Korean Job Discussion Forums

kirsi · Joined: 29 May 2009 Location: dongtan

i have classes of 5 year old kids that seem to know about zero english and like to punch/hit me and poke my breasts (!). today was my first day working and i was given a book and told to use one or two pages of it a day because the book has to be used for two weeks. i've received no guidance and have no clue, honestly, about how to fill up class time.. i am also the only foreign teacher at my school and the korean english teacher only works two days a week so i don't have anyone to ask Sad

i apologize for asking this, it seems silly, but i am at a total loss. i would like to do a good job but i am not sure how...

roadwork · Joined: 24 Nov 2008 Location: Goin' up the country

Skippy · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon

Welcome to Korea. You got the "thrown into the pool" teaching method. All newbies usually get that. First off do not panic. Try not to get angry or frustrated. So here is some places to look.....

(Wow another none google user. )

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=34653&highlight=

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=4613

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=4422

Tonnes more if you look

try using google with site:forums.eslcafe.com/korea "WORDS HERE"

Spent sometime looking and you will find some real gems of advice.

kirsi · Joined: 29 May 2009 Location: dongtan

thanks for the advice and links

i think the worst part is that the teachers and director act like they expect me to know what to do and be great at it. i tried my best today and the director told me i seem tired Sad

ddeubel · Joined: 20 Jul 2005

Music, Arts and Crafts....

Too many to mention. But I'd start with SuperSimpleSongs - see the player on EFL classroom 2.0 -

HERE

Lots of crafts you can do . Here are some pop up cars - get them cutting and coloring... HERE More on EFL Classroom (my junk yard).

We have lots of karaoke for kids if you have a computer. Inky dinky, Barney, Sesame Street etc... Lots of books , try this one for some activities... HERE. Look at the SEARCH tab and select the right topic "kids" kindergarden etc....

Keep reaching out for help, it will happen and remember above anything - you are doing the MOST important job possible. Hang in there, try to understand them and do your best. Just being there is making a difference.

DD
http://eflclassroom.ning.com
http://teachingrecipes.com

tomato · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:13 am Post subject:

Hello, Kirsi!

I am working under similar expectations, but for me, it's not quite as bad, because all I do is use ideas which I used in kindergarten.

The first time I had to teach kindergarten, which was 10 years ago,
I felt the same way you do now.

Here is a list of threads having to do with little kids.
At least 38 other people have been in your position.
Most of my ideas are in these threads, as well as oodlums of other ideas submitted by other veterans of the battle.

Enjoy:

38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31
30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21
20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

The next time someone asks, this will become thread number 39.

Morning_Star · Joined: 21 Jan 2009

In the US, many kids start learning English at 5. You have an easy job actually because your kids have a chance of being fluet in English. The younger the kids, the more likely they'll learn.

jhuntingtonus · Joined: 09 Dec 2008 Location: Jeonju

Above all, hang loose! You're doing better than you think, even if you feel like you're doing nothing. The contact time, even if it's just spent playing, is what they really want... I think.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Doubt you have a computer and projector in your room, but.....

Click on the 3rd picture down on the left, with the teddy bear:

http://jr.naver.com/donghwa/list.nhn?id=7

Choose one of the photos that comes up. They love it!

gaffe · Joined: 06 Aug 2009 Location: N.C.

Play time the heart rate. Let them run headlong around the room's table for ten minutes, then stop and everyone counts their heart rate out loud. Repeat until end of class or death.

saw6436 · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon, ROK

"kindy, what am I supposed to do with them!?" Filet and broil them.

Fox · Joined: 04 Mar 2009

Chambertin · Joined: 07 Jun 2009 Location: Gunsan

I gave up on Kindy.
They vary so much from class to class and one bad apple ends any learning and half the control for the day. I think it teaches you to hate kids, but that�s my opinion.

The first thing is to establish some kind of schedule and routine they can expect. Monday is phonics, Tuesday is activity, Wed. is challenge day, etc.
Once they have a clue what�s going on you can use that to set up your expectations and then alleviate any chance of passing on your stress to the kids.

Other than that react fast to any unwanted behavior. They will learn fast that any inactive threats or activity are just that. If you aren�t fast to stop all things then they will steamroll you.

I haven�t read many of the other threads but try the Pvt. Pyle technique. When one kid keeps acting up then have the rest of the class pay for it, after a while they should police themselves.
I do that most often as I have no interest in being in the Korea times for scaring a kid to inactivity or suspected child abuse. The other kids can do that discipline for me.

I do hope that in the end it works out better for you to be free, it has for me. It is rough at first but the best thing is that from then on out it is exactly what you make of it, it really is Your class.

Good luck

Khenan · Joined: 25 Dec 2007

Fishead soup · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Location: Korea

Wear a set of Mickey Mouse ears and sing the head and shoulders song.