Korean Job Discussion Forums

[The evil penguin]

I have just completed the final part of my TESOL cert. During the last few hours of todays seminar, we were introduced to the "Rassias" method, and were shown a video of some annoying bloke (Prof Rassias) running around China causing havoc in the classrooms.

Sure, alot of what he was doing seemed great. He was making the classes fun and getting all the students actively involved. He had a unique presentation. But apart from pointing at students while not looking at them, what exactly is his much flaunted method?? If its trying to get the kids out of their shell and actively participate, well, thats what i would imagine most foreign teachers try and do anyway....

Anybody here who actually works to a definite "Rassias method"?.

[some waygug-in]

Yeah, I had a brief view of that too in my TESOL course. It seemed to impress people who had never taught before, I supposed because it looks fun, but anyone with teaching experience would know how difficult it would be to actually try and institute such a teaching method.

I'm not dissing him or his method, it works for him....... great, but he has also spent years with his students getting them to work with him on it.
I doubt very much that someone could just walk into a classroom and start using his approach.

The pointing thing wouldn't go over well in Korea anyway, as that is considered an offensive gesture here.

[seoulmon]

Congrats on getting half way done with your TESOL cert. I just got mine done.

About your program: Are you getting your TESOL done in K? How many different methods did/are you learning?

[The evil penguin]

[Real Reality]

The Rassias Foundation
The Rassias Method is a unique approach that speeds language learning, increases language retention and has you speaking and understanding in "Ten days that make a difference". Originally developed for Peace Corps training, it has been adapted by language teachers in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~rassias/

The Rassias Method
The Rassias Method (also known as the Dartmouth Intensive Language Model) was developed by John A. Rassias, perhaps Dartmouth College's most famous professor over the past 30 years. The genesis of the Method was in the late 1960s when John was asked to put together an 8 week immersion program for Peace Corps volunteers to the French speaking African countries. Since that beginning, the Method has been refined and enlarged. It is now used in over 80 languages at over 600 institutions worldwide. It is a dynamic, emotion charged methodology that starts with the premise that to learn a language one must commit both the intellect and the psyche.
http://www.rassias.com/rassiasmethod.html

RASSIAS Language Group
http://www.rassiasgroup.com/

Language Teaching Methods - Presentation of the methods
http://www.languages.dk/methods/methods.html

[seoulmon]