Korean Job Discussion Forums

[crazylemongirl]

My second years have been studying garage sales so my activity for them this week was to pretend to be homeshopping network presenters and sell a product.

I have noticed when the korean teachers weren't there the kids came up with the coolest presentations. Their grammar wasn't perfect but you got the idea, and they came up with very creative concepts to sell their products (one group that was selling glue stuck pieces of paper to their heads to show how sticky it was!).

In the class where the korean teacher was with them the groups that she helped had perfect sentences but they were obviously using vocab that they weren't comfortable with and there was no creativity in their presentation (which was what I was after) while the ones that were left to their own devices came up with some really cool answers.

The korean teacher seemed very surprised with who I chose as the winner (the group that pretended their mirror made them look like tom cruise! as opposed to the team with the best english). I told her what I thought was important for the kids to demonstrate was creativity and using their own vocab to make an impact rather than perfect sentences with zero impact. She seemed surprised by the whole thing.

So my question is how do you work to reward creativity and risk taking (which I think is an important part of learning english) with this constant demand that if it isn't perfect it isn't worth saying it.

[the eye]

I've told my uni students that creativity would be a 25% factor on their speaking exam grade. It takes the anxiety out of being perfect and gives them some freedom. I had some students dress up in costumes and work up hilarious skits. Hah, less boredom for me!!
Another thing you could do is award multiple categories....
-best english
-most creative
...um, can't think of any more

[jajdude]

I think there's a good point behind this. Not sure what it is. But maybe it has to do with so many people in the world trying to learn English but not achieving "perfection" of course. I guess only a fraction attain a nice proficiency or perhaps fluency. So being creative in expression is important. English has to be flexible. You can't expect to go to foreign countries and wait for "perfect" English either. Some Koreans may feel comforted by the realization that communication is also a struggle for people all over the globe. They might like to go to some strange country and meet other people with only some broken English that may resemble their own. I think it would be nice. The idea that it needs to be "perfect" is an inhibitor for sure.

Actually English is useless in so many places..... just glad I haven't been there much... except Korea, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, ... LOL

[margaret]

I think you are off to a good start. I have more practice teaching ju-jitsu than English but I noticed that teaching the dissimilar skills was actually similar. Make a game--like you did. Give lots and lots of chances both to succeed and fail so they learn they get used to making mistakes and are rewarded for taking a risk. And never punish them for making mistakes, only bad behavior. Play games where they have to actually communicate in English but it's OK to use bad English as long as they get their point across.
When I started my job teaching English the school had been using a terrible system based on having the kids memorize shole sentences way above their level that they never understook. The Korean teachers thought this was "speaking English." I had to show them that the kids didn't have functional skills. Luckily the wonjang knew something was wrong and let us create a new system.
Margaret

[sadsac]

As I explain to my students, language is about communication, not perfect grammar, syntax, presentation. Communication! Did you convey your message well enough that I understood it? Yes! Then we are off to a flying start. Crazylemongirl, you have got it right, encourage them to think and be creative. It works and makes learning a challenge that they enjoy accepting.

[rapier]

It just goes to show how clueless (once again) many koreans are when it comes to concepts of teaching... it actually hurts to constantly work for a boss that knows just about 100% less about teaching than you do.
And of course the kids behave perfectly whenever a korean teacher is around...yet they hate their lessons..

[paperbag princess]

i don't think that koreans are creative culturally speaking. i think that it is in part due to the cultural indoctrination to be part of the pack and not an individual. i have a very hard time getting my kids to be creative. they always check to see what their neighbour is doing. quite often when i ask them to draw something i get 10 identical pictures, right down to the colours they use...
also i've noticed that my bosses don't understand alternative pedagogies. for example, i wanted to take my kids outside and talk about trees, birds, etc... stuff in the park and they said no we had to do book work. eventhough we're doing a unit on outside games, activities and places... arhg.

[just because]

CLG,
That was a top idea. I might do that one.

[jajdude]

I've seen a little creativity emerge when given the right exercise. The best one that comes to mind is where you give them a group of things (like four similar- type words) and ask which one is different and why. When they realize different answers are possible depending on the explanation, it shows a bit of creativity. Let me try an example anyway:

bicycle,car,truck,airplane

"Well, only an airplane flies" one student thinks.

"True" says all-wise and knowing (western-educated and English speaking) teacher. "Any other possible answer?"

.......

,,,,,,,

?????

Um, a bicycle?

Why?

No motor?

Yes!

Reminds me of "Sesame Street"

One of these things is not like the others, one of these things is not the same....

Creativity encouraged!