Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SweetBear]

I'm having problems with a small class of teenagers, they are moody, not interested in anything and show a serious lack of respect by playing with cell phones, doodling and even falling asleep. I am teaching from a book that is actually an ESL book, with little relevance to everyday life in Korea( not by choice). I've tried making the class fun, I've tried being strict, I've asked the boss to change the book, nothing has worked so far. Any advice?

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Teach a lesson. Then quiz them.

After the quiz, post the results on the wall.

Worked for me....

[mokpochica]

Let the kids help plan. Ask them about what aspects of English or what they are interested in in English-speaking countries and teach it to them.

Have them do projects/reports on a subject of their choice and present them to the class so they are 'teaching' the class themselves.

I've found that pop music and pop culture are two topics that are almost always winners with teenagers, so a lesson involving one of those topics may help you get started.

[crazylemongirl]

I agree about making language relevant to them...

Many of my grammar lessons to my middle school class (all boys) are now done using WWF matches for material. Although soccer matches are also of infinite use. Speaking or writing in any language that isn't english earns five push ups per infringement.

They also like it when their teacher imitates the rock (in voice only)

'The english teacher says: 'if you step into the english classroom, then you better speak the damn language'"


Look at your class... if their boys they are probably going to like some all of the following: wrestling/starcraft/soccer

Girls pop music/movies/celebrity stuff

Try and find something that they like... I agree that most of the textbooks don't reflect the interests of korean kids at all (I had one book asking them when they did karate!) but adapt it to suit your needs

CLG

[captain kirk]

i agree that it must be relevant to them. when you are talking with them about pop bands they know, or whatever, they have that open and engaged flow.
But they can be severely stuck on being difficult. i have a class with two students. one is very smart, maybe smarter than me (!). which is ok, i can deal with that. except she's a shark. she swims around looking for weaknesses. she's very sharp. maybe, some day, she'll end up working as a co-ordinator for the world health organization or unicef. but for now she specializes in BUSTING my butt.
well i mentioned that there was an earthquake in algeria and five hundred dead with thousands injured. and she said 'cool'. and i looked at the other student. he wasn't going along, but he was amused. these darn teenagers enjoy pretending to be the opposite of model citizens. and love to shock. well, what's the world coming to
she has a foreign teacher who gives weekly classes at her middle school. i ask her what she thinks of this teacher. she HATES her, and she has absolutely 'no fun' in her class. boo hoo.
i've had to set her straight a couple of times. like this. i mention everland amusement park. and did she have a good time there when she went last week? well, she says, 'i don't know'. and i say what do you mean, 'don't know'. 'i don't remember.it was like i was drunk'. 'were you drunk?' . 'no'. so i 'remind' her this is supposed to be free talking and how about some co-operation.
etc.....but hey, it's an exploration of the rich diversity of human nature and personality, and never capital punishment in class!

[SweetBear]

Half the problem is that these kids are exhausted.The ring leader of the group is related to the boss, so she's off limits. I get the rolling of the eyes and the loud, exagerated sighs.I know it's up to me to make the class interesting. I have to teach what is on the page, but can take some of the suggestions you've posted to improve things. The attitude is the toughest part. Once I was using a tried and tested fun activity that other students just love, but within minutes a conversation in Korean started and I just lost them. Kids !

[kylehawkins2000]

Good ideas Mokpochica, Crazylemongirl, and Captain Kirk!!

I'd just like to add that it sounds like these students are, at least in part, the result of past english teachers that were uninspired, lazy, and/or irresponsible. I'm sure teachers do not do this out of spite or hatred of their jobs but simply becuase they are not trained as teachers and generally not given much training or guidance when they arrive here in Korea.

I hope that you will make the commitment and put in the time and energy to change the attitudes of these kids towards the learning of english. It is no easy task but well worth the effort if you will be teaching these students for an extended time. It will also make life much easier for what ever teacher inherits these students in the future.

[captain kirk]

yes, kylehawkins, the teacher before me was lazy, uninspired, and lacking in experience. the 'difficult' middle school student i was describing said 'to tell you the truth, (previous teacher's name) was PATHETIC!'. she elaborated saying she wasn't the type of person capable of leading a class with direction and force.
the teen classes that are without a problem contain upbeat students who create a kind of 'we're in a workshop milieu so let's experiment'. i've asked them to participate, because it's the only way they will proceed (by making mistakes, and being corrected).

[Canadian Teacher]

[mokpochica]