Chungdahm Learning offers many different courses, and every semester students take a various combination of classes that are focused on achieving, applying and learning new and old skills. The most prominent classes are called C2, VI, and A2. There is an array of other courses such as C1, IBT, Masters, A3 and many more, but the latter are studied by most elementary and middle school students and the type of material you will engage in while teaching at ChungDahm.
When you start teaching at Chungdahm you will be trained by Headquarters and your branch to become accustomed to teaching the various types of classes. Each class has its own unique outcomes that require different skills to be taught. Students use the 3.0 smart classroom to do different things such as engaging with reading materials, novels, grammar and listening/reading/writing skills. They also use media and the production of their work in different ways. As a Chungdahm 3.0 teacher, you will easily be able to pick up each specialized class once you understand the main objectives of each division.
C2 – The Fun Project Class
C2 is a popular class among Chungdahm teachers and students. It is a project class that allows scholars to learn how to think creatively and analytically. C2 is one of the freer classes that permits teachers to engage with material in various ways by teaching fun skills and interesting project styles. Students output includes producing projects using various media and presenting it to their peers and teachers.
The class is structured into a time frame of three hours and can be taught flexibly according to the teachers prep. For example, I usually spend the first hour sparking controversial discussions with the students to get their thoughts flowing. In the second hour, I arrange the groups and get the kids started on group roles and setting up different sections of the project slowly, step by step. In the final hour the students produce their projects relying on their group captain to assign roles and manage production of while I walk around helping where I can. In the last fifteen minutes of class, the different groups will present using the HDTV while I record them and then offer them advice and feedback afterwards.
V1 – The Novel and Literature Class
V1 class is another popular course to teach at Chungdahm. If taught correctly with adequate preparation, the class can be fulfilling to the teacher and students. VI is a novel class, where all the semester's material is arranged according to the themes of a book. For example, this past semester I taught classes based on the books Surviving the Applewhites and Stargirl. V1 is also a type of project class but it is based on pushing students to think about English novels more critically and open them up to a world of English literature where they can think about character behavior and the author's intention.
V1 is usually broken up into six weeks per novel, so students generally read and analyze two books per semester. Within the course, the students follow the logical novel structure of themes like introduction, rising action, climax and resolution. I generally spend the first hour on the book themes being covered, getting students interested in wanting to read the books. Then in the second hour we look directly at the themes, open up our books, and underline and discuss the story line. Finally, in the third hour the students produce projects about the themes of the novel using various media and acting.
A2 – The Grammar and Skills Class
A2 is probably the least exciting course to teach but is seen as a vitally important course to take by most paying parents. The course is structured around Toefl testing and it prepares students for ESL testing that they will encounter in their English language worlds as non-native English speakers. The things you will focus on a weekly basis will be reading, listening, speaking/writing and some grammar. The main objective is to help students raise their Toefl test-taking ability and scores, and to introduce them to the various question types they will encounter. A2 is probably the easiest Chungdahm course to teach as it is clearly structured, with a lot of downtime while students are answering questions or taking weekly tests. The challenge of this class is getting your kids excited about the material so that they want to continue to attend your class.
Teachers who prep a lot and care about making the class energetic and slightly more engaging will show more videos and play games. A2 at first was difficult for me to teach because, I felt as bored as the students. Once I realized how to make it more interesting by customizing the class accordingly, my students and I had a much better time in class. For example, I created a fun, competitive game environment, where all the students participate. Also, I use sticker charts, badges and games that I create to break up the monotony of the class and its material.
It is no surprise that Tijana Huysamen, a South African born Capetownian, avid traveler and travel journalist, fell in love with South Korea and its people. After Tijana arrived in South Korea in 2010, she had the opportunity to live in the heart of the Korean countryside. During her time spent in Chungnam province she learned to speak Korean, prepare Korean food and experience the humble nature of the countryside people. After a year break in New York, Tijana jumped at the opportunity to return to Korea again, and is currently working at the CDI Jamsil Branch, in Jamsil, Seoul. Read Tijana’s Aclipse blog to gain a unique perspective on Korea and her shared experiences and adventures both in a major city and in the countryside. Follow Tijana on Twitter @TeeAnni or email tijanahuysamen120@hotmail.com to request more information on teaching in Korea!