Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Poemer]

Got any?

I'm looking for as many ways as possible to engage my students' brains in active reading/listening. The end goal is to increase their ability to synthesize info. from different sources, make connections between new information and what they already know, and be able to better recognize the "big picture" aspect of materials they are presented with, as opposed to just isolating little bits of information for memorization.

Any games, activities, exercises etc. appropriate for high english-ability middle school students would be greatly appreciated.

[Poemer]

surely some arrogant MA's would like to weigh in here? that post has got 87 views fer crap's sake.

[spyro25]

us arrogant MA students are busy studying, and dont have the time to talk to you little people.

actually so far this MA has taught me very little relevant to teaching at all! but don't knock us all!

[mrd]

Poemer,

What if you printed off some English news articles (or some Op-Ed piece) from the Korea Times or something from back home that clearly demonstrates some kind of bias in the reporting. Ask you students to identify the arguement in the article, and encourage them to challenge it or identify its problems.

This might be helpful - or not.

[EFLtrainer]

I didn't want to say it, but MA's are not typically strong on practical application. If we were half intelligent about things, we'd encourage no one with less than five years in the classroom to study for a Master's.

But maybe that's just me.

[Poemer]

thanks for the suggestion mrd. i've been doing just that, but with news articles and not editorials. the problem is that they are getting BORED with this routine. maybe I can find a juicy, opinionated op-ed piece that will entice them.

spyro25, I've got an MA myself, so I would never bash all graduate degree holders, even if 90% of them are fakers. :lol:

[Hotpants]

Things that I've done for 'whole picture' thinking:

analyzing commercials - both in print and onscreen.

analyzing some real samples of political propaganda - posters; news reports; videos

Penguin Readers' level 3 'K's First Case' is a short detective story which has questions about who dunnit after every chapter - comes with audio cassette (cassette AND book about 9,000)

Lateral thinking puzzles

what happens before and after a given story



[Can I say 'I'm an MA' if I'm trained in Martial Arts?]

[Poemer]

thanks hotpants, I googled lateral thinking puzzles and found lots of materials that could be used in class. I never knew that was what they were called.