Teaching English in Korea - ESL blog

3 generations teaching in same school

Here's a nice story about 3 generations of a family teaching at the same school. What I want to know is how they teach French - good old GT or something else?

Does Dongguk deserve some money from Yale?

This article on Shingate might be interesting for a debate or discussion class. Dongguk University is suing Yale for $50 million - they balem Yale for their hiring of a Korean professor who said she was a graduate but actually never studied there.

Yale did send Dongguk a fax saying that she had graduated there but I'm not sure what else Dongguk did or did not do. For example, in Korea schools have never checked my references...

What happened to the candy seller?

If the kid who buys candy gets in this much trouble, shouldn't the punishment for the seller be even more severe?

Online Discussion Forums For use in Language Classes

Online Discussion Forums For use in Language Classes

Part 2 – Practice

Objectives – (S.W.B.A.T.) & Examples from the website

(From 2004 on…)

1. Register & Log in

Handout (Instructions for Inha Students)

2. Use an online discussion forum to practice English

http://www.learn-english-grammar.com/

3. Introduce themselves in comprehensible written English

http://www.learn-english-grammar.com/viewtopic.php?t=319

4. Produce examples of structures covered in their text (Interchange 2)

*Example of target struc. (U.11-cy.1/simple past passive) found in book, periodical, or on website

http://www.learn-english-grammar.com/viewtopic.php?p=846#846

*S-generated example (U.3-cy.2/wish)

http://www.learn-english-grammar.com/viewtopic.php?t=926

(From 2006, maintained the above objecs. (Gram posts became optional) plus…

5. Communicate using S-generated topics (free-writing/focus on fluency/poll qs)

(Replies to the Intros turned out to be more motivating that g-posts)

Topics Ss came up w/

http://www.learn-english-grammar.com/viewforum.php?f=4&topicdays=0&start=200

Interesting S-generated topic

http://www.learn-english-grammar.com/viewtopic.php?t=4159

Current Issue w/ Poll Question

http://www.learn-english-grammar.com/viewtopic.php?t=4122

Lighthearted Poll Q

http://www.learn-english-grammar.com/viewtopic.php?t=2865

(From 2007, same as 2006 + Focus on CULTURE-RELATED TOPICS)

6. Discuss any cultural topic of their choice (small “c” encouraged) in written English

Huge variety of motivating topics (Really Hard to Choose!)

http://www.learn-english-grammar.com/viewforum.php?f=13&topicdays=0&start=600

Big “C”

http://www.learn-english-grammar.com/viewtopic.php?t=5067

Small “c”

http://www.learn-english-grammar.com/viewtopic.php?t=4820

Native Speaker Feedback (Focus Shifted)

Use of bold to recast select structural errors (no more than 1-2 per post initially)

http://www.learn-english-grammar.com/viewtopic.php?t=299

Structural Feedback Examples

http://www.learn-english-grammar.com/viewtopic.php?t=622

Feedback based on cultural content (Steering toward cultural content)

http://www.learn-english-grammar.com/viewtopic.php?t=9690

Ss able to discuss things they would probably not in class

Crisis of Faith

http://www.learn-english-grammar.com/viewtopic.php?t=3739

English and Korean swear words

http://www.learn-english-grammar.com/viewtopic.php?t=4709

Vices

http://www.learn-english-grammar.com/viewtopic.php?t=2546&highlight=steal

Cool Functions

Info to Ss + Poll Q to gather data for lesson planning

http://www.learn-english-grammar.com/viewtopic.php?t=3512

Post Class Announcements, Oral Exam Sign-up Sheets, Assignments…etc.

Search for Ss, Contact long-lost Ss & (vice-versa)

Easy assessment—time-stamped posts

Easy access—can reply anywhere, anytime, would work with Ss from other countries

Two of our many success stories

Kim Yeonui (CUK Sophomore)

104 posts (only required to do 12 over 2 semesters)—even posted during vacations

http://www.learn-english-grammar.com/search.php?search_id=1141211551&start=0

Huge boost in proficiency and confidence in English

Became Pen-pals with (Sharon-Texas-writer) one of our native-speaker moderators and now they correspond by email regularly and exchange care/culture packages

Kwak Hye-young (CUK Soph/Junior)

50 posts (12 required over 2 semesters)

Deep topic threads – Great contributor

Thread w/ Sharon

http://www.learn-english-grammar.com/viewtopic.php?t=1090&highlight=kwak

Significant improvements in proficiency

Switched majors from business administration to English Language and Culture

Currently studying at a University in Wisconsin

A letter from Sharon regarding Hye-young:

September 28, 2007

Dear Jason and Jim,

I first met Kwak Hye-Young on the learn-english-grammar forum in December 2005, where I served as moderator. From the beginning, she appeared to be highly intelligent and eager to learn English. Her long-range goals were impressive, in wanting to pursue her education in the U.S., majoring in accounting or mathematics. It was apparent to me by her questions that she had a wide range of interests and a curiosity about many things. She displayed a good sense of humor, as well, when asking other students on the forum to comment on Jason’s changing appearance – which I found amusing. Hye-young sent me two beautiful Korean Christmas cards, one written in English, and I sent her a small gift from Texas. During the next few months, she showed great improvement in her English, writing at length with more adjectives and better grammar. She seemed very happy to be taking Practical English 2 and Intermediate Conversation with Jason to further improve her skills. Her interests varied from trying to understand the music of the Back Street Boys to her appreciation of the outdoors and plans for a little house with lilacs in the yard. Hye-young continued to bring new topics to the forum by asking if we, in other countries, celebrate children’s day and Buddha’s birthday. By mid 2006, she was still striving to improve her English, asking about the differences between British and American English, which is confusing to say the least. Jason recommended several books and summer enrollment in an English course. I was very impressed with the article she wrote for the forum on the Statue of Liberty, thoroughly researched, and written extremely well in almost perfect English. By the summer of 2006, she was reading Crime and Punishment. Just before her final exams, she told us of her plans to go to China. We lost touch for a while this year, as she was working and preparing for her English certificate. I was glad to hear that she is now settled in at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, likes her roommate, and the food (except it’s too oily, so she worries about gaining weight)! Tons of homework and lectures. I have no doubt she will do exceptionally well; she is certainly proficient in English and should have no problem at all in that respect. I have a great deal of admiration for this enthusiastic, friendly, and highly motivated young lady.

Sincerely,

Sharon

Positive Teacher Feedback (S.F. & Germany)

http://www.learn-english-grammar.com/viewtopic.php?t=4

Plans/Aspirations for the future

-More International users (

http://www.learn-english-grammar.com/viewtopic.php?t=534

-Connect with classes in different cultures for multicultural discussions

-More spontaneous use

-Better and more constant language feedback for Ss from a variety of sources

(20 cents a reply BTW (^_^) – double the going rate)

We are constantly finding new uses and cooler applications of functions. Any ideas?

Q & A – Suggestions – Ideas – Audience FB

Fall Semester 2008/Inha University English 4/Online Culture Discussion Board Introduction/Professor Ham

Follow these steps carefully and exactly.

Go online and type www.learn-english-grammar.com in your browser window.
When the web page pops up, click Register at the top. A page of English text will pop up.
Scroll down to the bottom of this page and click I Agree to these terms and am over or exactly 13 years of age.
Enter your Username in the box. It must contain the word Inha, your English class number, and your real name. For example: Inha(56)LeeCheonSoo. Remember this username exactly and write it down. This forum is case-sensitive, so remember when you use capital letters and when you use lower-case letters. If you were in a previous class with me and used this forum, you may use your old username and password, but please inform me if you do.
Enter your email address in the second box. For example: englishstudent@gmail.com.
Select a password and enter it in the third box down. Make sure to remember it. Write it down and keep it in your textbook or somewhere safe. It should be at least 8 characters long. Again, the program is case-sensitive, so be exact.
Re-enter your password in the last box.
Scroll down to the bottom and set the Time zone to GMT + 9 Hours. This is Korea's time zone. Leave the rest of the settings alone for now. You may change or add new information to your profile later.
Click Submit at the bottom.
You will have to wait (1-2 days) for the system administrator to accept your registration and send you an email. This is a standard security measure. When you receive the email, follow the link and instructions it contains.
Click Login at the top. Retype your username and password exactly. Then click Log in to enter the site.
Congratulations! You are now a member of our online discussion board. You will be able to begin communicating with native speakers and other English learners immediately. You can now start submitting your culture discussion paragraphs for homework. To do your homework, click Discussing Culture. Browse around and read a few of the topics that interest you. For your assignment this semester, you will be asked to reply to six topics posted by other users, so please find some that interest you. Click post reply to reply to a topic that is already being discussed.
For each of your 6 posts (assignments), enter a title in the Subject box. Then type your culture discussion paragraphs in English. They should be at least 60 words long / 6 sentences, and contain interesting information about Korean and/or other cultures. Make sure to personalize your information whenever you can by talking about your own unique experiences. You should also ask questions to promote further discussion. Content is more important than accuracy; however, I would like to see proper spelling and use of capitals and punctuation. Of course you are welcome to use dictionaries or spell-checkers to assist you. Also, you can always correct mistakes later by clicking the edit button or using the Preview function before clicking Submit.
Be as creative as you like. You may upload photos, use emoticons, or provide links to other sites as well. There are many things you can do with this forum. Enjoy this discussion board and visit it often to see if one of our native speaker assistants, HUFS students, or international users has replied to your posts. Feel free to reply to other users and practice your fluency. I would like to see a lot of continuous forum use by our students.
I will check your total forum activity often and you will score points for homework completed. Remember the Online Culture Forum homework is worth 6% of your grade in your English conversation class here at Inha. You are expected to have at least 6 culture paragraphs posted in the Discussing culture forum. The deadlines are as follows:
Post #1 - (10/01-10/10)

Post #2 - (10/11-10/20)

Post #3 - (10/21-10/31)

Post #4 - (11/01-11/10)

Post #5 - (11/11-11/20)

Post #6 - (11/21- 11/30)

17. Try to post at least once every ten days so that you make the deadlines. Late posts will not be counted for credit. Again, for the purpose of assessment in this class, quality paragraphs are at least six sentences long/at least 60 words; they demonstrate original thought and proficiency, discuss a cultural topic, and ask or answer questions about culture.

18. By the way, plagiarism will not be tolerated. You must cite your sources if you use information that is not your own. If anyone plagiarizes, they will receive an automatic 0% for their entire Online Culture Forum grade. Do your best and enjoy the site. Inappropriate posts will also be deleted and not count for credit.

19. Extra posts (more than 6) are welcome, and may be counted toward extra credit for your participation score.

A teacher's life in Zimbabwe

This is scary. Most teachers complain about their jobs, but sometimes we need to remember that some people are truly suffering.

Does this crazy stuff only happen in America?

Or is it just that I hear more about American news stories? Here's a 40 year old teacher marrying a 16-year-old student in North Carolina.