After watching a movie with a Korean over the weekend, I thought about the way I explained American culture to her. I wondered if the same thing could be done in Screen English. So I showed the students three clips from "High School Musical 1". I then tried to explain the important aspects of the clips we saw.
The upside of this was that students got to see more of the movie. 75% of the students who visited this blog during the week of Chuseok expressed that they'd like to see more movies (This probably also including English Conversation students).
The downside was that students didn't have much opportunity to talk about the movie. If they could talk about it, it seems like it would be difficult in a class of 30 or 40 students to give students opportunity to talk directly to me.
I tried to give the students opportunity to talk to each other. But it seemed they had a hard time understanding what I was asking them to do.
If you were in that class (11am to 12:50pm, Tuesday, Secondary Special Education Screen English 2), I would like to know what you thought. Is this an approach that would be helpful to you learning English? How could it be modified (changed) to be more useful to you?
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Free-Talking Substitute: What Event(s) Has Changed Your Life?
If you have chosen to spend thirty minutes on here instead of free-talking, here is what I would like you to do.
Talk about a special event (i.e. school, teacher, history) that changed your thinking.
Some of you may think this means you have to talk about a big event that was a matter of life-and-death. But that is not the case at all. Just think about who your favorite teacher(s) was or whom you have had the closest relationship with? Or how about which traumatic historical event you remember the most? Why does it stand out in your mind more than the rest?
Talk about a special event (i.e. school, teacher, history) that changed your thinking.
Some of you may think this means you have to talk about a big event that was a matter of life-and-death. But that is not the case at all. Just think about who your favorite teacher(s) was or whom you have had the closest relationship with? Or how about which traumatic historical event you remember the most? Why does it stand out in your mind more than the rest?
Monday, September 27, 2010
Making sentences...
I had some difficulty with a game I thought would work out well. The idea of the game is that people have to make a story based on the information that is presented to them. I started with, "I came to KNU to teach a class." The student I called on had trouble saying that she tripped over the desk. This game continued to be a struggle, so I moved on to the next activity.
In the next class, I had people get in groups. This worked a little better. But it was still difficult to get students to make a story. A lot of times students would make one sentence. But it was difficult for them to make a continuous story. I helped them by giving them an example using words like but, then and so.
This experience is something I've experienced often in the two-and-a-half years that I've lived in Korea. It seems that the most difficult thing is for students to make sentences. I tend to see my job as "forcing" students to speak in English. But in some cases, it seems that students still need me to hold their hand. That is to say, they need me to continue to teach them grammar.
This is difficult since my Korean level is still not on par with the level needed to do this. I think a common problem students have is a lack of motivation. Or perhaps it is the fact that the situation is not real. I find free-talking to be more comfortable because it is really conversation with a small group of people. I wonder what I can do between the rock and the hard place where the students and I are. I see the rock as the requirement that students take this class whether they want to or not and the hard place is the fact that students have not been trained well about how to make a sentence.
If you are one of my students, how do you rate yourself as well as your fellow students on this matter? Are there things I can do to improve your ability to communicate in English?
In the next class, I had people get in groups. This worked a little better. But it was still difficult to get students to make a story. A lot of times students would make one sentence. But it was difficult for them to make a continuous story. I helped them by giving them an example using words like but, then and so.
This experience is something I've experienced often in the two-and-a-half years that I've lived in Korea. It seems that the most difficult thing is for students to make sentences. I tend to see my job as "forcing" students to speak in English. But in some cases, it seems that students still need me to hold their hand. That is to say, they need me to continue to teach them grammar.
This is difficult since my Korean level is still not on par with the level needed to do this. I think a common problem students have is a lack of motivation. Or perhaps it is the fact that the situation is not real. I find free-talking to be more comfortable because it is really conversation with a small group of people. I wonder what I can do between the rock and the hard place where the students and I are. I see the rock as the requirement that students take this class whether they want to or not and the hard place is the fact that students have not been trained well about how to make a sentence.
If you are one of my students, how do you rate yourself as well as your fellow students on this matter? Are there things I can do to improve your ability to communicate in English?
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Preparing for Class
I started to prepare for class this morning (Chuseok Day). I only got as far as finding ideas for English Conversation class. Whereas last semester, it seemed easier to teach Screen English, it seems easier to teach English Conversation this semester. Perhaps part of that is because I have tools for English Conversation.
I'm not quite sure how to approach teaching Screen English. Last semester, I chose two movies. But I think that got to be redundant for the students after a while.
Today I watched "I Am Sam". This seemed like a good movie to show to students majoring in Elementary and Secondary Special Education. The Korean I watched this movie with didn't seem to understand all of the cultural cues. So I think I might add this to the list of movies.
But how do I teach this? Do I try to explain all the idioms? Do I try to explain the culture behind the movie? Do I focus on Sam and what the students think the solution is to this dilemma? Or do I focus on grammatical factors or key issues students can use in everyday conversation?
I'm not quite sure how to approach teaching Screen English. Last semester, I chose two movies. But I think that got to be redundant for the students after a while.
Today I watched "I Am Sam". This seemed like a good movie to show to students majoring in Elementary and Secondary Special Education. The Korean I watched this movie with didn't seem to understand all of the cultural cues. So I think I might add this to the list of movies.
But how do I teach this? Do I try to explain all the idioms? Do I try to explain the culture behind the movie? Do I focus on Sam and what the students think the solution is to this dilemma? Or do I focus on grammatical factors or key issues students can use in everyday conversation?
Monday, September 20, 2010
How Are We Doing?
I'm pleased with how everyone is doing so far on this blog.
However, I'd like to see you comment on what other people have written as well as on what I have written.
If you don't understand something or a lot of what I have written, please ask and I will try to explain it in easier words or in Korean if that helps.
If you don't want to waste your time having to go to this blog to see when someone makes a comment, I recommend the following.
1. Start your own profile on Blogger.
2. Subscribe by e-mail.
If you want help with either of these things, let me know.
I'm enjoying corresponding with you all in this manner.
For those of you who have started, keep up the good work.
For those of you who haven't started yet, get going.:)
Once again, I hope you all have a blessed Chuseok.
P.S. You should've received e-mail from me about the free-talking schedule. This is a direct response to two students who expressed frustration regarding free-talking. Lesson: If you want to change something about class or free-talking this semester, THIS IS THE PLACE TO TELL ME.
However, I'd like to see you comment on what other people have written as well as on what I have written.
If you don't understand something or a lot of what I have written, please ask and I will try to explain it in easier words or in Korean if that helps.
If you don't want to waste your time having to go to this blog to see when someone makes a comment, I recommend the following.
1. Start your own profile on Blogger.
2. Subscribe by e-mail.
If you want help with either of these things, let me know.
I'm enjoying corresponding with you all in this manner.
For those of you who have started, keep up the good work.
For those of you who haven't started yet, get going.:)
Once again, I hope you all have a blessed Chuseok.
P.S. You should've received e-mail from me about the free-talking schedule. This is a direct response to two students who expressed frustration regarding free-talking. Lesson: If you want to change something about class or free-talking this semester, THIS IS THE PLACE TO TELL ME.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Blogging Instructions for My Students
Here are the instructions for my students during the Korean Thanksgiving Holiday (Chuseok).
1. Read through any or all of what you see on this blog.
2. Click on "comment".
3. Type in the box to the right.
4. Click the box next to "anonymous" (Or you can set up an i.d. with Google or another source).
5. Click on "submit".
6. As more students post, please respond to what they write.
7. Please don't use your dictionary for this activity.
8. If you don't understand, ask, "What does ~ mean?"
9. The important thing is for you to read and write.
10. When you don't know how to say something in English you can use Konglish.
11. I will post examples on each of the articles I have written for you.
12. Here is what I mean by "Konglish": I 먹었다 rice.
1. Read through any or all of what you see on this blog.
2. Click on "comment".
3. Type in the box to the right.
4. Click the box next to "anonymous" (Or you can set up an i.d. with Google or another source).
5. Click on "submit".
6. As more students post, please respond to what they write.
7. Please don't use your dictionary for this activity.
8. If you don't understand, ask, "What does ~ mean?"
9. The important thing is for you to read and write.
10. When you don't know how to say something in English you can use Konglish.
11. I will post examples on each of the articles I have written for you.
12. Here is what I mean by "Konglish": I 먹었다 rice.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Trying to Speak in Korean in Class
It seems that I am always humbled regarding my Korean skills during the semester. Person to person conversations in Korean are much more comfortable than when I try to speak Korean in class. And there is still a percentage of students who can understand me while there is also a percentage of people who can't seem to understand me. When this happens (Being humble as far as my Korean ability is concerned) there is always a process of soul-searching for me.
So I'd like to invite my students to join me in this quest. What do you think of my effort to speak Korean? Does it help you understand what I am trying to say in English, better? Is it sometimes as difficult to understand as when I speak in English? Does it keep you from learning English? Do you feel like I am trying to learn more about speaking Korean than I am trying to teach you in English?
So I'd like to invite my students to join me in this quest. What do you think of my effort to speak Korean? Does it help you understand what I am trying to say in English, better? Is it sometimes as difficult to understand as when I speak in English? Does it keep you from learning English? Do you feel like I am trying to learn more about speaking Korean than I am trying to teach you in English?
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