Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Beeston27]

I teach conversational classes split by abilities. I find it really hard to elicit any kind of conversation from the students.
I have tried a few different ways of teaching.
1. Just asking an individual student to give an answer to a question. (Putting the students on the spot)
2. Getting students into groups and having group discussions on topics, WITHOUT talking in front of the class based on the results.
3. Getting students into groups and having group discussions on topics, AND talking in front of the class based on the results.
I do mainly 1 with beginner and lower intermediate, and 3 with upper intermediate and advanced classes!!
I have found generally not one of the ways work. My lessons tend to feature numerous vid clips, to stimulate discussion, but I find many of the students, regardless of ability don't seem to talk at all.
I also feel like A) not trying to have small group discussion and b) playing games would be akin to not doing my job.

My students are high school.

Is a conversation too much to expect from the students/korean culture? I dont want to patronise the students either by getting them to do listen and repeat, or fill in the blank and read your answers out-type exercises!!!!!


Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong? Or what I could do to improve?

[Fishead soup]

The problem with most of those activities is they are typical Communicative teaching activities. These kinds of activities are difficult to impliment in Korea. There is a guy who has been in Korea for a long time and has made many communicative idea's that are tailored for Korean students.

Go into the TESL journal and go into "Things for Teachers". Then find the online text" Tell me More" by Andrew Finch

PPT is another good way to stimulate conversation. Contact David Doubels
of EFL CLASSROOM 2.O

[summer33ny]

I teach High School also. I am also told that my classes should be "conversational".

I also noticed that giving the students dialogues or written expressions to say is useless and doesn't work... For one, they are irrelevant and the students are not motivated by them. And since they will not receive a grade for participation in my class.. they have no internal/external motivation to participate.

So I do a lot of things that appear to be "games" --but hopefully are more useful. It keeps the students motivated (or awake at least). Sometimes my classes become so lively I just sit back and watch.

I use things the students are interested in... I show photos of Korean stars and we talk about their appearance, we talk about personality traits that go with the various blood types, I show video clips from Twilight and we talk about that and the girls GO CRAZY over it, I have done a presentation about high school in America and we talk about the differences, I do a Truth and Lie game where students have to write 3 sentences on the board and we have to guess which is a lie, a Price is Right type of game where students have to say the price out loud (in English) for various items. I have practiced using different sounds with them "uh-huh", "yea", "oops!" etc. and they get a kick out of making these sounds. Even the teachers thought this lesson was very important for them to know.

I also give them dialogues whereby they can fill in their own answers. Students then are chosen to have this dialogue in front of the class and sometimes it is a riot when they have the freedom to choose their own words. "I really like your wig... How much did it cost?"

Not all games have to be hangman..

Whatever you see the students interested in... USE IT. I see all my girls (and boys) reading Twilight. So I was able to get a lot of use out of doing different Twilight themed activities. Things revolving around pop stars.. interviews with popstars in English...articles written about Korean popstars. Or even telling students you will teach them a popsong in English if they complete their work.. is highly motivating.

Ask them what would be interesting for them to do if you are really at a loss...

[Beeston27]

[andrewchon]

Can you tell us more about this 'Twilight' thing?