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  • jimmysheets
  • Newgookin

    • 1

    • February 28, 2014, 02:36:18 pm
    • south koerwea
Ideas to be like a "comedian" in class?
« on: March 05, 2014, 01:28:14 pm »
my manager wants me to be like a comedian... whatever that means? any lessons tomake these kids laugh alot?

or other ideas?


  • gagevt
  • Moderator - LVL 3

    • 1173

    • August 24, 2013, 01:55:38 pm
    • Gyeongbuk
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Re: Ideas to be like a "comedian" in class?
« Reply #1 on: March 05, 2014, 01:44:35 pm »
Maybe they just mean they want you to be laid back and easy with the kids?? Not hard like a lot of teachers do when first meeting their kids. I don't know why you would be like a comedian, but I was always super personable and laid-back with my students, and I've very rarely ever gotten anything but respect from them. If they get out of line, I just put on a very serious tone and face and they quickly shapen up. I laugh and joke with my students all the time. I don't think you need a lesson specific to being funny, but I guess it might help.

I don't have any specific lessons for this scenario, but maybe try using silly pictures for examples. That always seems to get my students chuckling.
"The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword."


  • channah
  • Waygookin

    • 11

    • November 13, 2013, 08:38:00 am
    • South Korea
Re: Ideas to be like a "comedian" in class?
« Reply #2 on: March 05, 2014, 02:37:57 pm »
Personally, I think comedian here means more over-the-top. Whenever I watch Korean comedians on television, I see tons of crazy expressions, shouting, gesturing, sound effects, etc. That's what gets my students laughing anyway. It's not what I talk about, but how I talk about it.


Re: Ideas to be like a "comedian" in class?
« Reply #3 on: March 05, 2014, 02:40:22 pm »
I second what gagevt said. Just be laid-back. You don't have to be their friend, but you should be friendly.

Also, what I find helps is to over-react to everything. You are drinking some coffee and the students ask if it's delicious? Why yes, it is the best coffee you've ever had. Student gives you a piece of candy? Solid gold birthday present! Students won't give you a piece of candy? Arrows to the heart! Drop your marker in class? Hindenburg disaster!

If you can do all of this with a straight face, that makes things that much better.
« Last Edit: March 05, 2014, 02:51:12 pm by aklimkewicz »
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Re: Ideas to be like a "comedian" in class?
« Reply #4 on: March 05, 2014, 02:44:46 pm »
If it hasn't been said yet the key word is simply: "Enthusiasm."


  • fishead
  • Hero of Waygookistan

    • 1138

    • April 23, 2010, 07:58:05 am
    • Yangju Korea
Re: Ideas to be like a "comedian" in class?
« Reply #5 on: March 05, 2014, 03:07:25 pm »
 Do a yahoo and youtube search on Isiac Dursk. This is what he wants. I would just copy some of the facial expressions. Sometimes rocking a goofy tie might appeal to them. It will give them a non threatening look.


Re: Ideas to be like a "comedian" in class?
« Reply #6 on: March 05, 2014, 03:18:52 pm »
I second what gagevt said. Just be laid-back. You don't have to be their friend, but you should be friendly.

Also, what I find helps is to over-react to everything. You are drinking some coffee and the students ask if it's delicious? Why yes, it is the best coffee you've ever had. Student gives you a piece of candy? Solid gold birthday present! Students won't give you a piece of candy? Arrows to the heart! Drop your marker in class? Hindenburg disaster!

If you can do all of this with a straight face, that makes things that much better.

Too true, exaggeration of everything you do is the order of the day, you tend to feel like a complete clown but what it does is give your 'audience' the impression that you are actually quite a lively person. I've found doing this while an 'audience' is present during my work hours helps, due to the response i receive.

Hazards of 'putting on a show' still remain though, once in a while you'll get a tough crowd or worse, A HECKLER (who heckles in Korean), then you gotta unleash a can of Louis C.K. and go mental on the kid, politely of course. lol.

So? if its cold outside? make sure you gesture by grabbing yourself tight as if you've just caught yourself stealing a prize possession from yourself, then frown and say YES! TEACHER IS VERY VERY VERY VERY Cold.

Before year end? Selling out Madison Square Gardens, next? the WORLD!
Knowing what it feels like to be in pain, is exactly why we should try to be kind to others.


Re: Ideas to be like a "comedian" in class?
« Reply #7 on: March 05, 2014, 03:19:28 pm »
costumes!


Re: Ideas to be like a "comedian" in class?
« Reply #8 on: March 05, 2014, 03:24:10 pm »
Do they sell rainbow suspenders in Korea?


  • stemarty
  • Featured Contributor

    • 1135

    • September 02, 2011, 12:20:42 pm
    • Jeonnamdo
Re: Ideas to be like a "comedian" in class?
« Reply #9 on: March 05, 2014, 03:38:16 pm »
Give it time. Once your students know you and are comfortable with you they will relax more and be willing to laugh with you.

Rainbow suspenders would help too.


Re: Ideas to be like a "comedian" in class?
« Reply #10 on: March 06, 2014, 02:03:02 pm »
The suggestions here are great! I'll see if I can offer my two cents as well.  8)

I was fortunate enough to take drama in high school which helps me a great deal in the classroom (especially when improvising). A teacher is essentially a performer.

I have always naturally leaned toward a Jim Carrey-esque form of drama when dealing with young children (I'm Elementary level). My expressions and reactions are generally over the top.

DO NOT OVERDO IT. First of all, it will really tire you out. Second, the kids will either start to expect you to be "on" all the time or become immune to your antics and stop paying attention if you do it too often. You want to be overly dramatic where it counts like when emphasizing a key word or phrase. That way, it may stick in their minds.

I often walk through the halls first thing in the morning and pop into classes before they start so the kids always see me. I'm always friendly and welcoming and giving them high-fives. Some of these kids I've known since I first got here and only just now started to teach. They don't know a lick of English but they're SO EXCITED to see me because I've built that energetic and friendly rapport with them.

If this is unfamiliar territory, I'd recommend taking it slow. Don't go all in necessarily because these kids already 'know' you and might be concerned you're having a nervous breakdown.

Good luck to you!
“Be Who You Are and Say What You Feel Because Those Who Mind Don't Matter and Those Who Matter Don't Mind.”
-- Bernard Baruch (also attributed to Dr. Seuss )

------


  • smmoon3031
  • Adventurer

    • 73

    • September 14, 2012, 07:31:57 am
    • In a cubicle
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Re: Ideas to be like a "comedian" in class?
« Reply #11 on: March 06, 2014, 02:53:01 pm »
Yep, I second that. Don't overdo it... multiple things can happen that dulls the effects and all you do is end up tiring yourself out by the time it's your second or third class  :cry:

Just balance it out during the lesson. Be enthusiastic and peppy when greeting them, normalize and chill out during times where they have to write, etc.

And also... coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee  :evil: just don't overdo that either...

And most importantly... teach what excites you or what you're passionate about


  • fishead
  • Hero of Waygookistan

    • 1138

    • April 23, 2010, 07:58:05 am
    • Yangju Korea
Re: Ideas to be like a "comedian" in class?
« Reply #12 on: March 06, 2014, 03:02:37 pm »
Another thing I should really stress. Don't fall into the trap of playing too many bomb games. This can really backfire. Particularly when the thrill of the cool graphics wears off and the students get sick of the same predictable sequence.

 Try other kinds of games and activities really mix it up. A bomb game every now and then is great. When they become a regular part of your teaching approach they really lose their power. Use them as a treat or novelty.


Re: Ideas to be like a "comedian" in class?
« Reply #13 on: March 06, 2014, 03:11:29 pm »
Another thing I should really stress. Don't fall into the trap of playing too many bomb games. This can really backfire. Particularly when the thrill of the cool graphics wears off and the students get sick of the same predictable sequence.

 Try other kinds of games and activities really mix it up. A bomb game every now and then is great. When they become a regular part of your teaching approach they really lose their power. Use them as a treat or novelty.

Most definitely! Don't do any activity too much! I do two bomb games a semester: once for a midterm review and once for a final review. But I've found that students can become bored of anything if we do it too much, whether that be music videos with worksheets, role playing, running dictations, etc. Variety is the spice of life!
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