Korean Job Discussion Forums

Xaiko · Joined: 05 Oct 2009 Location: Jamsil

Im new to business teaching and have been teaching the vice president of LG electronics. Its a big step and I think im doing okay for the first time but im like his 3rd teacher so Im sure they were experienced and he has expectations.

I come prepared with topics to talk about and it goes pretty well.

Hes about intermediate, hesitates and has to think of what to say most of the time.

Edit: Where can I find articles for business, electronics, social issues? Does anyone know a good site with many easily accessible?

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

Respect. Respect. Respect. He's the head dog.

I taught business English for a couple of years. It's good fun, once you get to know the crew. It took a long time for me to realise that the class was actually for the President of the company. All the other guys were there just to disguise that the President was the only one who couldn't speak English. The other salary men were just pretending they couldn't speak - to save his face.

I became very good friends with the President, and he used to give me heaps of gifts, dinners, karaoke etc (man, he was a lousy singer).

I'd try a respectful and friendly approach. You can ask him if he wants General Conversation - Free talking - or Business English (special text books). He may feel that he's not 'studying' and is being 'lazy' if he doesn't have a book (even if you don't use it). We used to quickly do a page of the text - and got into free-talking.

Good luck. You're in for a good gig.

NB: Dress well. A suit for the first few times, and always a shirt and tie.

shocking · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Location: Busan

I echo the above advice. I did lessons with the vice-president of Fiorentina football club about two years ago and it was a blast.

If your after a text book to supplement the material you're using already try Market Leader Intermediate. It provides conversational and lexical material relevant to the business world.

Juregen · Joined: 30 May 2006

I would do it differently.

He is looking not only to improve his English, he is also looking for an intellectual challenge.

I have some Koreans in functions under my wings, and I constantly challenge their assumptions about anything. They love every minute of it.

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

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

Xaiko · Joined: 05 Oct 2009 Location: Jamsil

Thanks a lot for the advice! He also told me that he would like me to bring articles and discuss them as well as homework. Now to find some articles~

Kimchieyescream · Joined: 13 Jan 2008

These articles are great and current. I use some of the worksheets, not all twelve. They may be too easy but it's something for you to look at.

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

Chambertin · Joined: 07 Jun 2009 Location: Gunsan

Not to sound confrontational, but how do you land these jobs?

I've been thrown into some business English situations thus far and I appreciate the difficulty of tailoring a program to the needs of the student / students, but wow. To be tossed at a VP, I assume I am missing something. I would have thought your handler would have prepped you or they would prep your handler as per what was expected.

My advice is to ask lots of questions to find out what they expect out of the lessons. Then work around that. Above all be Very Very respectful and flexible as well. If you are teaching the higher up's then its a whole different world. At least it was that way for me in middle management, a VP must take some delicate gloves.

As for articles I generally watch BBC or NHK to find out whats really going on in the world then look up the topics on google news.

Good luck!
EDIT:
One thing I must pass on, is to give them at least a day of prep. Pick out the stuff to talk about at least a day in advance. It also helps to have a good understanding of both sides of the article so it can be a real discussion.
Chances are they know it better than you, and if you can interpert what they want to say and clean it up for them it really helps the lessons progress.

Xaiko · Joined: 05 Oct 2009 Location: Jamsil

Yea I dont know how I got the job, I was surprised they hired a beginner for a vice pres whos been studying for the past 2 years. I guess cause of the F4 visa and the picture.

Thanks a lot great advice!

ChilgokBlackHole · Joined: 21 Nov 2009

Murakano · Joined: 10 Sep 2009

Here`s a site I use sometimes.....

http://drudgereport.com/

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