How do I teach English to a bunch of South Korean 4th graders?
The JET Programme in Japan has thousands of people in similar circumstances to you and they’ve built up a body of knowledge and resources over the past 20 years. I don’t have the links but I do know this is available online now. I would hope the Korean system does too, but if not, that’s certainly a go-to resource for you. Coming out of college, I taught English Convo for 2 1/2 years to Japanese college kids & young professionals in Tokyo, so my experience isn’t really that overlapping with yours but I will opine anyway. I think it’s a great transitional experience to come out of the freedom of college into the low-responsibility field of English monkey. At the fourth grade level you will be modelling the language more than teaching it. Young kids both have an easier time with foreign languages, but teaching it on the technical level is hard since they don’t yet have the native understanding of how their own language works. You will need games, activities, flash cards, unless your scho
You’re also going to have to bone up on classroom management skills. – Always remember that every student has potential. – Reward the behaviour you like, ignore the behaviour you don’t (or at least don’t focus on it. If a student is walking around, tell them to sit down). – Model positive behaviour – Students who appear bored or disruptive need to have their energies channeled in a *positive* way. – Approach each student – even the naughty ones – compassionately. – Try to figure out what motivates students. – Create lessons that incorporate and cater to John Gardner’s “multiple intelligences” or learning styles. – Understand that Korean culture is different. Students may sleep in class, but it’s no big deal. They may talk when you are talking, but it’s no big deal. Some things to remember: – Plan 10 minute activities at this age. That means you will have *at least* six activities for a 60 minute class – Give kids s
It sounds like you’re teaching at public school. If so, your friends are correct in that you should arrive ready to expect anything. You may be arriving hot on the heels of a departing teacher or you may be the first foreigner ever to grace their halls. Do you know if you’re going to have a co-teacher? (If you’re in public school, I assume you are.) Figuring out a system with your co-teacher is really half the battle. Some teachers will shift down their role to act as back-up to you, others will only want to bring you up when they need your western diction. Hopefully the latter scenario does not apply to you (it’s easy, but hella boring). Oh, and if you’ve got a co-teacher, get ready to see some corporal punishment used in class. It can be shocking or upsetting sometimes. Whatever the case may be, I agree with imalaowai that you must learn how to control your class. I also learned this the hard way — not fun! If you’re teaching grade 4, it won’t be English 101 as formal English instru
If you aren’t able to take an ESL teacher training course before you go, I recommend you at least pick up a book such as Teaching English to Children or Teaching Language to Young Learners as a reference. They will provide you with some information about how children learn language, what to expect from children at various ages, and strategies for teaching them English. This site has sample lesson plans, teaching ideas, games, and classroom management tips.
There are many wonderful children’s picture books that teach grammar such as the series by Ruth Heller. If you are not sure if you will have access to a written curriculum, the state of Virginia publishes its English Language Arts standards here, the state of Texas here, and Florida here. You will notice in all three that the emphasis is on writing and reading instead of just learning the conventions of English. Have them read lots of picture books and use those for the basis of your grammar lessons. Just as we do here with ESL students, use pictures, label everything in the classroom, and provide the students with many opportunities to interact with each other in Englis
