Korean Job Discussion Forums

[T-dot]

Got a HS interview tomorrow in Bundang. I was asked to do a small mock class/ introduction in order to interract with the students.

Any tips?
Never taught at a HS before.
Just wanted to know what I'm getting myself into.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Have you taught in Korea before?

Start by doing some phonics, concentrating on something like R/L or V/B, showing the students what to do with their tongues or lips. Right away you'll look like you're doing something the K-teachers can't.

Bring 30-40 copies of a simple Christmas song (unless your interview is at a boys-only school) and teach it to them.

Bring lots of pictures - try animal photos and do a short lesson on comparitives, getting them to make sentences. (Which is taller, the giraffe or gorilla? Good, The _______ is taller than the __________, etc.)

Bring some photos of yourself and your home country, as this will interest the kids.

Whatever you do, keep it very simple with stuff that most of the kids can do. It's better to underestimate than overestimate them if you want any sort of class participation. You also might have no idea how long they want you to go. They might make it look like it's short and then want you to fill a 50-minute lesson, and 30 minutes of hangman won't look that impressive.

Good luck!

[BigBlackEquus]

Will you be giving a demo to boys, girls, or mixed?

A little more information, please.

[T-dot]

i think itd boys and girls.

was half asleep when i got the phone call.

Princ. just said it would be brief (more like a self intro.).

Actually dont know too much.

I've taught for a while in Korea, so the teaching isnt the issue. Just didnt want any surprises when walking in.

[Rteacher]

Most high school classes have around 35 students. If you don't have experience with classes that size, it helps to actively engage them in groups. In an introductory class you may want to introduce yourself, write your name on the board, have everyone chant it chorally and then have them guess your age, the month you were born (choral chant the names of months and check if most students know them) and the country (and city/state or province) that you are from. Ask them what countries they know that are English speaking(It's always useful to have a large world map handy you can tape to the board...) You can then divide students into groups by asking everyone whose birthday is January - March to come to the board and write their names (in English letters) and birthdates (show English form) and where they were born (city/province/country). Repeat with those born from April - June, July - September, and October - December.
If you have a lot of time, ask what their favorite English (or at least non-Korean) names are for boys and girls. Ask them for names they know beginning with A, B, C, etc. and write them on the board - including names you provide. (You can explain that many times Koreans who visit, work or live in foreign countries use an adopted English "first name" along with their Korean (Hangul) family name (eg: Christina Kim, Grace Park) You might also mention that it often helps Korean students to learn English if they use English names in classes they have with native-English teachers ...

[zappadelta]

Just say "Japan sucks" and you will be an instant hero and get a raise.

[bellum99]

Ask them for directions to Tokyo. The capital of Korea.

----I am joking.

[Rteacher]

Yeah, ... at my job interview I scored points by replying (when asked how long I could stay in Korea) that "as long as Bush is president I don't want to be in the U.S..."

[Karabeara]

High schools are the bees knees. Especially if you are teaching only girls (no sexual tension/giggling/antics from having boys around). The girls in my classes learn languages much quicker than boys do, and will actually study where many boys won't. The female brain is, in general, more communicative.

[crazylemongirl]

[JacktheCat]

[Karabeara]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[laogaiguk]