Category Archives: Teaching English in Korea

The truth about TOEFL

Posted on 22/11/2008 by alexcase

“TOEFL- Test of English with Fluency Lacking- A test of English in which you can get full marks without speaking one word. Originally developed only for people who have physical problems with their voice box, eventually having been through an … Continue reading →

Posted in EFL exams, ETS, links, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in China, Teaching English in Japan, Teaching English in Korea, Teaching English in Taiwan, TOEFL | Tagged | 1 Comment

You know you're not in Japan anymore when…

Posted on 04/11/2008 by alexcase

…you ask your landlady where to leave the rubbish and she says “Over there somewhere, I guess” Actually, usually I think I would prefer the Japanese version where there is a sensible system of rubbish places and days and everyone … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural differences/ cultural training, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in Japan, Teaching English in Korea | 2 Comments

Similarities between Japanese and Korean Part Two

Posted on 03/11/2008 by alexcase

Common differences in words that are the similar in Japanese and Korean -tsu in Japanese is often -r in Korean, especially at the end of a word chilmun = 質問 – shitsumon = question yokshiri = 浴室 – yokushitsu = … Continue reading →

Posted in Linguistics, applied linguistics and SLA, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in Japan, Teaching English in Korea, TEFL | 2 Comments

Similarities between Japanese and Korean Part One

Posted on 24/10/2008 by alexcase

Korean is one of the languages that has always seemed so alien and has had so little impact on my life till now (apart from the most important word- “kimchi”), that I’ve had a complete mental block on even your … Continue reading →

Posted in Konglish, Linguistics, applied linguistics and SLA, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in Korea | 6 Comments

An unusual way of preparing for your CELTA

Posted on 23/10/2008 by alexcase

Heartbreak: “One teacher reported that she had been the least nervous of all the people on her course – attributing this to the fact she already knew what it felt like to be deeply hurt…” The Experience of Language Teaching … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge ESOL, Cambridge University Press, CELTA, ELT publishing, KOTESOL, links, Teacher associations, Teacher training, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in Korea, TEFL, TEFL certificate, TEFL heroes- Rose M Senior, TEFL qualifications, TEFL reviews | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Metaphor for language learning number 431 of 1073

Posted on 18/10/2008 by alexcase

If you really want to get to know a town, there is no substitute for walking randomly and getting lost, and putting in that effort will help you train yourself to find your way around other towns too.If you rely … Continue reading →

Posted in Grammar, Linguistics, applied linguistics and SLA, Teaching English Abroad, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in Korea | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Live by tepid spirit*

Posted on 17/10/2008 by alexcase

I write my “15 ways…” articles and teaching ideas in the spirit that even if what I put in there is painfully obvious, sometimes seeing something written down can help clarify an idea that was floating round somewhere at the back … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative teaching techniques, BULATS, Cultural differences/ cultural training, EFL exams, ETS, IELTS, Konglish, Linguistics, applied linguistics and SLA, links, Oxford University Press (OUP), Pronunciation, Teaching English Abroad, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in Korea, TEFL, TOEIC | Leave a comment

Korean euphemisms?

Posted on 06/10/2008 by alexcase

This is when my studies with the Lonely Planet phrasebook started getting completely out of hand, I think I might have been just short of giggling like a school boy on the train at one point… Not that hysterics is … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative teaching techniques, Materials, Self-study materials, Teaching English in Korea, Vocabulary | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Korean colour vocabulary learning aid

Posted on 23/09/2008 by alexcase

Again, if you want to learn Korean or try this vocab learning trick out, try to guess each word from your knowledge and the hints before scrolling down to check. komun – it’s the most COMMON colour for a little … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative teaching techniques, Learner training, Linguistics, applied linguistics and SLA, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in Korea, TEFL | Leave a comment

My Lonely Planet is full of eels

Posted on 17/09/2008 by alexcase

Here are some actual sentences taught in the Lonely Planet Korean phrasebook which, while not quite “My hovercraft is full of eels”, tickled me once I realised that trying to find silliness was another whole motivation for using language learning … Continue reading →

Posted in Linguistics, applied linguistics and SLA, Materials, Self-study materials, Teaching English in Korea, TEFL | Tagged , , | 3 Comments