A surprising number of learners here in Korea seem to do little but “study” languages. That is, they put a great deal of time and effort into memorizing lots of words and grammar rules. However, outside the classroom setting these learners tend to find it very difficult to communicate. What’s gone wrong?
여기 한국에서는 놀라울 정도로 많은 학생들이 언어들을 "study"하기만 하는것 같다. 즉, 많은 단어와 문법을 암기하려고 애쓰는데. 이런 학생들은 교실 밖에서 다른 사람과 대화하기가 어려운 것을 깨닫는다. 무엇이 잘못 된 것일까?
The most obvious answer is that they aren’t trying to learn communicative language skills, the kind most people use every day, let alone improve their communication skills. Instead, faced with another language, too many people (from any country) overlook their first language. The logic goes something like this: “It’s a different language (not to mention a different culture!), so it must be completely different from my own.”
가장 명백한 응답은 대부분의 사람이 매일 쓰는 대화 기술을 향상시키지않을 뿐만아니라 회화 기술도 공부하지 않는다는 것이다. 너무 많은 사람들이 (그게 어떤 나라든지) 다른 언어를 접하는 대신에 모국어를 등한시 한다. 말하자면 이런 것이다. “이것은 다른 언어다 (문화의 차이를 이야기 하는 것이 아니라) 그러니까 내 모국어와 완전히 다르겠지.”
I’d suggest that looking at the communication skills most people already have is the most useful way to start. An approach to communication skills might start by raising learners’ awareness of how they communicate on a day-to-day basis in their first language. (Some people are naturally more self-aware than others.) Looking at: how they interact with different people; how they use language; how they use grammar; how they actually use body language, maybe helping them understand how we keep at a comfortable distance when we talk;
what they talk about; how they recycle topics of conversation, falter sometimes, pause, use fillers; how they ask questions to confirm they understand; how they use intonation, pitch and speed, and how these reflect their feelings; how the language actually sounds, which is often different from how it looks on paper.
내 제안은 이렇다. 언어습득을 시작하기에 가장 좋은 방법은 사람들에게 원래 있는 언어기술을 찾아내는 것이다. 회화의 기술에 대한 접근은 모국어로 매일의 대화의 기술에 대한 자각을 높이는 것부터 시작하면 아마 좋을 것이다. (어떤 사람들은 원래부터 다른사람에 비해 자기자신을 더 잘안다.) 구체적으로, 어떻게 그들이 다른 사람들과 행동하고 표현할 것인지, 언어를 어떻게 쓸지, 실제로 문법을 어떻게 쓰고, 바디 랭귀지를 어떻게 쓰고 대화시의 적절한 거리를 유지하는 것을 이해할 수 있도록 어떻게 도울 것인지, 대화의 내용이 무엇이고, 얼마나 대화의 화제들을 "인용"하고 가끔 더듬거리고 잠시 중단하고 머뭇거리는 소리(음... 저...뭐... 등등)를 내고, 얼마나 이해하는지를 확인하기 위해 질문을 하고, 언어의 억양과 높낮이와 속도를 얼마나 적절히 사용할 지, 또 이것들이 어떻게 감정을 표현할 수 있을지, 문어체에 비해서는 종종 차이가 있는 언어의 실제 소리가 어떤지를 살펴보는 것이다.
It's far easier to build on this awareness than to try and teach all of these skills from scratch. And, importantly, any new skills they pick up will be a clear extension of their own selves, rather than something alien.
이러한 지식을 더하는 것은 ("from scratch") 아무런 기본지식 없이 그냥 이러한 기술을 가르치는 것보다 훨씬 더 쉽다. 그리고 중요한 것은 그들이 새롭게 익히는 기술들이 단순히 주입된 것이 아니고 그들 자신들에게 명백한 성장일 것이라는 것이다.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Starting Conversations
Hope these example conversations aren’t too clichéd!
At a tourist spot:
1: How’re ya doing?
2: Pretty good, thanks! Y’self?
1: I’m fabulous! Gorgeous day, isn’t it!
2: Sure is!
1: What d’ya think of this place?
2: Amazing, isn’t it! Been here before?
In a busy coffee shop:
C: Hi there! How ya doing?
J: I’m good, thanks!
C: Bit crowded in here, isn’t it! ’S like a cattle market!
J: Ya c’n say that again!
C: C’n I ask what ya’re having?
J: I’m thinking a latte would be nice. How about y’self?
C: Maybe the same. Mind if I join ya f’r a while?
J: Not at all! I’m Jake, by the way.
At a bar:
A: Hey, how’s it going? My name’s Adam.
E: Nice t’ meet ya. I’m Eve.
A: Good atmosphere in here, don’t ya think?
E: Yeh, I like it. It’s chilled.
A: C’n I ask where ya’re from?
E: Oh, d’you know South Korea? I’m fr’m the second city – Busan.
A: Oh, yes? I haven’t heard of it. What’s it like?
E: Well, there aren’t many sights, but Busanites c’n be quite friendly.
On the subway:
H: Hello there. My name’s Hyo-ri. D’ya mind if I ask where ya’re from?
B: Of course not! England, I’m from England. People call me Becks.
H: C’n I ask where ya’re going, Becks?
B: I’m on my way t’ PNU. D’ya know it?
H: Yes, of course! In fact, I’m going there myself. Mind if I join ya?
B: That could be nice!
NB. A number of the spellings have been changed to better reflect how the words are actually spoken in fluent English. Sometimes the odd spelling of English gets in the way of correct pronunciation; it can also impair your listening skills if you think a word is pronounced in one way when in fact it sounds quite different in fluent English.
Language Foci
QUESTION TAGS
~isn’t it! (falling intonation, to ask for agreement)
SEEKING COMMON KNOWLEDGE
Heard of (it)? D’you know (it)?
ASKING FOR OPINIONS
What d’you think of…?
(Also good: What’d you say to…?)
GIVING OPINIONS
I’m thinking…
That could be good/ fun/ nice/ interesting.
POLITE REQUESTS
Can I (ask)…? Mind if I…?
(Also: Mind if I sit here?
-> Not at all/ Go ahead/ I’d rather you didn’t)
At a tourist spot:
1: How’re ya doing?
2: Pretty good, thanks! Y’self?
1: I’m fabulous! Gorgeous day, isn’t it!
2: Sure is!
1: What d’ya think of this place?
2: Amazing, isn’t it! Been here before?
In a busy coffee shop:
C: Hi there! How ya doing?
J: I’m good, thanks!
C: Bit crowded in here, isn’t it! ’S like a cattle market!
J: Ya c’n say that again!
C: C’n I ask what ya’re having?
J: I’m thinking a latte would be nice. How about y’self?
C: Maybe the same. Mind if I join ya f’r a while?
J: Not at all! I’m Jake, by the way.
At a bar:
A: Hey, how’s it going? My name’s Adam.
E: Nice t’ meet ya. I’m Eve.
A: Good atmosphere in here, don’t ya think?
E: Yeh, I like it. It’s chilled.
A: C’n I ask where ya’re from?
E: Oh, d’you know South Korea? I’m fr’m the second city – Busan.
A: Oh, yes? I haven’t heard of it. What’s it like?
E: Well, there aren’t many sights, but Busanites c’n be quite friendly.
On the subway:
H: Hello there. My name’s Hyo-ri. D’ya mind if I ask where ya’re from?
B: Of course not! England, I’m from England. People call me Becks.
H: C’n I ask where ya’re going, Becks?
B: I’m on my way t’ PNU. D’ya know it?
H: Yes, of course! In fact, I’m going there myself. Mind if I join ya?
B: That could be nice!
NB. A number of the spellings have been changed to better reflect how the words are actually spoken in fluent English. Sometimes the odd spelling of English gets in the way of correct pronunciation; it can also impair your listening skills if you think a word is pronounced in one way when in fact it sounds quite different in fluent English.
Language Foci
QUESTION TAGS
~isn’t it! (falling intonation, to ask for agreement)
SEEKING COMMON KNOWLEDGE
Heard of (it)? D’you know (it)?
ASKING FOR OPINIONS
What d’you think of…?
(Also good: What’d you say to…?)
GIVING OPINIONS
I’m thinking…
That could be good/ fun/ nice/ interesting.
POLITE REQUESTS
Can I (ask)…? Mind if I…?
(Also: Mind if I sit here?
-> Not at all/ Go ahead/ I’d rather you didn’t)
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Two Jokes
From January's edition of Humanising Language Teaching.
The bus driver and Big John
One day a bus driver was in his bus when the biggest man he had ever seen got on. The giant looked at the driver and said, "Big John doesn't pay." Then he took his seat on the bus. The bus driver was only a little man and he didn't want to argue.
This happened for several days. After a week, the bus driver was beginning to get a little angry. Everybody else paid, so why not the big man? So the driver decided to go to the gym and start a course of body-building. He didn't want to be frightened of Big John any more.
A number of weeks later the driver had strong muscles and was feeling very fit. At the usual stop, Big John got on. "Big John doesn't pay," he said. But this time the driver was prepared for him. He got up and said, "Oh, yeah? And why doesn't Big John pay?"
"Because Big John has got a bus pass," the man replied.
~~~~~~~~~~
The doctor's advice
A man was feeling unwell and he went to see the doctor. He went with his wife because he was a little worried. Afterwards, the doctor spoke in private to the man's wife.
"I'm afraid I have some bad news," he said. "Unless you follow my instructions carefully, your husband will die. Every morning you must give him a good breakfast and you must cook him a healthy meal every night. What is more, you mustn't ask him to do any housework and you must keep the house very clean. I realise it is a lot of work for you, but it really is the only way to keep him alive."
On the way home, the husband asked his wife what the doctor had said to her.
"He said you're going to die," she replied.
The bus driver and Big John
One day a bus driver was in his bus when the biggest man he had ever seen got on. The giant looked at the driver and said, "Big John doesn't pay." Then he took his seat on the bus. The bus driver was only a little man and he didn't want to argue.
This happened for several days. After a week, the bus driver was beginning to get a little angry. Everybody else paid, so why not the big man? So the driver decided to go to the gym and start a course of body-building. He didn't want to be frightened of Big John any more.
A number of weeks later the driver had strong muscles and was feeling very fit. At the usual stop, Big John got on. "Big John doesn't pay," he said. But this time the driver was prepared for him. He got up and said, "Oh, yeah? And why doesn't Big John pay?"
"Because Big John has got a bus pass," the man replied.
~~~~~~~~~~
The doctor's advice
A man was feeling unwell and he went to see the doctor. He went with his wife because he was a little worried. Afterwards, the doctor spoke in private to the man's wife.
"I'm afraid I have some bad news," he said. "Unless you follow my instructions carefully, your husband will die. Every morning you must give him a good breakfast and you must cook him a healthy meal every night. What is more, you mustn't ask him to do any housework and you must keep the house very clean. I realise it is a lot of work for you, but it really is the only way to keep him alive."
On the way home, the husband asked his wife what the doctor had said to her.
"He said you're going to die," she replied.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Back to the wall
With a much more humane work schedule this month, I'm finally finding the time to get back into the pastimes I've had to desert for the past few months. This afternoon I followed the steep road behind the local Carrefour up to Mt. Hwangmyeong Sports and Leisure Park [황령산 레포츠 공원]. The YMCA centre there has a simple but adequate climbing wall, which a friend introduced me to. Free use too, as long as you can put up with the youngsters downstairs practising their choreography to a never-ending loop of dance music.
Round trip on foot from work - 1 hour, plus an hour or so on the wall. I'll be heading up there more often, methinks. (Especially if the weather stops hovering around zero and warms up a bit!)
Round trip on foot from work - 1 hour, plus an hour or so on the wall. I'll be heading up there more often, methinks. (Especially if the weather stops hovering around zero and warms up a bit!)
Korean name?
Yes, my Korean name is Yong Se-chan.
(Thankfully it's the same, no matter how you romanize it.)
After calling so many Koreans by an English name (far easier for westerners to remember), it's only fitting that I should reveal my Korean name. Most Koreans that I've mentioned this name to seem to think it sounds nice and gives a good impression, which is important.
The meaning?
龍 (용 룡, dragon) Yong, dragon, is fairly rare as a surname in Korea, but it does exist and I have in fact met someone with it. The choice was easy: the flag of Wales has a dragon on it, so...
世 (세상 세, the world)
贊 (도울 찬, help[s])
Because of Korean's subject-object-verb word order, the name in full means "[the/a] dragon [who] helps the world". A reference to my personal philosophy of being nice to others and also to my work as a teacher.
Written in Korean alphabet (han-geul): 용세찬
Written in Chinese characters (hanja): 龍世贊
(Thankfully it's the same, no matter how you romanize it.)
After calling so many Koreans by an English name (far easier for westerners to remember), it's only fitting that I should reveal my Korean name. Most Koreans that I've mentioned this name to seem to think it sounds nice and gives a good impression, which is important.
The meaning?
龍 (용 룡, dragon) Yong, dragon, is fairly rare as a surname in Korea, but it does exist and I have in fact met someone with it. The choice was easy: the flag of Wales has a dragon on it, so...
世 (세상 세, the world)
贊 (도울 찬, help[s])
Because of Korean's subject-object-verb word order, the name in full means "[the/a] dragon [who] helps the world". A reference to my personal philosophy of being nice to others and also to my work as a teacher.
Written in Korean alphabet (han-geul): 용세찬
Written in Chinese characters (hanja): 龍世贊
Saturday, February 04, 2006
thee dickhead soh faar
From an intelligent article by historian Simon Schama on the decade referred to as "the noughties":
There was the teeny matter of the beginning of the end; of planet Earth, that is, the last chance of reversing the irreversible damage that has been done to the ecosystem, beside which all the rest of its problems were small potatoes.
Short of taking the current president of the United States by the scruff of the neck and dunking his head deep into the rapidly melting Arctic ice cap, what more did the Earth need to do to make someone listen to its cry for help? But this was the decayed decade, when everything that urgently needed to be done to reverse carbon emissions was identified, documented, articulated - and then systematically obstructed by the power that was disproportionately responsible for the damage. When the rest of the world shouted "Emergency", America chanted back "Growth".
The decade when coral reefs turned pallid and died; when Alaskan caribou butted their heads against pipelines; when what seemed like a marginal rise in oceanic temperatures translated into hurricanes that ate entire shorelines, was also the decade of the Hummer.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Fabulous Start to 2006^^
This has been a kick-ass month!
I love this feeling that I'm getting out of it and I've been getting plenty of positive feedback from the learners about it too! There's only one class that I'm a little concerned about that really haven't bonded at all – formal Korean social hierarchies... But they still manage to find enjoyment if I don't group the younger students with the older ones.
Back to the kick-ass front, my overall inspiration, creativity, motivation and enjoyment have soared this month. I’ve been trying new things, sharing ideas with colleagues,... I love it! This is why I love my work!^^
(Still, I do desperately need to get away from work more too – lousy work schedule for the past months.)
~~~~~~~~~~
Update: 26th January, I've just been told by our so-called manager that the student evaluations this month (yes, the students rate their teachers on 10 basic criteria; odd, I know) are far lower than last month, when I was severely burnt out twentyfour-seven.
I've been getting excellent and uplifting feedback from the students verbally and without asking. I also got very positive comments from a useful 'How can I help you learn better?' form I got them to fill out at the two-week mark. [Compared to the other students in class, I feel I'm at the same level / more advanced / less advanced because... ; I feel my weakest points are... ; What I like about this class is... ; In class, I’d like to see more...]
I therefore find my "manager's" news highly suspicious. I'm asking to see the eval sheets for myself and next month I will be personally signing each and every evaluation sheet I hand out to make sure the numbers aren't subject to foul play.
I love this feeling that I'm getting out of it and I've been getting plenty of positive feedback from the learners about it too! There's only one class that I'm a little concerned about that really haven't bonded at all – formal Korean social hierarchies... But they still manage to find enjoyment if I don't group the younger students with the older ones.
Back to the kick-ass front, my overall inspiration, creativity, motivation and enjoyment have soared this month. I’ve been trying new things, sharing ideas with colleagues,... I love it! This is why I love my work!^^
(Still, I do desperately need to get away from work more too – lousy work schedule for the past months.)
~~~~~~~~~~
Update: 26th January, I've just been told by our so-called manager that the student evaluations this month (yes, the students rate their teachers on 10 basic criteria; odd, I know) are far lower than last month, when I was severely burnt out twentyfour-seven.
I've been getting excellent and uplifting feedback from the students verbally and without asking. I also got very positive comments from a useful 'How can I help you learn better?' form I got them to fill out at the two-week mark. [Compared to the other students in class, I feel I'm at the same level / more advanced / less advanced because... ; I feel my weakest points are... ; What I like about this class is... ; In class, I’d like to see more...]
I therefore find my "manager's" news highly suspicious. I'm asking to see the eval sheets for myself and next month I will be personally signing each and every evaluation sheet I hand out to make sure the numbers aren't subject to foul play.
on being fabulous and romantic
"If we say nothing but what has been said before us, we are dull and have observed nothing. If we tell anything new, we are laughed at as fabulous and romantic."- English society figure Lady Mary Wortley Montagu in a letter to her husband in 1718.During a stay in Sydney a while back I worked in a non-sales-related telephone job, cold-calling people all around Australia. After a few weeks of settling into the job, it dawned on me that I was in fact a modern-day Santa Claus (long hours and too much caffeine perhaps??). That is, I could potentially bring joy and happiness to people in every city, town and outback corner of Aussie; I could have an impact on the outlook of the whole country from that single bright sunlit room.
I would make every call smiling, be as pleasant as humanly possible, and make the mere five-odd minutes I had with each person count to the max. My aim was to make each person at least a little bit happier. And after they put the receiver down, they might just be nicer to the next person they met. And they too might be a little more cheerful. And so on.
By enriching even one person’s life, I could be the butterfly that flaps its wings. And I could flap them cheerfully in every corner of the country with a mere tap of my fingers on the keyboard and a smile in my voice! And that smile became more and more beaming with every person I was able to make even a little happier.
(Of course, this did my employer a lot of good too and I got very positive feedback from my boss and co-workers.)
Make today the day that you too become a fabulous and romantic butterfly.
Monday, January 16, 2006
Controversial? / 논쟁적인가?
I have one fussy high-level class this month who take a lot of work. One lesson that I spent hours designing and creating was reduced to a long po-faced silence in no time. So, working on the concept that I had to come up with a topic for the next class that even they couldn't not have opinions about, I racked my brain for contentious issues. What follows are some of the ones that worked really well (;p), grouped into vague categories for you to peruse."The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." - Martin Luther King Jr.
"사람들에 대한 궁극적인 판단방법은 그들이 편안하고 안락한 순간에 취하는 태도가 아니고 도전과 논쟁의 시기에 취하는 자세에 있다." - 마틴 루터 킹
The goal is to provoke learners (and yourself) think, to present a compelling topic for them to express their views on. It can also be used to practise discussion skills, and potentially debating skills too.
Quotes
"God is dead." - Friedrich Nietzsche
"Imagination is greater than knowledge." - Albert Einstein
"Eighty percent of success is just showing up." - Woody Allen
"Laughter is the best medicine." - saying
"Innovators are inevitably controversial." - Eva Le Gallienne
“There is nothing wrong with our faces or bodies that social change can’t cure.” - Naomi Wolf
Universal?
Hitler was the greatest criminal ever.
Beauty is nothing more than a matter of taste.
A woman's place is in the home.
Airbags in cars should be replaced with big steel spikes - people would drive more safely.
People who get plastic surgery are truly happier about themselves.
TV is a huge waste of time.
Monogamy doesn't work.
Korea-based
Military service is a bad influence on Korean men.
"Fan death" is nothing more than a Korean urban legend.
The Korean education system is a robot assembly line.
"Fan death" is nothing more than a Korean urban legend.
The Korean education system is a robot assembly line.
Harisu (the famous Korean transsexual) is, basically, a man.
English teachers in Korea should be qualified to teach English.
The “East (Asia) Sea” should be referred to by the most widely-used current term – the “Sea of Japan” – until any disagreement has been resolved.
The lack of sleep that Korean high school students put themselves through is damaging.
The lack of sleep that Korean high school students put themselves through is damaging.
Japan is actually a bit better than Korea.
~~~~~~~~~~
A related activity is to play them Savage Garden's catchy song "Affirmation" (lyrics below) and ask, To what extent do you agree?
verse 1
I believe the sun should never set upon an argument.
I believe we place our happiness in other people's hands.
I believe that junk food tastes so good because it's bad for you.
I believe your parents did the best job they knew how to do.
I believe that beauty magazines promote low self esteem.
I believe I'm loved when I'm completely by myself alone.
chorus
I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned.
I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned.
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side.
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye.
verse 2
I believe you can't control or choose your sexuality.
I believe that trust is more important than monogamy.
I believe your most attractive features are your heart and soul.
I believe that family is worth more than money or gold.
I believe the struggle for financial freedom is unfair;
I believe the only ones who disagree are millionaires.
chorus
verse 3
I believe forgiveness is the key to your unhappiness.
I believe that wedded bliss negates the need to be undressed.
I believe that God does not endorse TV evangelists.
I believe in love surviving death into eternity.
chorus
~~~~~~~~~~
A related activity is to play them Savage Garden's catchy song "Affirmation" (lyrics below) and ask, To what extent do you agree?
verse 1
I believe the sun should never set upon an argument.
I believe we place our happiness in other people's hands.
I believe that junk food tastes so good because it's bad for you.
I believe your parents did the best job they knew how to do.
I believe that beauty magazines promote low self esteem.
I believe I'm loved when I'm completely by myself alone.
chorus
I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned.
I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned.
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side.
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye.
verse 2
I believe you can't control or choose your sexuality.
I believe that trust is more important than monogamy.
I believe your most attractive features are your heart and soul.
I believe that family is worth more than money or gold.
I believe the struggle for financial freedom is unfair;
I believe the only ones who disagree are millionaires.
chorus
verse 3
I believe forgiveness is the key to your unhappiness.
I believe that wedded bliss negates the need to be undressed.
I believe that God does not endorse TV evangelists.
I believe in love surviving death into eternity.
chorus
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Dumb? Are you?
"You scored 30 out of a possible 38" That means, I hope, that I'm NOT dumb, thank you very much!
Of the wrong ones, 1 was on football - I'm only really interested when the World Cup's on - and 2 were on recent British pop culture - I haven't tried to keep up with that while I'm away - I figure it'll make for more interesting conversations when I get back...!
What I'm talking about is this: A recent survey of Britain's 18- to 24-year-olds has shown up the many gaps in the cultural knowledge of the "information generation". Has ignorance triumphed over enlightenment?
As one commentator observed, "Every healthy culture winnows and chooses a past which it finds useful. But something has been lost."
Should we welcome the free-thinking technological generation, "a generation whose minds are more empty than open"? Or should we take the view that "the better informed are also the tolerant and compassionate"? Should we be "smart" or "knowledgeable"?
You can take the test yourself and comment on the meaning of the results here.
Of the wrong ones, 1 was on football - I'm only really interested when the World Cup's on - and 2 were on recent British pop culture - I haven't tried to keep up with that while I'm away - I figure it'll make for more interesting conversations when I get back...!
What I'm talking about is this: A recent survey of Britain's 18- to 24-year-olds has shown up the many gaps in the cultural knowledge of the "information generation". Has ignorance triumphed over enlightenment?
As one commentator observed, "Every healthy culture winnows and chooses a past which it finds useful. But something has been lost."
Should we welcome the free-thinking technological generation, "a generation whose minds are more empty than open"? Or should we take the view that "the better informed are also the tolerant and compassionate"? Should we be "smart" or "knowledgeable"?
You can take the test yourself and comment on the meaning of the results here.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Appropriate Management
Gareth Morgan, a professor of organizational behaviour once commented that, Farmers don't grow crops. They create the conditions in which crops grow. This, as I see it, is the job of any good leader, coach, teacher, manager, conductor - to ensure an environment in which people can thrive at what they do and develop at a speed that fits them.
Albert Einstein, a man whose name is synonymous with intelligence, said, "I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn."
And one more quote to drive the nail home:
~~~~~~~~~~
One thing is missing though: manager evaluations. Following a similar format to the teacher evaluation form, and for anyone who might want to use this, here's my proposed "good manager" evaluation form.
For each question give an answer from 1(never) to 5(always).
Please be an honest as possible.
01. Manager facilitates employees' work, empowering them to do their very best.
02. Manager recognises the value of employees and shows them respect and trust.
03. Manager is knowledgeable and capable.
04. Manager praises and gives credit where it is due.
05. Manager is fair and reasonable, not punishing employees unduly.
06. Manager recognises problems quickly and knows how to deal with them effectively.
07. Manager admits mistakes and recognises the value of them in striving for new highs.
08. Manager is open to new ideas, suggestions and questions - listens actively.
09. Manager is human and friendly, and helps motivate employees.
10. Manager maintains a positive and motivating attitude.
Albert Einstein, a man whose name is synonymous with intelligence, said, "I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn."
And one more quote to drive the nail home:
At work, we have a monthly teacher evaluation system that allows our learners to voice their opinions of their teacher. Although a lot depends on how they feel towards the teacher personally rather than the quality of the teaching per se, I relish the feedback. I've realised that even if the ratings and comments ARE mainly based on their feelings, surely a large part of my job in the classroom IS based around feelings: if the learners can't find a personal connection with the teacher and the class and the language, how much can I really expect them to learn?Many years ago my friend Christopher was a junior manager at Yorkshire Water Company. He was asked by his line manager to visit a senior engineer at his home in Huddersfield. Chris knocked on the door and was invited in. "Would you like a cup of tea?" the engineer asked. While Chris waited for the kettle to boil in the kitchen, he looked out of the back window expecting to see a garden. Instead he saw row upon row of fish tanks, stacked one on top of the other, each filled with a different species of fish. "I didn't know you kept fish," said Chris. "Nay lad," replied the old engineer, "I don't keep fish, I keep water."
Now that's great leadership, if you think about it. - from HLTmag
~~~~~~~~~~
One thing is missing though: manager evaluations. Following a similar format to the teacher evaluation form, and for anyone who might want to use this, here's my proposed "good manager" evaluation form.
For each question give an answer from 1(never) to 5(always).
Please be an honest as possible.
01. Manager facilitates employees' work, empowering them to do their very best.
02. Manager recognises the value of employees and shows them respect and trust.
03. Manager is knowledgeable and capable.
04. Manager praises and gives credit where it is due.
05. Manager is fair and reasonable, not punishing employees unduly.
06. Manager recognises problems quickly and knows how to deal with them effectively.
07. Manager admits mistakes and recognises the value of them in striving for new highs.
08. Manager is open to new ideas, suggestions and questions - listens actively.
09. Manager is human and friendly, and helps motivate employees.
10. Manager maintains a positive and motivating attitude.
For TOEIC the Bell Tolls / <토익을 위하여 종은 울리나>
For me this is great news. Maybe I'm a fool for being too hopeful about the demise of this infamously inept test, but an article in the Chosun Ilbo (Chosun Daily) here reports to my delight that the TOEIC:
나에게는 이게 아주 좋은 소식이다. 어리석게도 나는 이 악명높게 부적절한 시험의 멸망를 낙관하고 있다. 하지만 <조선일보>에서 있는 글이 이렇게 토익에 대해 보고했다.
나에게는 이게 아주 좋은 소식이다. 어리석게도 나는 이 악명높게 부적절한 시험의 멸망를 낙관하고 있다. 하지만 <조선일보>에서 있는 글이 이렇게 토익에 대해 보고했다.
may at last be on its way out. Some 12 corporations ... have dropped a TOEIC score requirement for job applicants, and three others ... have lowered the minimum requirement...
"...we judged that the TOEIC not an appropriate indicator of actual English skills," says Lee Jeong, head of personnel at the Industrial Bank of Korea....The test, which has no reading and writing sections and consists largely of formulaic multiple-choice questions, may have come to the end of its extended run. Most candidates sit the test for employment reasons. If companies now dismiss it, the exam's survival is under threat.
Conversations with Larry King
A few weekends ago, I read the well-known Larry King book "How to Talk to Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere" and was fairly impressed. Well, at least by 6 of the 12 chapters. His commonsense advice for better conversations can be summed up as follows:
When looking for someone to have a conversation with, choose someone who looks alert and interested in what's going on around them.
There's a good chance the person you're about to talk to is shy, so you don't need to be! Try to put them at their ease. Never feel inferior or intimidated - everyone's human.
Pay attention to the situation, setting and the person.
Conversation starters for 10:
The weather - a no-brainer.
The situation.
Popular current affairs - everyone has opinions.
Kids/pets - people care a LOT about these things if they have them.
Your job is to find out what they're avid about, what's closest to their heart. Be sincere and curious, aim to learn something from them and you will. And you'll be a more knowledgeable person for it! So, listen. Oh, and don't stay too serious for too long!
Pay attention to the person you're talking to. Lean closer if they seem comfortable with it - it shows you're interested. Look them in the eye - but don't freak them out by staring non-stop!
Listening well (for example, making interested sounds and clarifying what you've understood by rephrasing what they've said) will help you ask better follow-up questions ("the mark of a good conversationalist") based on what you've heard.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Learning Resources - online video/TV
International
MediaHopper (Choose a country)
Mainly news, sports, fashion, culture.
USA
Sit Down Comedy (Interviews)
Click "Watch full episodes and sneak peaks"
Comedy Central has 2-minute video clips
TVGuide (Video reviews of TV shows)
BBC
BBC London 15 mins. of news daily (RealPlayer)
The BBC also shows Panorama and Question Time
Guide to BBC broadband services
Deutsche Welle TV (Click "Video on Demand")
(Also in German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese)
I do tend to agree with the Linguist on this: MP3's better because you don't have to stare at it; you can do other things while you learn. TV's just more colourful.
MediaHopper (Choose a country)
Mainly news, sports, fashion, culture.
USA
Sit Down Comedy (Interviews)
Click "Watch full episodes and sneak peaks"
Comedy Central has 2-minute video clips
TVGuide (Video reviews of TV shows)
BBC
BBC London 15 mins. of news daily (RealPlayer)
The BBC also shows Panorama and Question Time
Guide to BBC broadband services
Deutsche Welle TV (Click "Video on Demand")
(Also in German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese)
I do tend to agree with the Linguist on this: MP3's better because you don't have to stare at it; you can do other things while you learn. TV's just more colourful.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Godawful December
Such a heavy workload this month. Considering the number of teachers we have, too many classes have been opened, and opened at times that make everyone's schedule ridiculously long and drawn-out. All of us teachers are feeling the strain - we're completely burnt out and more than a little p*ssed off. Our quality of life is not high right now.
In my case, it has sapped my energy and all but killed my personal relationships. I've been trying desperately to use what free time I can find to reaffirm relations, and this pressure is getting me down even more. (Sorry, my friends.) It seems a vicious circle. Things can't change soon enough.
In my case, it has sapped my energy and all but killed my personal relationships. I've been trying desperately to use what free time I can find to reaffirm relations, and this pressure is getting me down even more. (Sorry, my friends.) It seems a vicious circle. Things can't change soon enough.
Monday, December 12, 2005
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Learning Resources - Online Radio / 온라인 라디오
Browse the listings and choose your genre:
UK________
Australia
New Zealand_
Canada
USA (New York City - FM and AM)
Genres /장르:
News / Talk - 뉴스 / 대화
Sports - 스포츠
Hit Radio / Top 40 - 히트 음악 / 톱 40
Contemporary - 현대 음악
Rock / Alternative - 록 / 올터너티브
Jazz / Blues - 재즈 / 블루스
Soul /R & B - 소울 음악 / 리듬 앤드 블루스
Dance / Latin - 댄스 음악 / 라틴 음악
Gospel - 고스펠 음악
Reggae / Ethnic - 레게 / 민속 음악
Oldies / Country - 옛날 음악 / 컨트리
Religious - 종교 방송
(Recommended for rock enthusiasts - Woxy)
For learners of other European languages:
Listings for major W. European countries
Most links from Great Yarmouth Radio Club
and The Flag Shop
UK________Australia New Zealand_ Canada USA (New York City - FM and AM)Genres /장르:
News / Talk - 뉴스 / 대화
Sports - 스포츠
Hit Radio / Top 40 - 히트 음악 / 톱 40
Contemporary - 현대 음악
Rock / Alternative - 록 / 올터너티브
Jazz / Blues - 재즈 / 블루스
Soul /R & B - 소울 음악 / 리듬 앤드 블루스
Dance / Latin - 댄스 음악 / 라틴 음악
Gospel - 고스펠 음악
Reggae / Ethnic - 레게 / 민속 음악
Oldies / Country - 옛날 음악 / 컨트리
Religious - 종교 방송
(Recommended for rock enthusiasts - Woxy)
For learners of other European languages:
Listings for major W. European countriesMost links from Great Yarmouth Radio Club
and The Flag Shop
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Not a fan of capes, but...
You are Superman
You are mild-mannered, good, strong and you love to help others.
"Which Superhero are you?"
You are mild-mannered, good, strong and you love to help others.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
To my December classes...
From The Linguist, via AJ's blog:
"It really does not matter why you want to improve your English. The important thing for you to know is that you can improve. You can actually improve quite quickly. You just have to do it the right way.
Most people study languages the wrong way. They study from text books or traditional learning systems with uninteresting content, but lots of pictures, plenty of grammar explanation and quizzes. This kind of instruction looks like it should work, but for most people it does not. It is uninteresting and inefficient. Most people do not progress rapidly and are not satisfied with their language studies. They lose interest and will only study if forced to because of exams.
I can understand this. It is hard to keep working at something if you do not succeed. You need to understand how to learn a language.
When you learn a new language your brain starts to change. The brain begins to build networks of neurons that will enable you to operate in a new language like English. You will not become fluent because you understand grammar rules. You become fluent as your brain naturally develops the ability to understand English. You become fluent when you can put thoughts together correctly in English without having to try to remember grammar rules.
So how can you most quickly build these new networks for English? It depends on three things: your attitude towards studying English, the amount of time you spend on English, and how efficient your study method is. It does not depend on teachers or tests. You have to realize that your thoughts and actions are what will most influence the development of these new networks in your brain. How well and how quickly you learn is up to you"
AJ의 블로그를 통해
왜 당신의 영어를 증진하고 싶다는간는 중요하지 않다. 중요한 게 증진할수는 있을 거다. 사실 아주 바르게 증진할수 있는데 제대로만 한다면.
대부분의 사람은 언어를 잘못된 방법으로 공부한다. 교과서나 흥미없지만 사진많고 문법과 퀴즈가 풍분하는 교통 규육 체계에서 공부하곤 하다. 이러한 교육이 성공할 거 같지만 대부분의 사람에게 서공하지 못한다. 재미없고 효과적이 아닌다. 대부분의 사람이 바르게 전진하지 않고 자기의 언어 학문에 만족하지 않다. 그들은 흥미를 잃고 시험만 때문에 공부한다.
이건 이해한다. 성공이 없어 뭘 종사하는 거 어렵다. 언어를 어떻게 익힐 방법을 알을 필요가 있다.
새 언어를 익힐 때 당신의 뇌가 바꾸기 시작한다. 영어처럼 언어로 작용할 수 있게 하기 위해 뇌는 뉴런의 네트워크를 만들기 시작한다. 문법을 알기 때문에 창문하게 될 거지 아이다. 뇌가 자연스럽게 영어 이해할 능력을 발달시키면서 창문하게 될 거다. 문법 규칙을 기억해보는 것 없이 당신의 생각이 영어로 정확히 공식화하면서 창문하게 될 거다.
이게 3 것에 따라 다른다. 영어에 대한 태도 그리고 영어에 얼마나 시간 보내는 것과 연습방법이 얼마나 능률적인 것에 따라 다른다. 선생이나 시험에 따라 다르지 않는다. 당신의 생각과 행동이 당신의 뇌에 있는 이 네트워크의 발달에 가장 강한 영향을 미칠 거다. 얼마나 잘.바르게 익힐 걸 완전히 너한테 달려 있다, 마음대로 골라라.
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