Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Hater Depot]

Everybody who has taught here for a while has heard the question -- how can I improve my English? I've answered this question enough times to see that many times, it does not matter what I say.

So many times I've said, well you have to study in your own, not just in class. You have to make an effort to correct the mistakes I point out to you on a daily basis. I talk about not just studying English but using it, finding something that you can enjoy which just happens to be in English. I go on about the vast -- free! -- opportunities presented by the internet. I encourage people to take charge of their own learning rather than relying on the osmosis method. I tell people that mistakes are a natural part of the learning process, and not to be afraid of English.

Now obviously I think all of this is good advice, but 99% of the time it meets with glazed eyes. Just in one ear and out the other. Once in a while though, like yesterday, someone appears to take my advice to heart. April, G-d bless you.

[Indophil]

its not G-d, its God

[Hater Depot]

Can't sneak anything past you, can I?

[ajuma]

I tell them to read...read read read!!! There's no better way to improve their English than by reading English novels. They'll pick up way more grammar and vocab that way.


How many of them listen??






NONE!!


They think there's a "magic formula" that will turn them into native speakers overnight!!

[Travelous Maximus]

There's nothing you can do. Most students are either inherently cooperative or inherently annoying.

[bosintang]

One of the English teachers at my school lived in America for one year and her daughter attended Grade 4 in an American public school. Her daughter, who just recently started middle school, is just about fluent in English -- definitely high-level conversational.

However, her daughter wants to attend a Foreign language high school and so her mother recently enrolled her in a hagwon to learn a variety of subjects. 3 times a week, 3 or more different books including Advanced grammar, and rather dry history and science books. She was attending another hagwon previously, but was not happy with the results, so this will be her second one.

Through natural conversation, I told her my thoughts on hagwons, and suggested that her daughter read for the sake of *enjoyment*, watch movies, and just use English naturally. Her mother was insistent that she must attend hagwons if she's going to be accepted into a FLHS.

It's going to be awhile yet in Korea before the idea is shaken that learning can ONLy happening if there is a teacher and textbooks in the room.

[huffdaddy]

[jajdude]

I think the point was made above. English is studied like math, a classroom subject. Once the bell rings forget it. A few exceptions exist.