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Open class, need advice

 
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pzebra



Joined: 12 May 2009

PostPosted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:28 pm    Post subject: Open class, need advice Reply with quote

So I got my open demo tomorrow, and I'm wondering about how differently my kids will behave. I'm teaching 3rd and 4th graders tomorrow. I'm pretty sure they will behave but I am concern they might be too intimidated to talk.

Should I do a joke or something to lighten the mood? Also has anyone else experience any major differences in their behaviour besides obedience and participation?

Thanks for your time.
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Rusty Shackleford



Joined: 08 May 2008

PostPosted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yup. They will probably clam up. Since they are young, you might be lucky. My open class was with 3rd grade MS girls and it was a nightmare.
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what the thunder said



Joined: 23 Nov 2009

PostPosted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 7:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Count on them being a LOT more quiet and generally more awkward. I lucked out with my open class because our style for presenting was very much about the students being independent and the teachers just being there to supervise. It went over great, but they were still a lot more quiet than usual.
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The Goalie



Joined: 17 Nov 2009
Location: Chungcheongnamdo

PostPosted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 7:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would recommend not posing any open questions to the class or anything else which requires voluntary participation. Long, awkward silences may ensue. It certainly can't hurt to play favorites just this once: use the kids you know will come up with the goods for questions, examples, etc..

That being said, I've found that the kids are much better in these situations than you might expect.
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waseige1



Joined: 09 Oct 2008

PostPosted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 8:25 pm    Post subject: Prep... Reply with quote

I prepped my kids ahead of the class.

I told them....
The people are here to see how good they are.
Show them how good you are.
Just pretend they are not there.
Remember, this is for you, not me.

It worked great. I had the KET translate it so they understood.
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pzebra



Joined: 12 May 2009

PostPosted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 8:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Damn. Anybody ever do one of these alone? I know most of the vocabulary and expressions in Korean. Should I use them if they don't understand?
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jpotter78



Joined: 29 Oct 2009
Location: Seoul, South Korea

PostPosted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 10:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

pzebra wrote:
Damn. Anybody ever do one of these alone? I know most of the vocabulary and expressions in Korean. Should I use them if they don't understand?


Practice the lesson at least once before the class, preferably more.

Don't use Korean. Though some parents may not care, or think its "funny/cute", other parents could have a bad reaction.

Tell the class that if they do well, behave properly, do what is asked of them, etc. that they can have some sort of party (pizza, snacks, games, whatever) the next day...this always works for me.

Reiterate to your students that they are not to inform their parents of rewards to be given or their prior knowledge/practice of the lesson.

Don't leave any spaces in time, dead silence. Always be prepared to move on to the next topic/activity, or with relation to no one answering the questions - keep rephrasing, modeling/acting out, or explaining further until someone is ready to answer.

Make sure you praise students for answering correctly, and encourage students who answer incorrectly to try again.
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Easter Clark



Joined: 18 Nov 2007
Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong

PostPosted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 10:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ha-ha. Open "classes" are a farce. Just go ahead and pick the "volunteers" beforehand and rehearse the answers. Then be sure they don't "volunteer" their "answer" too soon, as I've seen happen in several demo classes!

Teacher: "Okay, now let's ask someone a difficult question Mr. Kim! Hmm...how ab--"

Overzealous student: "A fishee can swim!"
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pzebra



Joined: 12 May 2009

PostPosted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 10:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks a lot, I would have never thought of some of these tips.

Quote:
Practice the lesson at least once before the class, preferably more.


I've practice the lesson on my own many times but I'm worry about the timing because I can't mimic everything to the t. It's suppose to be 40 minutes, what are the tolerances on that, if any? Most likely, I'll go over. What would happen?
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jpotter78



Joined: 29 Oct 2009
Location: Seoul, South Korea

PostPosted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

pzebra wrote:
Thanks a lot, I would have never thought of some of these tips.

Quote:
Practice the lesson at least once before the class, preferably more.


I've practice the lesson on my own many times but I'm worry about the timing because I can't mimic everything to the t. It's suppose to be 40 minutes, what are the tolerances on that, if any? Most likely, I'll go over. What would happen?


I also meant practice the lesson with the class.

As far as going over, I don't think parents will care about that. Where you would run into problems is if the lesson ran short Shocked
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Easter Clark



Joined: 18 Nov 2007
Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong

PostPosted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I dug up this old discussion of open classes, in which I gave step-by-step instructions on how to hold an open class:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=133551&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=
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