Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ajuma]

I'll be teaching a mixed-level, mixed-age, mixed-major conversation class of about 30 students (uni). This kind of class is a nightmare because no one knows each other. Younger ones with good English skills don't want to talk in front of their "elders" and the older ones don't want to talk because they don't want to be embarassed in front of their juniors. I don't care if I get to know the students (not at the beginning, anyway), but I want THEM to get to know EACH OTHER so that they're more comfortable in with each other.

Any good icebreaker ideas? Actually, I don't even care if they use much English the first class...I just want to make the classroom atmosphere more comfortable.

[Luna]

[Canadian Club]

I've played that game with older (12-15 year old) kids... "I'm Canadian Club Teacher, and I am from Canada.". "I'm Molly and I love japchae. This is Canadian Club Teacher and she is from Canada." "I'm Jason and I play soccer. This is Molly and she loves Japchae. This is Canadian Club Teacher, and she is from Canada." etc. Everyone has to go, and you don't need to know a lot of English to play, you're just repeating what you've heard.

I would put th eolder/lower level/shyest students near the beginning so that they have less to say and they are more comfortable. Put your most outgoing students at the end.

[kat2]

I also like the game where you put a bunch of characteristics, qualities, experiences in a bingo grid. 1 per square-(has been to canada, likes kimchi ramyeon, is shy, has 3 sisters, etc.) Then they have to run around and find someone who fits the discriptoin and write their name down. First one to finish all or get bingo or how ever you set it up, wins.

With mixed level classes, I might write the questions in the squares so all of them can be using hte correct English. Also, of ocurse explain the meaning of each square.

[oneofthesarahs]

A simple game: Bring a roll of toilet paper to class. Tell the students to take as much or as little as they want. Some will take a little bit, some will think they're hilarious and take half the roll. Then tell them they have to tell one fact about themselves for every square they took.

More complex: Two truths and a lie. Straight forward enough: each student comes up with two true things and one untrue thing about themselves. Other students guess which is the lie. This works best if their level of English is decent-ish. But if you can get them into it, they'll have a blast trying to trick everyone.

[ajuma]

Well, we had the first class today. Pretty much, it's just a "here are the class rules and go buy a notebook" kind of class. I've got a few VERY low level students who don't even understand "What's your major?" and some very HIGH level students who've studied abroad!! PLUS there are 36 students in the class!!

What EVER makes our administration think that students can learn ANYTHING in this class????

I've been trying to think of a cool way for them to get to know each other, and I think I'm going to try a "speed date" type thing. Line up the desks so that one student is on each side (imagine a line of desks side by side). They'll have 2 minutes to talk to each other in Korean, then change partners. After about 5 or 6 changes (depending on how it's going), I'll stop, and they'll have to introduce the person that they're talking with to the 2 people next to him/her. THEN they'll have to introduce each other in English. I'm thinking about making some questions that they'll HAVE to ask...maybe something along the lines of "tell me something strange about yourself" or "would you rather be taller or shorter than you are now and why?"

Wish me luck! Only 15 more weeks to go!!