Korean Job Discussion Forums

[boatofcar]

I'm kind of nervous about my first few days of teaching when I arrive in Korea in a few months. How much English are the kids actually going to know? I know you don't *have* to know Korean to teach English, but if you're teaching really young students with minimal English skills, how do you communicate what you're trying to teach them?

Oh, and I looked at the FAQ but I didn't really see a question like this; if it's been answered before please just direct me to the link. Thanks!

[Matt_22]

use your elicitation skills. it's really not too hard. board work, pictures, miming, etc. i doubt you'll have any true starters anyway. you'll be surprised at how much some of the little ones actually know.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

It's interesting what you pick up and don't. Last night I was with Spinoza at the ATM. He was trying to figure it out and I said 'Isn't it strange how we know what myeongsa, dongsa, hyeongyangsa, and busa mean but we don't know the Korean word for withdrawel after living here several yearsl'?

The biggest problem you'll find using Korean in class is trying to make it for pedagogigal, not comic, effect.

[skdragon]

I knew a guy that would always use Korean in class, translating things for students all the time. I don't know if the students really liked it or not. However, the admin staff enjoyed his improving Korean skills. He is head foreign teacher at that place now.

[oneofthesarahs]

I never use Korean in the classroom. Their parents are paying me to speak English to them, and that's what I do. I've found that the more Korean the kids (especially the little ones) think that you know, the less they'll attempt to bother with using English with you. If a kid asks me to borrow an eraser in Korean, I know what they're saying, but I usually ask them to say it in English anyway. They aren't going to practice English outside of class, might as well force them to do it in class.

[tomato]

[jajdude]

It's true, when they find out you know some Korean, kids can get lazy, using Korean that they know the English for. I figure someone new to Korea gives them a more real experience, where English only will be understood. Some teachers, new to Korea or not, may be able to enforce a zero Korean rule in the classroom. I think that's a good idea in the foreigner class.

[john]

At the top of the board I always write, �What does ______________ mean in Korean?� and below that I write � ________________ means ________________ in Korean/English�. I require that the students use their English to explain Korean. This gives them a way of using English when learning while leveraging their Korean language skills. In my opinion, banning the use of Korean in the classroom or letting the students speak/chat in Korean throughout class are both less effective than using some Korean to facilitate the use and understanding of English.

[pest2]

[Ilsanman]

I do a few single word translations or of a grammar pattern. But after that, I don't use it.

I don't use it at all for scolding kids. I usually point at the kid with a strange look of disbelief on my face, and the other kids scold him/her for me.

[passport220]

[boatofcar]

Thanks for all the replies! It's good to know that chances are I won't be entering a situation where the kids have absolutely zero English ability.

[yingwenlaoshi]

It's good to use it to translate and teach the meaning of words or sentences. That's as far as it goes though. Then you practice the English. Students knowing you have some Korean? Just don't let them get away with speking to you or others in Korean. Plain and simple.

And for god's sake don't let them use one word sentences. Too many teachers let students get away with that.

[CasperTheFriendlyGhost]

I probably use one Korean word or phrase a class on average. Usually not at all, but sometims more than once.

[Homer]

At my current job at the University: none.

When I was teaching kids: I would use Korean for new vocabulary.