Korean Job Discussion Forums

[I_Am_Wrong]

What I mean is what is your actualy interpretation of what a conversation class should consist of? I've picked up a legal part-time gig at a hagwon just down the street from my public school and it's doing private conversation lessons with small groups of middle schools. Most of the students are actually decently capable in English...at about a low intermediate level. They are good students that work and try hard. Does a conversation class of this type mean preparing a topic with questions and doing Q and A along with getting the students to form some questions about the topic. Or, should there be a speaking text book that has set phrases to practice based around some sort of topic (see new interchange etc.)? What do you think?

[peppermint]

I'd go for a mix of both. At that level, I'd probably use a textbook, but build off of it with related questions/ freetalking activities.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I take it to mean that you can do any type of class that is structured to produce speaking students. If your students are at the intermediate level, I'd use something like New (or Old) Interchange to give them a structured grammar review and targeted sentence patterns, liberally enlivened with grammar games to get 'em laughing for a while and some discussion topics for extended talking on a topic for reading and vocab building. A song every couple of months is good for focused listening practice. Maybe even some writing practice.

[ajuma]

Probably most of these students want to do well on the TOEIC/TOEFL exams. You might want to google a list of words that are important for these exams and introduce a couple of words per class. Have them look up the meaning and have them use them during the class.

[Ya-ta Boy]