Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Eazy_E]

Starting this Monday I will be teaching a friend of my boss once a week for 50 minutes. He owns a health club upstairs from my school, so I'm getting a free gym pass out of the deal. Totally legit.

Anyways, since I've been in Korea I've only taught children, and usually about ten at a time. I've never taught an adult and never taught anyone one-on-one.

I'm told that this guy wants "free talking" with a native speaker of English because he wants to go overseas. I haven't yet met him and I'm going to assume that he doesn't know any English at all.

Can anyone offer some advice on this kind of teaching? Is a book necessary? How much should I talk, and how much should I prompt him to talk? At first I might display my shaky command of Korean, to make him less nervous and more willing to try talking. Is there anything else I should do?

[Toby]

Family.

Interests.

Why going abroad?

Business - his health club.

Your country.

Anything.

Room salons.

Women.

Drinking.

Cars.

Drugs.

Clubs.

Escort services.

Saunas.

Sex.

Need more?

[peppermint]

Talk to him and see first. Most people use newspaper articles for freetalking, but the Korean papers tend to use big words in awkward ways. I like USAtoday as a source.

If he's a little lower level, you could try something from PNU, the small group discussion books- a short article with words explained and questions.

[just because]

I use the PNU books for high-school and university students.

The lower level has a pink color and the higher has a blue one.

They are very good conversation books and always lead to other tangents. Find them handy to use.

[Manner of Speaking]

I've been teaching adults one-on-one for five years.

I can sell you some great lessons.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I suggest since he wants free talking and he is paying the bill, you should let him talk. If he really wanted to pay for listening he'd buy a tape or watch a movie.

I think you are responsible for bringing in topics and then listening to him. While he talks you should be making quick notes on his grammar and/or pronunciation problems so you can give him some instruction later.

It's also a good idea to give him listening comprehension questions. For example, read a short news article before class and write up some questions. Then tell him the story and ask him the questions. You can then work the topic into a discussion.

[Toby]

[jajdude]

I am now teaching a guy one on one 4 times a week an hour each time. He can speak some English but wants to improve for his move to the Philippines next year. We have a book called "Side By Side" which is not great but not bad for practicing a structured dialogue. Otherwise i tend to babble at him with whatever i can think of. i drink a lot of coffee during the day as I meet him at &:30 or 8:30 Mon. - Thurs. I find all that caffeine makes me talktative though i don't sleep as well, and drink beers to counteract the caffeine.

Also, www.iteslj.org has been a help... but you may need other resources as well.

[Ya-ta Boy]

>>he didn't start one converstaion<<

I agree with Toby that quiet people are a problem in a conversation class. That is why I mentioned that the teacher needs to come prepared with topics.

In my experience, quiet people have a lot to say if given the chance. They just need to be 'jump started'. Once a topic gets started then I think the teacher can ask lots of questions to keep it going. One of the most important skills (and often overlooked) in communication is the ability to be a good listener--and I don't mean the ability to understand the spoken word. I mean the kind of listening that requires the listener to pay real attention to what is being said, not just waiting for a chance to butt in and express his own idea.

Teaching one on one is a great way to get to know a person and get some insights into a culture.

[the saint]

So, is teaching privates legal here so long as you don't get paid in cash.

In Japan, I used to have conversation over lunch and email the guy comments I'd note down on his English. He got a free "class" and I got a free lunch.

Would this be legal here...

[Skarp]

My advice is

Don't do it!


Immigration would assume you got paid and deport you anyway.....

You should get paid minimum 50000 for a 50 minute lesson....all things considered (risk/time/boredom/prep/travel/cancellations/work/overtime.....)


If you are actually good at the job - charge 100 000.


Skarp