TEFL Arlington South Dakota

Everywhere you go there are people because we live our daily lives communicating at school, work, and in our personal lives. In all aspects of our lives we work together to complete something. Working in groups is very important because everywhere we go we need to work together. Although there are times we work alone and complete individual tasks, we do not live this world alone. I believe that it is very important to learn how to work together and do things together, therefore teaching groups and creating group dynamics is very important. I have been now teaching in Korea for three years and I have truly learned the importance in group teaching. I have started as an academy teacher, international homeroom teacher, and now I have been for over a year a visiting professor at a national university. Teaching three years in a foreign country I have come to understand the importance of teaching in groups and creating a group dynamic. Currently, I work with university students, teaching them conversation, debate, and composition. Through teaching I have realized the importance of having my students work together. Most Korean students tend to frown when I tell them to work together and when I ask them to complete group projects or group work. They take a long time to complete and or they refuse to do some of the assignments until they realize that they will be receiving a low grade if they don't complete it. The amazing thing is the change I see from my students in their attitude and english skill when the semester comes to an end. On the first day of the semester many of my students sit there just waiting for me to do all the talking. They all sit in separate seats and don't even look at me, they look at the board. They fail to realize the course if a language course. On the first day of the semester I force my students to stand up and introduce themselves which causes them to sigh; then I tell them that I will be working my class as a project-based class and then I start to hear louder sighs and I can see them frowning. Some of the students see this as a red sign and then they go drop my course, however, the others see it as a change and stick to my class. After the first day, all the students work on class project, individual work, group work, and a final project and presentation together. I see the change in the attitude of my students. They are not only enthusiastic about working together but they are so excited to learn. They are no longer afraid to speak in english but they are no longer afraid to work together and do things together. I see each of my students grow in their education but also in their personality as well. Working in groups is very important to students because it creates character and it also gives the students a chance to explore english as a fun language instead of just a grammar intensive difficult subject. While teaching I was able to see that my students wanted to approach new people (me as well) but did not know how, especially in a foreign language. In Korea, my students were only taught to be book smart which makes them feel that english is boring and difficult. I have felt and experienced in my classroom the importance and effectiveness of group teaching. I always have a goal in my classroom: “To enjoy learning together, improving outside and in.” Every class that I teach I hope that each student will learn something as well as enjoy the classroom environment; however, I also hope that my students will become better students, people in knowledge, character, and personality.