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Author Topic: Preparing students to travel to the U.S. this summer  (Read 2212 times)

Offline dinomite385

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Preparing students to travel to the U.S. this summer
« on: May 12, 2011, 11:18:25 AM »
Over the next few weeks I will be teaching a ten-hour class to a group of students at my high school who will be traveling to the United States for a few weeks this summer.  Of course my school just told me about this yesterday, and the class starts tomorrow.  They want me to plan out a curriculum of situational English lessons that will be useful for the students while they are abroad.

Here are some ideas that I have so far:
At the airport
At the hotel
At the restaurant
At the store/shopping
Using public transportation
Asking for directions
Meeting People
Sightseeing
Emergency (what to do)

These are the ideas that I have so far.  Does anyone else have any other ideas/advice?  Has anyone ever taught a class like this, specifically to prepare students for a trip abroad?  Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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Offline D_Ndu

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Re: Preparing students to travel to the U.S. this summer
« Reply #1 on: May 12, 2011, 04:59:15 PM »
Boggles ESL has a section on teaching basic travel English. Here's the link:
http://bogglesworldesl.com/survivalESL.htm

I think you should focus on doing a lot of roleplays and having them apply the language. This is basically what they'll have to do overseas.

Good luck.
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Offline ruraljeolla

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Re: Preparing students to travel to the U.S. this summer
« Reply #2 on: May 12, 2011, 05:10:02 PM »
How many students will be in your class?  Will they be staying with host families?  Also for how long?

(I'll give your question some thought; I have to go supervise cleaning time in the English room).
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Offline dmhr25

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Re: Preparing students to travel to the U.S. this summer
« Reply #3 on: May 12, 2011, 05:19:23 PM »
I don't know your students' capabilities - but I would teach my students basic U.S. manners.  (For example - holding the door for the person behind you, not spitting on the streets or inside buildings, etc.)
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Offline HadongEup

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Re: Preparing students to travel to the U.S. this summer
« Reply #4 on: May 12, 2011, 05:20:54 PM »
Your topics pretty much cover every base.
Add a lesson for western manners that differ in Korea.

Maybe for added fun, spend approx. 5-10 min each class teaching them new expressions, and when to use them.
For example, wow! that's awesome! or No way! or yeah right!

that's only if you have the extra time! You could probably use it in your dialogue for the role plays as well (have them figure out where they could use it...) Sounds like a fun class! enjoy!
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Offline dmhr25

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Re: Preparing students to travel to the U.S. this summer
« Reply #5 on: May 12, 2011, 05:25:48 PM »
Along with my suggestion to teach manners - I would include discussing how littering in the U.S. is not allowed (I see so many kids on the streets here just throwing trash on the ground). 

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Offline jerz_e83

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Re: Preparing students to travel to the U.S. this summer
« Reply #6 on: May 12, 2011, 05:42:43 PM »
Quote from: dmhr25 on May 12, 2011, 05:19:23 PM
I don't know your students' capabilities - but I would teach my students basic U.S. manners.  (For example - holding the door for the person behind you, not spitting on the streets or inside buildings, etc.)

I agree that manners are very important.  Manners at the table I think are quite important also, meaning: slurping, and talking with your mouth full or chewing loudly.  If it bothers me a littleeee bit still after being here for 9 months I think they should learn at least a little bit about it before going abroad.  I'm sure you could cover that part in your "in the restaurant topic"

This is actually a REALLY good scene from King of Queens that can show them and it's funny too!! You can show them the video then ask what they saw was wrong and then have a discussion? :)

 
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Offline peasgoodnonsuch

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Re: Preparing students to travel to the U.S. this summer
« Reply #7 on: May 12, 2011, 06:02:40 PM »
I third the suggestion of teaching manners. Especially table manners, as they are SO different here!

I think teaching them that they should say "excuse me" when they bump into people, and to actively avoid bumping into people when possible is also a good idea. I've found people have a serious lack of awareness when it comes to personal space here. Also, teaching them that in the U.S. we walk on the right and stand to the right on escalators so that people can pass on the left. It can make people really angry during commute time if you're just hanging out on the left side of the escalator!

You'll need permission for this, but I think it should be ok for high schoolers: a lesson on profanity. This is a really serious issue, and most of the Koreans I've talked to simply do not understand the impact of English profanity. They don't ever get taught that f*** is indeed the equivalent of ㅆ* ㅂ**. Or that s*** is 젠 ㅈ** They also don't seem to think Americans are as bothered by profanity as Koreans are by Korean profanity, or that we don't consider it to be as rude as they consider their bad words to be. At least, that's what I've been told by the Koreans I've asked, and their general justification is the amount of profanity in American movies.

It would create an awful first impression for the Americans they meet if a stream of profanity is one of the first things that comes out of their mouths!
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Offline dmhr25

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Re: Preparing students to travel to the U.S. this summer
« Reply #8 on: May 12, 2011, 06:19:55 PM »
Where are the kids going?

If they're heading to New York, or the equivalent, they might witness two men kissing or two women kissing - in person or on television. I don't want to open a can of worms on this thread - but it might be a good idea to at least introduce them to the standards of equality in the U.S.

It really depends on where the students are going, who their chaperone's will be (Korean and / or U.S. persons), and their levels of maturity.
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Offline helloana

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Re: Preparing students to travel to the U.S. this summer
« Reply #9 on: May 12, 2011, 06:28:04 PM »
Also mention that standing in line (wait your turn) and not cutting is an American norm. As well as giving a few feet of space when standing in line.
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