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Lightfxphoenix
Joined: 03 Sep 2011
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 Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:03 am Post subject: Teaching Methods (advice for a new teacher) |
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| So, I am teaching in a few Hagwons and my classes are quite diverse. Some of the classes seem to be nearly fluent in English and I can just discuss current events and what not, but other classes do not seem to understand a word of English. I have only been teaching a few days now, so I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice on how to handle different levels of students. There are classes where I cannot even get the students to understand the simplest of words, they just stare at me in blank confusion. I guess I am just asking for advice for a new teacher. I should mention that I was kind of thrown to the wolves; I was not given the luxury of sitting in on some classes to see how things are done. Many of my classes have a Korean teacher sitting in on them, but this only helps so much. Thanks for the help. |
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bbunce
Joined: 28 Sep 2011
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| Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:26 am Post subject: |
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| When you wrote "do not seem to understand a word in English" concerns me. You really need to know for sure by giving them various assessments. Unforturnately, you will also discover that there are plenty of lazy students you shouldn't worry about. Try different tactics. For example, change seating arrangements, or who sits by whom. Maybe play some youtube phonics songs. The kids really enjoy that... |
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koreatimes
Joined: 07 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:33 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| So, I am teaching in a few Hagwons |
Your thread title says you are a new teacher. How do you get a job at a few hagwons? |
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Lightfxphoenix
Joined: 03 Sep 2011
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| Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:36 am Post subject: |
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| koreatimes wrote: |
| Quote: |
| So, I am teaching in a few Hagwons |
Your thread title says you are a new teacher. How do you get a job at a few hagwons? |
I think my contract may be unique. I work at one school on Monday and Wednesday, another on Tuesday and Thursday and then another on Friday. |
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Lightfxphoenix
Joined: 03 Sep 2011
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| Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:41 am Post subject: |
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| bbunce wrote: |
| When you wrote "do not seem to understand a word in English" concerns me. You really need to know for sure by giving them various assessments. Unforturnately, you will also discover that there are plenty of lazy students you shouldn't worry about. Try different tactics. For example, change seating arrangements, or who sits by whom. Maybe play some youtube phonics songs. The kids really enjoy that... |
I was given different books for different classes (obviously). A few classes I understand the confusion as it is the first time using the book. The classes that I have a hard time with are the ones that have been using the same book for awhile and should know everything in it, but then do not understand anything. However, I have other classes where I am told to teach from page * to page *, but the students already know everything. They do not just parrot the sentences and such, they actually have a true grasp of what is happening, so using the book just bores them to death. I had one class where I ended up just hanging out and talked about space, politics and video games; the kids were basically fluent in English. |
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Skipperoo
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:21 am Post subject: |
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Advice from my experience would be that with classes that are high level don't worry about the book, just pull interesting topics from it and have discussions with them. Use the book enough to appease the mothers who paid for it (get them to write their homework in there and whatnot) but otherwise don't sweat it too much.
With the lower classes I severely doubt they know zero english. It's more likely a case of either a) you're speaking too quickly or with too much advanced language for them to grasp your meaning or b) they're lazy and trying to dodge out of speaking, or c) they're just not comfortable with you yet. In my experience low level speakers are often very shy about using their english once they reach the self-consciousness of puberty. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 4:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Lightfxphoenix wrote: |
| koreatimes wrote: |
| Quote: |
| So, I am teaching in a few Hagwons |
Your thread title says you are a new teacher. How do you get a job at a few hagwons? |
I think my contract may be unique. I work at one school on Monday and Wednesday, another on Tuesday and Thursday and then another on Friday. |
I suspect, unless all 3 of your hagwans are listed on your ARC that you may be working illegally as well.
Time will tell (like when you register for your ARC you will need 3 sets of employer documents).
As to the "how to teach", what are the age ranges of your students?
Are we talking about young learners (k-6), middle school 7-9), high school, (10-12), university students or adults? The pedagogues are very different for the different age ranges and expectations of your different groups.
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Lightfxphoenix
Joined: 03 Sep 2011
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| Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 5:09 pm Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| Lightfxphoenix wrote: |
| koreatimes wrote: |
| Quote: |
| So, I am teaching in a few Hagwons |
Your thread title says you are a new teacher. How do you get a job at a few hagwons? |
I think my contract may be unique. I work at one school on Monday and Wednesday, another on Tuesday and Thursday and then another on Friday. |
I suspect, unless all 3 of your hagwans are listed on your ARC that you may be working illegally as well.
Time will tell (like when you register for your ARC you will need 3 sets of employer documents).
As to the "how to teach", what are the age ranges of your students?
Are we talking about young learners (k-6), middle school 7-9), high school, (10-12), university students or adults? The pedagogues are very different for the different age ranges and expectations of your different groups.
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I think I am fine legally. I am working at three schools, but only being payed through one. It is not a situation where I am receiving three separate pay checks. If it does turn to be an illegal situation, is there anything I can do about it?
As for my students, they are from ages 8 to 14, but the ages have had very little to do with understanding. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 7:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Lightfxphoenix wrote: |
I think I am fine legally. I am working at three schools, but only being payed through one. It is not a situation where I am receiving three separate pay checks. If it does turn to be an illegal situation, is there anything I can do about it?
As for my students, they are from ages 8 to 14, but the ages have had very little to do with understanding. |
Working at 3, paid at one sounds a lot like the other 2 aren't legal.
Time (less than 90 days) will tell.
As to the ages and understanding, the reason I asked was that the pedagogues are different for different ages and also for different ability levels.
It is virtually impossible to give accurate HELP ME TEACH information without knowing how old and what level.
Teaching to 8 year old beginners is very different than teaching to 14 year old beginners.
Teaching to 8 year old kids (G3) who understand is very different (both methods and material) than teaching to teens.
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 7:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Lightfxphoenix wrote: |
[q
I think I am fine legally. I am working at three schools, but only being payed through one. It is not a situation where I am receiving three separate pay checks. . |
That doesn't matter in terms of legality.
1. Do you have your Alien Registration Card? (ARC)?
2. Are all three schools listed on your ARC?
3. Does the same employer own all three schools?
If the answer is "No" to both numbers 2 and 3 you are working illegally (no matter what he says.) |
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I-am-me
Joined: 21 Feb 2006
Location: Hermit Kingdom
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| Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 7:46 pm Post subject: |
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Can you Moo?  |
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Lightfxphoenix
Joined: 03 Sep 2011
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| Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
| Lightfxphoenix wrote: |
[q
I think I am fine legally. I am working at three schools, but only being payed through one. It is not a situation where I am receiving three separate pay checks. . |
That doesn't matter in terms of legality.
1. Do you have your Alien Registration Card? (ARC)?
2. Are all three schools listed on your ARC?
3. Does the same employer own all three schools?
If the answer is "No" to both numbers 2 and 3 you are working illegally (no matter what he says.) |
I don't have my alien registration card yet. All three schools are GnB, though I am unsure of ownership. Would it be in my best interest to ask my director about the situation? If I am dealing with an illegal situation what can I do about it? I was just worried about how to teach the kids, I did not even consider that I may be working illegally. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Lightfxphoenix wrote: |
| I was just worried about how to teach the kids, |
| ttompatz wrote: |
The pedagogues are different for different ages and also for different ability levels.
It is virtually impossible to give accurate "HELP ME TEACH" information without knowing how old and what level for each group you want help with.
Teaching to 8 year old beginners is very different than teaching to 14 year old beginners.
Teaching to 8 year old kids (G3) who understand is very different (both methods and material) than teaching to teens.
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Lightfxphoenix wrote: |
| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
| Lightfxphoenix wrote: |
[q
I think I am fine legally. I am working at three schools, but only being payed through one. It is not a situation where I am receiving three separate pay checks. . |
That doesn't matter in terms of legality.
1. Do you have your Alien Registration Card? (ARC)?
2. Are all three schools listed on your ARC?
3. Does the same employer own all three schools?
If the answer is "No" to both numbers 2 and 3 you are working illegally (no matter what he says.) |
I don't have my alien registration card yet. All three schools are GnB, though I am unsure of ownership. Would it be in my best interest to ask my director about the situation? If I am dealing with an illegal situation what can I do about it? I was just worried about how to teach the kids, I did not even consider that I may be working illegally. |
Well the problem with asking your director is if you ARE working illegally he will probably just lie anyway. I'd just find an excuse to approach him and causually ask (in the course of a normal conversation) if he owns all three hakwons. If he says "No" and then later you get your card and see that only one school is listed..then you can be sure.
Right now we don't have enough information to determine if you are working illegally or not. Your ARC (when you get it) might help clear things up. |
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dog8food
Joined: 30 May 2011
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| Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 10:53 am Post subject: |
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| ...as for the advice you requested I'm a fan of using entertaining media. Catchy videos like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uThFWm2cgWg It's effective for a wide range of English levels. There's so much you can do around videos and songs. Of course, you have to make sure it's alright with the school. |
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