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Teaching uni students who speak zero English
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happygirl



Joined: 20 Feb 2006
PostPosted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 3:06 am    Post subject: Teaching uni students who speak zero English Reply with quote
"What is your name?"
Confused
"What.... is..... your.... name?"
Confused Confused
Shocked "What.... is..... your.... name?"
Moreuyao (SP?) Embarassed

Yes, these are University students. Not elementary, middle or high school students. Yes, these are credit classes. There are quite a few students(more than 10%) in two different classes who have zero comprehension. I can only go so slowly. A specific number of chapters must be completed prior to the exam. The students who do understand are getting frustrated. Any ideas?
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Sine qua non



Joined: 18 Feb 2007
PostPosted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 3:15 am    Post subject: Re: Teaching uni students who speak zero English Reply with quote
happygirl wrote:
Any ideas?


Teach to the middle.
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ChuckECheese



Joined: 20 Jul 2006
PostPosted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 3:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Show them western porno movies. That'll get them excited about learning Englishee.
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babtangee



Joined: 18 Dec 2004
Location: OMG! Charlie has me surrounded!
PostPosted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 3:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Give them some coloring in alphabet sheets and ignore them.
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happygirl



Joined: 20 Feb 2006
PostPosted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 4:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Come on guys. I'm being serious. I was almost ready to cry today I was so frustrated. I am not angry with the students. I AM upset with the educators that could put these students in this position.

These kids were so embarrassed.... I know what it's like not to understand a word someone is saying to you. You want to either melt into the ground or slap someone.

How can a student complete high school, pass their exams and be admitted into a UNIVERSITY and not have been taught or comprehend the most basic English sentences? Many of them couldn't tell me their student numbers in English. In Korean yes. In English no. zero, one, six, four?
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SuperHero



Joined: 10 Dec 2003
Location: Superhero Hideout
PostPosted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 4:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
The only students I have that poor are my chinese exchange students. If they attend class and try, I give them a C just for trying. I can't slow down the class for them when I've got 24 other students who can do the material.

You could try preparing two lessons. One you teach to the whole class and the other you give to your weaker students and have them do in class. Worksheets etc... it's more work, but the students would probably love you. I haven't tried this, but it was recommend to me by a colleague.
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goodgood



Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Location: seoul
PostPosted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 4:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
happygirl wrote:
How can a student complete high school, pass their exams and be admitted into a UNIVERSITY and not have been taught or comprehend the most basic English sentences? Many of them couldn't tell me their student numbers in English. In Korean yes. In English no. zero, one, six, four?


I don't think it's really that tragic- I, along with many others took intro to German classes in college, and I wasn't embarrassed about not knowing anything.

Yeah, I realize English is more useful than German, but you gotta remember, Korea is crazy English land. I'm sure in Japan and China most uni students don't know any English at all. You're just used to everybody speaking a little here, so it's a little surprising that they don't.

I say good for them. Screw English. They didn't jump on the bandwagon like everybody else. It's not the worst thing in the world. May not be so fun to teach though...
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gsxr750r



Joined: 29 Jan 2007
PostPosted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 5:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
SuperHero wrote:
The only students I have that poor are my chinese exchange students. If they attend class and try, I give them a C just for trying.


I had one of those last semester. He dropped after one day (thank goodness).

This semester, I have 2 Chinese students who speak English BETTER than any of my 4th level Freshmen. British accent, and all. They are in level 3. I told them I would try my best to move them to level 4 if they like, and they said they can't make the times fit.

So they'll sit in level 3 -- I worry about them becoming bored, so I'm going to give them some extra slang to work on.
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ChopChaeJoe



Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: Seoul
PostPosted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 5:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Shouldn't they have been taught English all through high school, if not middle school and possibly even earlier?

Wha happened? Just tell them, "You screwed up, jack," and fail them.
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happygirl



Joined: 20 Feb 2006
PostPosted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 5:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
SuperHero wrote:
The only students I have that poor are my chinese exchange students. If they attend class and try, I give them a C just for trying. I can't slow down the class for them when I've got 24 other students who can do the material.

You could try preparing two lessons. One you teach to the whole class and the other you give to your weaker students and have them do in class. Worksheets etc... it's more work, but the students would probably love you. I haven't tried this, but it was recommend to me by a colleague.


Thanks for the suggestion. I might try that for one day and have them just listen for the other. If they feel some measure of success maybe they'll make an effort. It would be worth the extra work. If it were only one or two, probably not, but there are many.
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Hanson



Joined: 20 Oct 2004
PostPosted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 5:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
happygirl,

If you work where I think you work, pay the prerequisites of the program (certain number of units/chapters before the exams) no mind. Go in there and do stuff that is more of their level. Giving them a worksheet they can do in groups works well - it keeps them busy, the better students can help the worse ones along, and everyone has made an effort to learn something new.

I would go so far as to have the better students stay behind one day and make them an offer: If they help out the weaker students, they will get an automatic A grade. You (the teacher) know they will get the A anyway, but this way they feel like they want to help you (by helping the weaker students).

I wouldn't advise that you give them an easier/different activity to do as that would mean a loss of face.