John Breckenfeld
HUFS (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies)
Greetings, KOTESOL IC 2021 attendees! I am very excited about presenting and attending various sessions this year. I have been teaching English in S. Korea for over eight years, which has included pre-K, K-12, adults, and now university students, since 2015. My main professional interests are student motivation, incorporating music into ELT and multicultural students' schooling in Korea. In March, I will begin my third year at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS), Seoul campus. Hope to see you online during the conference!
Sessions
Developing a Classroom Culture of Trust During Trying Times
After the whirlwind of 2020, we savor simple academic mainstays: students keep studying; teachers keep teaching; we all keep learning. As educators on the ELT frontlines, let’s boldly advance, in solidarity, together. Yet with so many unknowns, are we sure students will join us? During trying times, how should we design a classroom culture that promotes student buy-in? Altogether, our classrooms must be SURE: Supportive, Unforgettable, Reliable, and Effective. To cover these bases, online or offline, trust becomes imperative. Qualitative analysis of the past four semesters, including quantitative data and written feedback from over 500 student surveys, has shaped the aims of this workshop: to highlight best practices around cultivating student trust and brainstorm classroom culture goals for 2021. Attendee input is highly encouraged. As the four SURE components are introduced through recent examples, participants will discuss and personalize the concepts in small groups. Let’s enhance our knowledge all together.