I know it's been quite sometime that I have written, but here's a random thought, perhaps even a start in more blogs to come....I shan't promise, but hopefully it's in the cards.
Every day I teach my students three vocabulary words and they must write one sentence for each word. These words are something that have been used throughout the unit, or a lesson from the previous day. Today I gave them words that I randomly taught them from the previous day; 'Truth' and 'Responsibility'.
Here's how it started. I've run into this problem where the students were consistently speaking Korean and I could not find any form of discipline where I didn't have to always stop the class to explain that speaking Korean is not conducive to their learning habits. The other day I was told of a secret that permits students to monitor one another when they speak Korean during class time, and because this situation was getting completely out of hand in my classroom I needed to no longer waste my time on unnecessary discipline. There were days where I would fine myself overwhelmed by these little children speaking a language I don't yet fully understand, and they're not taking in this valuable time to put forth an effort of learning a second language that can be vital for their own future. In any case, this secret has completely led me to peaceful bliss...
I came in on Monday afternoon ready to set precedent for a new month, and I came in with a set of chopsticks still in it's paper wrapping. I asked my fellow students what these were. They answered in a perplexed air, as if to say that I am the half whit; "They're chopsticks!"
I concurred and I said, "Yes, but from here on in they are 'Korean speaking chopsticks', and for every time someone speaks Korean they ought to be handed these fine sticks."
I proceeded to explain that at any time anyone utters a word of Korean they must be handed the 'Korean speaking chopstick', and at the end of the day whomever has them in hand I would mark their name on a sheet of paper. They quickly understood and the 'game' began. The tension rose betwixt and between one another as they all had their Korean ears on overdrive. Although some classes seemed stress due to the lack of awareness of how much English they really know, others found other ways to communicate. As for me, my time was perfect. No more screaming Korean speaking children...other than the one class that muttered English songs all 45minutes of class time. They could not sit still even if you paid them, and with the 'Korean speaking chopsticks' they were actually muttering English songs and still could not sit still but for one minute unless I had them doing written work. It actually put a smile on my face that they were really putting an effort of using their English skills, and being funny in the meanwhile.
At the end of the month most of my students, if not all with receive an incentive for having kept up with their English. Those who have received the 'Korean speaking chopsticks' more than 5 times throughout the month will have nothing. As you can see, the fact that they must receive what their peers are getting entices a stronger sense of competition. (They don't like embarrassment, and not being the same as their peers is something considered quite humiliating.)
What really put a smile on my face is teaching them about truth and responsibility. Two important words that foretell each one of their character. How deceiving they become or how honest they actually are. The 'Korean speaking chopsticks' have really brought out a form of individuality and although it has been a few days no real big fight has emerged because they know that I am not the one who has the 'responsibility' to call upon them or make the decision, but it's their own 'truths' that submerge them into defining the two languages.
These children, as well as myself, are becoming knowledgeable about how much English they really do know. Furthermore, an awareness of how much they can improve without really knowing it.
When we utter truths in our own lives and take responsibility of our own actions there's an instantaneous form of acknowledgment of what lies before us and around us. We become more aware of what really exists around us and fully acknowledge what we ought to do to move forward.
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