Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ThingsComeAround]

I have been approached with the overtime offer of teaching a class for four hours straight in one day. This is intended to be for the brightest kids at the school.

I am stumped. Two hours is rough. Four?? It seems a bit extreme~ What can be done to a) help them learn something new and b) let them enjoy the time spent??

[some waygug-in]

If I were you I would say no. 4 hours is too long for them and for you.

The kids will soon be bored out of their minds and end up hating the class and you.......and you will get blamed.


It's ridiculous! Just say no!

[bobbybigfoot]

How much are they offering? For the right price, I"d do it in a New York minute.

[RufusW]

It may be that 4 hours is actually easier than 4 1 hour lessons, especially if you get involved with project work and if they're the brightest kids they should be able to do a decent amount of written work. And you'd probably need at least 30 minutes during that time for breaks.

But in terms of them actually learning 4 hours straight is probably worse than 4 days of one hour a day.

4 hours could be split into 1 hour 'ESL activity' - purely speaking. 1 hour teaching, board work, explaining concepts etc. 1 hour project work / written work. 1 hour.....err....

[Straphanger]

It would be an act of lunacy to attempt this class. Unless you are guaranteed full and complete control over the content (that means don't bitch to me later if I show a two hour movie and use that as the topic for the remaining two hours), don't do it.

[Morgen]

As long as it's no more than once a week and I had complete control over content, I would do it. As long as you build in break time and relaxing activity time (like worksheets or even just coloring or making restaurant menus), don't rush them and don't teach too many concepts per class, I think it would be fine. If possible, get a budget to buy a bunch of props and materials, and possibly snacks.

[curlygirl]

Add in a 10 minute break every hour. That will give all of you a bit of space and try to end each 50 minute segment with a teaser that makes them eager to find out what's coming next.

[dporter]

Each 4 hour class needs to have a theme. Hour 1 is you explaining the theme and giving the students the tools they need to succeed. Hour 2 and 3 are for the students to incorporate and demonstrate understanding of the theme. Hour 4 is for follow-up and praise/criticism.

Hour 1 - Today we are going to learn how to interview for a job in the U.S. Here are a few of the cultural considerations.....

Here is a movie clip that shows a bad interview. After watching tell me what bad things you see.

Here is a movie clip of a good interview. After watching tell me what good things you see.

Ok. Lets talk about posture and body language....

etc

Hour 2 - Ok class. Half of you will play the role of job interviewer. The other half will be the interviewee. I have a different set of 5 typical questions on each of these cards. I will give them to each interviewer. You will interview with each person for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes I will stop the interview and the interviewees will move over 1 seat. Then you will be asked a different set of questions for 5 minutes.

Hour 3 - Ok class. Now we will switch. Those who asked the questions will now answer them.

Hour 4. Ok class. Let's process this activity. Which questions were the most difficult to answer? Why? How about asking questions. Were some difficult to ask?

As I walked around I noticed a few things. John you didn't keep your eye contact on the person asking questions. This is an important element of a of an interview. I also noticed.......


This type of model ports well to various topics.

Hour 1 - explain to the students how marketing and advertising works. Give them the tools to be successful in creating their own commercial for some product. Include key words or action words that are used in advertising.

Hour 2 - break the class up into groups and give each group some ambiguous object. Their task is to come up with a name for the item, a purpose, and create a commercial.

Hour 3 - Each group presents their item and commercial for the class.

Hour 4 - Feedback from the instructor. Which commercials were best and why?

This idea scales well based on grade level. High school students might be required to make a rough marketing plan including target audience and potential revenue.

You could also do group role-plays. Use hour 1 to explain some element of culture. Include all the vocabulary. Hour 2 would be used to put the class into groups and have each group come up with a 3-5 minute skit that demonstrates one of the elements of culture. Hour 3 is for the performances. Hour 4 is for feedback including stereotypes and how culture is perceived.



(sorry for typos and grammar - at work typing on a tiny keyboard)