Site Search:
 
Speak Korean Now!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Writing my own Curriculum: They're bored, I'm frustrated.

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Job-related Discussion Forum
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
VirginIslander



Joined: 24 May 2006
Location: Busan

PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2007 3:29 am    Post subject: Writing my own Curriculum: They're bored, I'm frustrated. Reply with quote

Currently, my students attend one class with a Korean and one with me. They are in my course for six months. My beginner students have already studied for four months with a Phonics teacher and three months with a Pre-beginner teacher.

Every month new students enter my class so I can have a beginner first month student and a beginner sixth month student in the same class. Obviously, the former is lost. I'm in my third month of Korean classes and I wouldn't want to be in the same class as someone who has been studying for eight months.!

In order to make the class more productive, I think the best solution would be to have 12 biweekly or 6 monthly themes for each level. The material is simple in the beginning and then it becomes more complex towards the end of the month.

For example, this month I did Occupations and Clothing. First, I introduced clothing with flash cards. Then, I introduced about 40 occupations with bingo. Then, we did work places and now we are doing Occupation actions.

So, despite which month they are in, now most students can say "He is a doctor. He works at a hospital and he works with a nurse. He wears a white coat and a face mask. He helps very sick people."

After this month, we will move onto to the next theme. However, I need ideas for more themes.

Do you have any suggestions?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Wrench



Joined: 07 Apr 2005

PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2007 3:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do you have any games besides bingo.. Songs?

Writing and creating a whole curriculum is very difficult.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
mrsquirrel



Joined: 13 Dec 2006

PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2007 4:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mate writing a curriculum is a bloody nightmare.

Just steal other peoples ideas
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
VirginIslander



Joined: 24 May 2006
Location: Busan

PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2007 8:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm only writing a sixth month program for beginners. Its not difficult, just time consuming. Of course I will borrow ideas to save time.. I have taught the same level for a year and I have learned what works and what doesnt work. Also, I have a experience in curriculum development.

However, now I am looking for monthly theme suggestions.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
ashke516



Joined: 01 Mar 2005
Location: on the beach

PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2007 9:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You could do a food/drink month and break it down into different categories: sweets, meals, etc. Also where we get food: farms, restaurants, grocery stores. Roleplay ordering food in a restaurant or going food shopping. Have kids make menus for the restaurant, grocery lists for their shopping... maybe have them draw pictures of what they would grow/raise on a farm and have them present it to the class.

Also, an animal theme month would be fun. Break it down into different categories such as the zoo, a farm, the woods, mountains, jungle, desert, ocean, etc.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger
willneverteachagain



Joined: 17 Dec 2006

PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2007 9:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i hope u are getting about 4 million a month for making what u are teaching and then teaching it
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Jizzo T. Clown



Joined: 27 Mar 2006
Location: at my wit's end

PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2007 9:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Get a beginners textbook and look in the table of contents--instant curriculum.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Colorado



Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Location: Public School with too much time on my hands.

PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2007 10:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Get a beginners textbook and look in the table of contents--instant curriculum.


That's the way to do it.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
captain kirk



Joined: 29 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Fri May 18, 2007 12:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wrench wrote:


Writing and creating a whole curriculum is very difficult.


If you're working in the public school and just want to make it better then having a theme for a month just targets what type of new vocab to introduce for a month.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
VirginIslander



Joined: 24 May 2006
Location: Busan

PostPosted: Fri May 18, 2007 12:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ashke516 wrote

Quote:
Also, an animal theme month would be fun. Break it down into different categories such as the zoo, a farm, the woods, mountains, jungle, desert, ocean, etc.


Habitat is a great idea. I've done animals before and I had my studetns combine two animals into one and then they described it in a short paper.

I like the food idea, too. The students already have a pretty good knowledge of western food vis a vis McDonalds, Outback and Pizza Hut. Thanks for the suggestions.

Captain Kirk wrote

[url]If you're working in the public school and just want to make it better then having a theme for a month just targets what type of new vocab to introduce for a month.[/url]

Actually, I am working a pretty established hakwon franchise in Busan. The school is changing its grammar intensive program to relfect improvements in Korean English Education and to compete with schools like CDI, who are slowly encroaching on Busan.

Will never teach again wrote

[url]i hope u are getting about 4 million a month for making what u are teaching and then teaching it[/url]

I'm offering my services and postioning myself into a prospective postition as Head Teacher and Curriculum Developerfor for over 100 Waygooks at various schools.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
ashke516



Joined: 01 Mar 2005
Location: on the beach

PostPosted: Fri May 18, 2007 3:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You could also do a month on the 5 senses and break it down by each sense. Sight could include colors, shapes, art, etc... hearing could include music, pleasing sounds, unpleasant sounds... same with smell and taste, pleasant and unpleasant, etc... touch could incorporate the many different texture descriptions. Have them use all five or at least a couple of the senses to describe different things.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger
VirginIslander



Joined: 24 May 2006
Location: Busan

PostPosted: Fri May 18, 2007 8:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ashke516 wrote

Quote:
You could also do a month on the 5 senses and break it down by each sense. Sight could include colors, shapes, art, etc... hearing could include music, pleasing sounds, unpleasant sounds... same with smell and taste, pleasant and unpleasant, etc... touch could incorporate the many different texture descriptions. Have them use all five or at least a couple of the senses to describe different things.


Love the idea
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
indokimi



Joined: 28 Jan 2007
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Sat May 19, 2007 3:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

5 senses are a great idea! You might also want to look at English Upgrade (Macmillan Publishers). It's a three level series of conversational English with some good communicative practice ideas. Topics include: talking about school/studies, activities/interests, movies/books, giving directions, shopping (describing, comparing, finding), health (aliments, advice/suggestions)--The basic topics of most conversation. All topics could begin with low level vocab building and basic descriptive question and answers, and build to low-intermediate level functions.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger
kimchi_pizza



Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Location: "Get back on the bus! Here it comes!"

PostPosted: Sat May 19, 2007 4:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Some really great ideas, even finding a text book with a curriculum already planned out for you.

But the best curriculum is something that the students can relate to such as TV, food, fashion or anything Korean and/or something that YOU are interested in. Anything that you're passionate about outside of school that you can incorporate into your lessons? If you're excited about a particular lesson, then I would think your students would be too.

Are you teaching middle school? Middle school is a tough level to motivate, captivate or any other "vate", so don't take it personally if it doesn't pan out.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
cookie7



Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Location: Suji, Yongin

PostPosted: Sun May 20, 2007 6:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

[quote="kimchi_pizza"]Are you teaching middle school? Middle school is a tough level to motivate, captivate or any other "vate", so don't take it personally if it doesn't pan out.[/quote]

Seriously. I tried incorporating cartoons and Mr. Bean clips and they're still not interested. If the students sleep during funny clips, then how else are you supposed to motivate them??? Twisted Evil
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Job-related Discussion Forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe
TEFL Courses, TESOL Course, English Teaching Jobs - TEFL International