Each class lasts 25 minutes.
We use skype video solution for our classes, If you know how to use skype you just have to share your user ID with us. If this is your first time using skype you can find additional info in the below FAQ.
2. Select settings.
3. Under Account & Profile locate your skype name and share it with us.
1.- Classes will be held from Monday to Friday, each lasting 25 minutes, with an average of 20-21 classes per month.
2.- If you are unable to attend a class due to urgent matters or unavoidable circumstances, please notify us in advance to cancel or reschedule the class.
You must inform us at least 3 hours in advance.
3.- For canceled or rescheduled classes, you can arrange a make-up class with the teacher at a mutually convenient time.
Usually, you can extend each class by 5 minutes from Monday to Friday of the following week, making the class 30 minutes long.
Occasionally, after consulting with the teacher, you can schedule a make-up class around 10 AM on Saturday, which is generally convenient for both the teacher and the student.
Filipino teachers are available for classes on Saturday mornings, but other teachers do not teach on weekends, so please take note of this.
4.- There are no classes on weekends, national holidays, or substitute holidays.
However, in some cases, previously rescheduled make-up classes can be held on holidays upon agreement with the teacher.
Lastly, there are no classes on December 31st.
5.- You can notify the teacher of class cancellations or rescheduling by sending a message on Skype at least 3 hours in advance. (Skype can be installed on smartphones.)
Simply copy and paste the appropriate message into the Skype chat window. You can send the message in English regardless of the language you are studying.
(오늘/내일) : today(tomorrow) / 今天(明天) / hoy(mañana)
I can’t take today’s class
Korean: 오늘 수업을 못해요
Chinese: 今天不能上课
Spanish: No puedo tomar la clase mañana
6.-If you have any inconveniences or concerns during the class, please feel free to contact us at any time.
You can search for a picture of the object or action you want to describe on Naver or Google and send it.
For example, if you want to say “I watched a movie” but can’t express it, you can find a picture of someone watching a movie and send it on Skype. Alternatively, you can share your screen and show it to the teacher.
This way, the teacher will understand what the student wants to say.
Example: If you want to talk about tteokbokki, search for “tteokbokki” on Naver.
You can send not only pictures but also videos, music, and all other files.
You can simply type the word. The teacher will look up the word in a dictionary and confirm with the student whether they want to express the content in the picture. In most cases, this will be enough to communicate.
You can use simple sentences. For example, you can type “I ate ramen” to show it.
Sentences with 3-5 words can be easily understood by the teacher using a translator, so you can type in Korean or English.
However, longer sentences tend to have more translation errors, so it’s better to break them into shorter sentences.
It is possible to communicate in English, but there is something to keep in mind. The learner may think they said it correctly, but as a foreigner, the pronunciation might not be understood because it’s not a native accent. In fact, even when the teacher speaks fluent English, there are many cases where they cannot understand the Korean accent or Korean-style English. This issue happens more often when only words are used. Speaking with accurate sentences and pronunciation can reduce this problem, so keep that in mind.
Summary
When improving communication skills, learning a foreign language by listening and using the language is the most effective method. Our teachers are trained to teach students with a level of “0.” This type of training is not commonly available in other language institutions. Therefore, many lessons outside of our program use Korean or English to teach learners.
However, the important point is this:
While students are speaking only in a foreign language with native teachers, they are not just learning those words. They are also learning how to communicate with Koreans and other foreigners. This is a very important aspect that cannot be learned by simply translating the language into Korean or English.
Moreover, when learning a foreign language, if another language is involved, the brain switches between two languages. This puts a significant load on the brain, slowing down the learning speed of the language you’re trying to learn. If you experiment by having a Korean and an American person speak to you at the same time, you will understand what this means.
To put it another way, think of the structure of an apartment. There are three rooms: the main room is the Korean language room, the second large room is English, and the third small room is the foreign language room you’re just starting to learn. When you start learning a foreign language in the third room, if you use Korean or English, you have to quickly go from the small room to one of the larger rooms. This wastes time as you move between the rooms. When learning a foreign language, it is formed in a different area of the brain, not in the area where Korean has already settled. When two or three languages are involved, it’s like repeatedly turning a switch on and off.
Therefore, in foreign language classes, it’s best to communicate as much as possible only in the target language. You may understand the movie by watching it with Korean subtitles, but you won’t learn the foreign language dialogues. Similarly, using Korean in foreign language classes may help you understand the teacher’s words, but it is a separate issue from actually learning the foreign language.
YouTube is one of the best platforms for studying foreign languages. There is a way to watch it without ads.
First, you need to install the Chrome browser. Then, you can use useful programs available for Chrome.
Install the Chrome browser
Install the ad-blocking program
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hsv.freeadblockerbrowser&hl=ko
Install the YouTube subtitle program
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/language-learning-with-yo/jkhhdcaafjabenpmpcpgdjiffdpmmcjb
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/language-reactor/hoombieeljmmljlkjmnheibnpciblicm
Then, you can see the subtitles and the meaning of the words in the subtitles together, as shown below.
For more details, refer to the link below:
Search for “English stories for beginners” on YouTube: various levels like level 0, level 1, etc., are available.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGwA4GjY4nGMIYvaJiA0EGA
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSW8FB6e8tUGEaDsoe7SlWw
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4yQCVlLhTmOqX5kUkAGr0g
3. Using earphones is recommended. The clarity of the teacher’s pronunciation differs significantly when listening through speakers versus earphones. Earphones are particularly useful in noisy environments.
4. Minimizing background noise during class is beneficial. Sometimes, students are distracted by family members talking or moving around, which can cause them to forget previously learned content.
5. After class, reviewing and writing down sentences from the lesson in a notebook helps reinforce what was learned. Writing down 5 to 10 sentences and reviewing them a day or several days later is recommended.
6. If writing is difficult, reading the sentences typed by the teacher out loud and recording the reading can also be helpful. Sending this recording to the teacher for review takes less than 5 minutes and helps reinforce the material learned.
7. Important Notice
We constantly monitor to ensure efficient classes. However, due to the high volume of daily classes, we cannot observe every single class. Effective learning involves cooperation between students, parents, teachers, and our team. If you encounter any issues with the classes, please feel free to let us know (KakaoTalk: talkday1).
1. If the teacher cannot hear the student’s voice
Check if there is an issue with the earphones. Try using different earphones or, if possible, conduct the class without earphones on a computer. Sometimes it might be an issue with Skype or the computer itself. A reboot can often resolve temporary issues.
To confirm if it’s an issue with the earphones, check the Skype settings:
Under normal circumstances, the dots under the microphone should move according to the sound. If there is no change, the microphone has an issue.
Try changing the default communication device on the right to the correct one, as this can resolve the problem.
If this does not fix the issue, it is likely a problem with the microphone or the computer itself rather than the Skype program.
You may need to replace the earphones or check the computer for issues.
First, check if the issue is only with Skype calls.
Play a YouTube video or an audio file on your computer. If you can hear the sound properly, then the issue lies with Skype or the teacher’s setup.
If you can’t hear any sound, you need to check your computer’s sound settings.
