Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Zed]

Do you find that Korean adults are more or less responsive or participatory in class than other places?

My experiences with adults have been in Spain and Korea and there's just no comparison. The Spanish adults were great to teach. They volunteered information, were enthusiastic about role-playing, and, were, quite simply, very outgoing. My experience with Korean adults has been like pulling teeth. Blank stares. One word responses. Completely lacking in originality. (And these are English teachers.) Hopefully they just need to warm up to me a bit but I certainly didn't expect what was to be a 20-25 minute discussion to die 4 or 5 minutes in.

I want to know if this is worse in Korea or typical of east/ southeast Asian students in general.

[Mosley]

I've taught heaps of adults in Japan & S. Korea. My experience here has been, yes, there are plenty of pieces of deadwood. Part of that is cultural; part of it is lack of ability/confidence. That said, I have to say that as far as things like role plays & discussions go, Koreans tend to be considerably more willing to "give it a go" than their neighbors. The Japanese educational system, combined w/cultural norms, have done an excellent job of wiping out originality & initiative. I say that as one who's very fond of Japan & its people, BTW.

[schwa]

I havent taught adults elsewhere but I've taught a variety of adults here. English teachers can be especially frustrating.

They've got the tools but you get a group of them together & there is rivalry, self-comparison, envy, anxiety, embarrassment, & serious risk aversion all bubbling under the surface. Safer just to keep their mouths shut.

In my experience, Korean english teachers are the least likely people to attempt casual contact with foreigners -- they're afraid of being laughed at for their mistakes & inadequacies. "You're an English teacher?!!"

The challenge is trying to create a safe zone where everyone feels equal & relaxed. I suggest basing your lessons on really easy themes & letting them expand on it to whatever extent they feel comfortable. Provide coffee mix & green tea. Suggest lunch or dinner out together now & then instead of classtime.

Teachers can be tough nuts to crack but once you've got them onside, they can make for some rollicking classes.

[Zed]

It seems to me that most of the English teachers that I have taught here seem to want me to pat them on the back and offer them no real pointers to improve their English. As soon as I start suggesting areas they can improve they are gone within 2 or 3 weeks. It's the flattered that hang around even if they aren't getting anywhere.

[Michelle]

Hey there,

I have taught English to adults in Australia, too, and although Koreans can be quite bad, in my experience they are not at all the most reticent to speak.

I have had worse experiences with Chinese, Japanese and even Hong Kongese students.

With adults as beginners they are much more aware of their limitations and shortfalls. So the Asian beginners are sometimes the worst, although it can have a lot to do with individuals.

Did some research into this at university which showed that motivation is the best way to overcome it. (Big surprise to all ).


Of course poor old ESL teachers can not be held completely responsible for student motivation.



As for those unfortunate souls, Korean and others who think they know it all, but don't, perhaps they need some submersion, a trip to a foreign country or a few tricky questions to bring them down a notch or two!




What can you do?

PS. i guess they leave because they are actually getting challenged.

[JacktheCat]

This Cat has taught in China for a year and taught mostly Japanese university students in San Francisco for a few months.

All in all I'd say Korean adults are the best adult students among the Eastern Asian cultures.

By best I mean they are more open and willing to engage in group and pair work and vocal about their likes and dislikes (sometimes too much so).

[Michelle]

The Best?

Ouch.

This does not bode well for my future career in Asia.



I lived in hope that the other countries were better

[Zed]

My god, if these are the most open I've got to see what I can do to get off this continent if I'm going to continue teaching.

Well, I'll try it a little longer. I'll admit most of my experiences here have been with children. I actually don't find that they're bad at all when I teach them one-on-one whether that be on the internet or in person. The two larger classes I have taught have been extremely uncooperative and closed. (7 and 17 students)

[JacktheCat]

This is why I've come to prefer teaching children.

Sure they're more work than teaching adults, but they're so much more fun and rewarding.

[Zed]

They were much more willing to talk today. Perhaps they could relate better to the way I was trying to teach today having abandoned my lesson strategy from the day before that actually required significant input from them. Maybe I was expecting too much on day one.

[some waygug-in]

What level are your classes? I have this problem with my lower level adult and teenager classes, but once the students get to develop some confidence, there's no shutting them up.

I can't say I know the answer. There is a lot for them to deal with, trying to put sentences into a reverse order from their own language and all. I just try to do my best to keep classes relaxed and questions as simple as possible, but lots and lots of questions.

Sometimes getting them to losen up is all it takes, but other times it's just that they are to self concious about their lack of ability.

[Zed]

My students are English teachers (tutors actually) from the ages of 25 to 43. Like I said, they were more open today.

[ronin]

I've taught adults in Japan and yes they are like dead wood so it was like me going into class talking, having them stare at me and me leaving. They eventually warmed up to me and started to speak more, but not after a few classes.

[TECO]

Zed,

The situation doesn't improve in Japan, Taiwan or Thailand.

You won't find any of the Asians as outgoing and willing to 'take risks' as some of the Europeans (Germans, Spanish, Italians).

In my view, with the Taiwanese, Koreans and Japanese - there is no 'better.'

They're all pretty much approaching learning a language in the same way.
They're Passive and fairly unwilling to 'guess' or stick out for fear of losing face in front of the group.

North East Asians really have to re-consider their beliefs or notions of how to be 'good' students (language learners) and their expectations, because the way they're going about it now just isn't working. Many of them seem to be content on just letting the teacher do the 'driving' and just sitting there in the passenger seat.

I find them difficult to motivate in class.

[Zed]

What strategies do you use to try to motivate them?

Unfortunately this aspect was sadly neglected in my CELTA course since it was help in Spain. None of the instructors nor the other students on the course had any experience with Asian students.