Our April 2022 meeting features a sneak peek at a workshop from the 2022 KOTESOL International Conference, by chapter friend and popular presenter John Breckenfeld!
Saturday, April 9
2-3 p.m. (KST) John Breckenfeld, "Money Drives Modern Life, so Why Not Utilize Economics-Driven Content?"
3-4 p.m. (KST) Social time
About the Workshop
Money may be the most relatable topic we can present to students. With tuition, food, housing, inflation, clothes, entertainment, etc., we are inescapably bound to the economy. But instead of embracing modern capitalism, this workshop will show how economics-based lessons can exist within the paradigms of ethics, civic responsibility, and environmental justice - as well as simple pleasure shopping. Fortunately, podcasts - a highly practical, comprehensive, accessible medium - offer a cornucopia of compelling content. Since spring 2020, I have utilized podcast-centered economics content, completely in English, during classroom activities, homework assignments, quizzes, and even summative assessments. While aided by proper scaffolding, students have delivered convincing results. During the workshop, I will detail the effective implementation of high stakes midterm and final exams created entirely from the contents of 10- to 20-minute economics-themed podcasts. Then, attendees will discuss the topic in small groups, followed by a whole group wrap-up discussion.
About the Presenter
Hello, I'm John Breckenfeld. I have been living in Korea for ten years. I am currently working at HUFS in Seoul (since 2019) where I teach Communicative English. After working with all ages - from preschoolers to grandparents - I am very grateful to be teaching college students full-time. Their creativity, diligence and positive energy are truly inspiring, and I seek to inspire them in turn. I am thrilled to be a part of KOTESOL, which has been a hugely rewarding source of professional development for me as an educator in S. Korea.
