Korean Job Discussion Forums

[blunder1983]

Hi guys,

I've been asked by my coteacher to do a course teaching a few teachers after school. I said yes (as I'm well under what I've been contracted to do) thinking I could just teach conversational classes...

NOW I've found out before we tell the teachers at least 12 want to sign up and they want a proper structured course too. I'm a bit overwhelmed. They want to use the book side by side. Is it any good? I'm a bit loathed to be spending money on a book which doesn't really help out at all in class (proper classes I'm being employed to teach I mean).

Also their levels are HUGELY different from low intermediate to absolute beginner and I'm clueless as to how to teach such a diverse range.

Thanks !

Chris

[Grotto]

Using a book to teach teachers is pointless IMHO. The KT's dont want the homework and unless everyone is about the same level it is impossible to find one that benefits everyone. Alternately you could buy a single book and photo copy to your hearts content.


Every time I start teaching teachers the first class is simply: What do you want this course to teach you?

Answers vary widely but most want to learn either classroom English or travel English. Shopping, doctor, food, stuff like that.

Often I just bring my English/Korean dictionary and we look up words they want to know...or my lonely planet and they look up phrases they want to learn.

[just because]

side by side is a brilliant grammar book and good for repitition and drumming in set phrases and sentances...

howevere as a conversation book it is not good at all....i find it boring as watching knitting but the koreans love it, maybe because the repetition and empasis on sentance structure and grammar

[tomato]

Grotto, what's Lonely Planet?
If it teaches English phrases to Koreans and vice-versa, then it is probably something I need.

[peppermint]

If you want a conversation book that's good for low levels, the Pagoda books aren't horrible. There's a few mistakes in them and stuff, but they're good at getting people talking, and with low levels that can be a big challenge.

Once in a while a theme lesson - Classroom English, travelling english etc, might be good too. Write up some vocab and a dialogue or two, have them role play it, and work in small changes.

[Scott in HK]

I haven't taught teachers for a long time now...but when I did...I often taught using lessons plans they could use in their own classes...

We went over the lesson plans...vocab and so...then tried them out with one teacher being the teacher and the rest being students...

Teachers like to learn things that they can use in their classes...

[canukteacher]

I think teaching the teachers is a big waste of time. Fifteen signed up this term. A major audit started the first day of class, so only 6 showed up. The remaining 9 never did show. I usually get a different 3 or 4 every week. It is difficult to get anything going with them.

That being said, I decided to just "go with the flow". I basically teach them vocabulary, and key sentences on different topics. Right now they are learning about travel. The first class on travel was a brain storming session. I had them write down all the travel vocab they could think of. We went over pronunciation. The next week they learned key travel phrases (basically how to book a trip using a travel agent).

Classs has been canceled for the past two weeks. Who knows if we will meet this week? Like I said, I just take it one class at a time. They seem to be ok with what we are doing, and that's the main thing. These teachers are not English teachers. They are there for interest, or the VP told them to sign up.

CT

[schwa]

Teachers will cling to the idea of a textbook like some kind of flimsy plastic waterwings. Its what theyre accustomed too. But it doesnt help them learn to swim.

You & they will quickly burn out on Side by Side. If they insist, you can use it as a passing reference, but you'll need to supplement & adlib a lot to keep the classes interesting. With luck, you can quietly drop the text.

As mentioned above, class members will be in flux -- you'll never know which or how many might show up. Better to think of it as a drop-in english conversation club than a course. To that end, choose a simple theme & ask simple leading questions. Forget grammar drills or they aint ever coming back. Be fun.

If you get down to a handful of regular attendees, go out for pizza sometimes, maybe beers after. You'll be a hero.

[JacktheCat]

I've generally noticed public school KTs are most interested in learning three things: 1. slang and idioms, 2. proper pronunciation, and 3. western teaching methods.

First off, though I'd try to ditch SidebySide. A great supplementary grammar book; but why o why are Koreans obsessed with it as a conversation book?

Or, you could do what I did, and convince your school minder that teacher conversation classes would run far better down at the local afterschool hangout over some beers and samgyeopsal on a Friday night.

[NearlyKorean]

I use a book, "Talk Your Head Off"... It has a little of everything.
It includes topics, vocab, questions, excerises and activities. I have been using it in my higher level 6th grade class with great success. We are half-way through the book.

I didn't care much for "Side by Side". It has far too many mistakes. It's boring. The directions in the book were sometimes too complicated.

What ever you use want to use, I would show the director the book first, if you have a copy. Some of the bookstores will lend you a copy or give you a sample.

[deessell]

Hi there, I teach the teachers as well. Both Korean English teachers and non English teachers. Remember that they don't have a choice to come to your classes so make them fun and most importantly communicative. All teachers had to learn English at university and you will be surprised how much vocabulary they already have......they just have difficulty reproducing it. Games are the way to go. My teachers/students love board games. I make them myself and laminate them. Simple things written in squares for their levels ie. 4 things...each square they have to say 4 things.......they can do, can't do, things they do in the morning, things they want to do etc. Remember to include squares like roll again, go back three spaces and my personal favourite.....trade squares. It's fun and non threatening. There are lots of examples of these types of activites in the Cutting Edge Teachers books. Make it fun and get them talking and they will think the sun shines out of your asssss. Leave the books for students.

[Kimchieluver]

"Side by Side" is great. Especially if they are the ones that picked it. When it gets boring just wing it and think of common idioms or talk about western culture. They eat it up like candy. Seriously, never underestimate the power of "Side by Side".

[gang ah jee]

Is Side by Side the only book in Korea? It's shiiiiite. Can't you at least persuade them to follow a decent course like English File, Cutting Edge or (at worst) New Headway American?

Find yourself a Reward pre-int or intermediate resource book and base your lessons around that. Something like A-Z Discussions Intermediate with some targeted language instruction before you go into skills work might be fun for them also. If you can find Taboos and Issues and use it judiciously with some solid language work beforehand it could also be very rewarding.

[the_beaver]

Side by Side is useful only when ignited to use as a heat source for toasting marshmallows or to make sure that your students have slobber running down their chins while they're in the throes of slack-jawed sleep.

Interchange third edition should give you the structure you need for a decent course -- just supplement it with some other activities for variety.

[blunder1983]

Well, I had my first lesson last night, I think I'm gonna teach them basic survival english as they are VASTLY different levels.

This is extra curricular though, they are there by choice so I want to keep it fun.

Thanks for all your responses.

Chris