 9 and 10 year olds are ready for it. Thinking back to when I was 9, most of us didn't know squat about English grammar and I wonder if the young kids here know anything about Korean grammar. The topic particle might be a cause of confusion as well but I just don't know how I would explain that little can of worms to ten year olds other than telling them 'eun'/'neun' is the same as the subject, something which I am loath to do.

If it works fine in your experience please let me know.