Tips for Teaching Young Learners in Korea

Many new teachers in South Korea who are also new to teaching may feel hesitant about teaching younger learners.  Before coming to South Korea I was absolutely petrified of teaching kindergarten.  I thought they would eat me alive.  For some strange reason I thought teaching middle school or high school would be much easier.  The truth of the matter is that each age group, including adults, presents its own set of challenges.

I’m so happy I didn’t chicken out of teaching kindergarten my first year because the pros far outweighed the cons.  Teaching a kindergarten class definitely has its challenging moments but implementing a few strategies makes it much more manageable. Here are some tips for teaching young learners in Korea.

Routines and Repetition

At the beginning of the year it’s extremely important to establish routines and procedures and stick to them.  This is not only important for classroom management but it also helps the students absorb a lot of useful vocabulary.  In the first few weeks you will want to practice classroom routines that reinforce good behavior several times a day.  If they are absolute beginners they will need to learn commands like sit down, stand up, line up, open your book, etc.

Young learners really love routines and knowing what’s coming next.  I start the class the same way every day and follow a very structured schedule.  This helps them feel safe and they start to think of following the class schedule as a fun game.  I try to repeat basic vocabulary and concepts like alphabet sounds, days of the week, months, weather words, numbers, etc. over and over until they are able to say the words comfortably by themselves.

Keep Calm and teach kindergarten

This is by far the most important suggestion I have for myself in the kindergarten classroom and any other teacher.  I definitely do not always stay calm and patient in the classroom but I really try to, especially when they’re pressing my buttons or disobeying.   I find that when I make the effort to be patient and calm in class, the students follow along and listen much better.  The students really feed off your energy and if you can be patient and calm with them it has a very positive effect on them.  When I keep expectations of my students low, it is much less stressful for myself and gives them more room to grow.

Praise, Praise, Praise

Young learners really like to show off and talk about their accomplishments.  It’s really important to focus on your students’ positive qualities even if they have behavioral problems in the classroom.  I always try to give specific praise rather than just saying “good job”.  If they have really good penmanship or are really good at drawing, let them know.

Short Lessons

At the beginning of the year young learners have really short attention spans.  In the first few weeks, my lessons will usually not exceed five to ten minutes.  What this means is that you will have to plan a lot of different activities at the beginning of the year to keep them interested.  Young learners also need more breaks at the beginning of the year.

If you have multimedia in your classroom, Youtube has several channels with songs and funny videos like Super Simple Songs, Kabooum, etc.  As the year progresses, you will be able to hold their attention for longer periods, but be prepared to change it up a lot.  It’s better to have too much planned than not enough.

Have Fun

It’s not too difficult to let loose and have some fun with younger learners.  A South Korean kindergarten classroom typically has a more academic focus than an American one. This means that even though they are younger, a lot will be expected of them.  I try to make each lesson fun and exciting even if we have to get some work done too.  Speaking in silly voices, incorporating physical movement or making funny faces during a lesson will make it more fun for your students and less like pulling teeth.

Final Words

Teaching younger learners definitely has its drawbacks and challenges.  However, as with any age group, there are strategies you can use to make it less stressful and more enjoyable.  It’s sometimes only through trial and error that you will discover new ways to teach your classroom successfully.

Edited By: Yoyin Adenusi

*Featured images courtesy of FreePik (one, two, three, four)