Korean Job Discussion Forums

[grandpa]

I'm doing an advanced level class for grade 3 elementary students. This class is one day a week for three hours straight.

We had a class. I did a basic introduction, established a few rules and tried out a drama with them. They're English is pretty good, but I don't think they were as excited about the material.

Anyone else ever do such a class? If so, what ideas did you use to keep them excited and motivated through the long class?

[lukas]

I really dislike doing classes with little kids for more than one period due to having no attention span. My opinion is that you should do maybe a 1 hour of actual work, then followed by a game/craft, followed by more work if they are willing. If not, more games/crafts or some kind of song. Do some phonics worksheets as well, practicing pronunciation with the class as a whole, followed by individual attention when you check their work. This is a good time killer, because let's face it, three periods with 8 year olds is too long. Also, the more advanced students will appreciate a little free time while everyone has their answers checked.

I have 3rd graders for two hours in a row, and it's a bit of a stretch for them imo, so I can only imagine what 3 hours is like. Usually I will start off with easy sentences from the standard public school textbook, and if they know everything, I will expand upon the phrases and make them more challenging, as well as adding relevant or more difficult vocabulary.

sheesh, 3 hours of 3rd graders . . . I hope you have a co-teacher

[grandpa]

[lukas]

I'm assuming your public school, in which case I would try to get a Korean Teacher to at least grade papers in the back of the room. Usually this is my situation, and it works out pretty well. However, when the KT has other things to do and is not there. . . there's a 80% chance the kids will go ape****, after the first period.

On the otherhand, with Hagwon, generally they are more behaved because parents have to pay money to be there. With public school, it's all free, so there is less motivation to act civilized.

Also, don't feel guilty if you have no KT, the kids go insane, and you need to resort to playing games/crafts 85% of the time. Technically there always has to be a KT with you while you teach . . . if not, the school is going against gepik, epik, etc. Gepik has spoken to my KT about this, and she usually still doesn't show up. The rationale for this is that KTs don't get any extra pay for co-teaching afterschool classes, and it appears they are busy.

If this becomes an issue, which I doubt (hasn't for me for the 6 months I've been here), you can kindly remind them it's impossible due to communication issues and they need to have a KT with you.

Regardless of what happens, don't take it personal and have a good time.

[detourne_me]

How advanced are the students? How many students?

I'd suggest the Ready Action! series for acting out twisted fairy tales. There are songs and actions as well as drama. The kids get really into it, and If you need to use up time you can make costumes and do plenty of rehearsals.
Other than that, a good book series like Super Kids would work well for keeping them occupied.

[Fishead soup]

http://eflclassroom.com

Last one standing
Baam
Jeopardy
What's the Wordle
Pass the Paper.
What's the picture.

Karafun: Korean song with English subtitles.

[grandpa]

[Countrygirl]

When I taught grade 3 they loved songs (icnelly on youtube is great...English songs with subtitles), they loved answering questions in class, they loved filling out worksheets and they loved doing group work (ie posters with English themes). Basically they just love being challanged. But all of it has to be given in short doses.

They also love getting stickers or circles for good behaviour.

I'd say just try to teach them like any grade 3 class back home but with lots of visual stimulus.