Korean Job Discussion Forums

[koreaking]

Hi everyone! Nice to join this site. I just arrived a few months ago to Korea from Canada working at an academy. The students are mostly aged around 12-16. Pretty good so far. It's a good age to teach for me to start off.
Anyway, I was reading a lot on these boards about different opinions on private tutoring. I DON'T want to start a whole different topic, so please no opinions either way on that part. I only have a few that my boss has allowed me to do. He's pretty flexible on that. My question pertains to a very smart almost fluent speaking Korean student aged 15. He has studied abroad for a short time and has no bad Korean accent as well. To be honest, he's almost as good as me. Almost! Haha!
Anyway, like many Korean mothers, he is pushed very hard, especially in English. She even goes to such lenths as preparing home tests and making him study A LOT of vocabulary for TOEFL/TOEIC tests.

I don't bother teaching much vocabulary coz he does a lot of self studying as far as vocabulary is concerned. He even studies some words I have never used in my life, well I mean words that aren't very common in many foreigners lives. He speaks REALLY well and could hold a converstaion with just about any foreigner. Now since what I usually teach in my academy, which is under his level, like money, time, situation English etc. those kinds of things. It's hard to find things to teach him. I know that may sound weird, and I know he doesn't know everything in English, but considering he can speak, read and listens very well, I'm having a hard time finding something that he doesn't know and I do. Of course there is a lot of slang, jargon and some phrasal verbs he may not know, but I can't base a class simply on street talk. This is where I need some help and advice!!!
Since I finished university 2 years ago, and by the way English wasn't my major, it's almost too hard to find things that I know and he doesn't on a "conversational level" that is. I hope you all understand my meaning and don't think I'm a total idiot. I consider myself smart enough to do this job, it's just talking to this student kind of intimidates me coz it feels like I'm trying to teach to my friend. Now I'm not intimidated to stop teaching thats not what I mean. Just a little awkward at times, especially when his mother expects to learn a lot from me even though we study only once a week. In such a short time, it's hard to cover a lot.

Anyway, any assistance would be appreciated with regards to curriculum or things like that! Thanks!!

[formerflautist]

You can teach English through novels, plays, TV shows, music and the internet. Having him bring in a newspaper and discussing articles would be a good way to get him to think critically. And remember, unless this kid goes to an international school then he may not have any regular contact with a native speaker, save you.

[Yusef]

get him writing
academic writing if possible
even for people who speak very well this can be quite difficult
hell, even for many native speakers good writing skills are never aquired

if his english is really that good and his mom is that driven there is a good chance he will be going to school overseas

if thats the case writing is going to be very important for him so any help you can give now will be a big benefit down the line

[Ya-ta Boy]

I agree with the above posters: concentrate on reading and writing, with discussion of the ideas. My advice is to use short stories rather than novels.

[koreaking]

Thanks for the tips so far!
Well, the thing is, we only got an hour a week so its not much time to cover much, especially a novel. So I think novels are out. Plus, I'm sure his mother especially wouldn't want her son just reading all class. Not that reading is bad, just I guess I'm there for a reason, and that's to talk and keep him talking mainly. Moms feel theie child is actually learning if he's communicating back and forth. Moms also like to listen and spy on classes from time to time to see how they are doing.

I guess I could go the magazine/newspaper route. But he already has a subscription to Time magazine. haha. Guess I'll have to find the Korean Herald to bring. I think he'll be going to a foreign high school as well.

For homework, I'll give writing assignments instead of writing in class. What kind of writing assignments do you guys suggest???
Im sick of diaries from my academy.

And like one poster said, even many of us fatives still have problems with writing from time to time and I'm no exception.

[Dan The Chainsawman]

[sheba]

Why dont you ask your student what he wants to learn? What he finds most difficult?

I dont have any privates but over the summer and winter vacations I get extra classes with the smartest students. Sometimes, we arent given text bools, so I ask what they want to learn and go from there.

[Novernae]

[Hotpants]

It could be a good idea to study formal writing for half the class. Then, how about some poetry study? Much more manageable in an hour than a novel. It's important for students to be able to think creatively and laterally in a language, not just speak fluently, parrot fashion. Also, how about some lateral thinking puzzles? Furthermore, some news-related articles with comprehension questions from www.breakingnewsenglish.com could be useful here. Some case-studies or mini-projects could also be set up and included. One more idea - studying some TV drama scripts or analyzing song lyrics? (Check my site below for some references to more ideas.)

[Mr. BlackCat]

Hey there,

Why not a lesson on academic writing to begin with. For example, what a thesis is, how to create a catchy introduction, conclusion, etc. The difference between fact and opinion, and how one could draw conclusions based on both.

You could also assign an English movie or TV show for him to watch, if you have copies of any (The Simpsons is grrrrrreat!). One with good slang but not too much and every time he hears something he doesn't understand he can pause it and write it down. Or maybe you can just listen to one excerpt, so he can hear it in context and maybe guess at what it means. Either way he'll understand its usage better in context.

Just some ideas. Longer reading/writing/viewing can be done on his own time.

good luck

[ddeubel]

Lots/Loads of great thoughts and ideas here...I won't repeat them but will say that he has to learn more specialized English and should be studying through English rather than ENGLISH. I know this is all the rave but this and also the movie/video/novel/stories route , is the way to go.....

You might also get him doing some CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning). When I'm at the office, I'll throw out a list of sites..... Lots of cool sites with very deep and contextualized language, leveled.

My final thought would be to put him to work.....Let him teach and speak on his feet. Guide him through a lesson and let him tutor others. I don't know the specifics of your class or his personality/confidence level but this would do any student wonders and take him off your case (in a polite way ) too.....

Good going,

DD