Searching for another Michael Jackson in the G.E.O. Program(interview with Allyson)

Playing Rumikub with her students, Allyson joked that she must win before we can interview her. It seemed as if her students were eagerly waiting for the interview to end quickly, showing how much love they had for their professor. Let’s find out what this Canadian professor thinks about the G.E.O. Program, and join her on her search for another Michael Jackson.


1. What makes G.E.O. so effective?

 According to Allyson, who has had many experience teaching at English academies, what makes the G.E.O. Program so special is undoubtedly the fact that students get to speak English every single day. Strongly believing in the maxim, “practice makes perfect,” she states there is indeed an indirect relationship between the students’ confidence level and the number of opportunities to speak in English. Mistakes – “Konglish”(English mixed with Korean), broken English, grammar errors, poor pronunciation, you name it – do not matter; when it comes down to improving English speaking abilities, “Just Do It”. Allyson also mentioned that because the G.E.O. Program is held during vacations, students get to study the language without having to worry about their schoolwork.

2. What do you do to make your class special?

 Allyson always tries to ascertain what is to the best of the students’ interest. She fully understands that, given the long class hours, it is quite inevitable for the students to get bored. To quote her word for word, “they will get bored no matter what.” Hence, Allyson tries to include as many activities (e.g. group work, games, etc.) as possible to help the students remain active (more importantly, to help them stay awake). She even makes her students stand up and walk around the classroom from time to time. Perhaps that is exactly why her students are always smiling, and full of energy.

3. Can you tell us a little about your Pop Song Club?

 Actually, Allyson had originally planned on running her club this way: to have the students choose some Korean Pop Songs and sing them in English. It only took one session, however, for her to find out how challenging this would be for her students. Concluding that it’s not going to work out, she quickly (and wisely!) amended her plan to just have the students sing English Pop Songs. She plans to make use of the Karaoke machine in the Global Lounge, and even bring her students to singing rooms from time to time (due to the fact that the Karaoke machine only has “outdated” English pop songs). Sometimes, we can also find Allyson holding mini-concerts with her afternoon class during recess. Who knows? Perhaps she really is trying to find a Michael Jackson among her students!



Supplementary Interview – Students’ take on Allyson’s “search for a Michael Jackson”

Since music, especially Pop songs, seems to play an important role in Allyson’s life as a professor in the G.E.O. Program, we’ve decided to interview one of the students in her club. Let’s see what Hyun-Soo Lee, a 26 year-old Junior from the Songsin Campus, has to say about Allyson’s club.

1. Why did you join this club?

 Hyun-Soo actually joined the club, thinking that it would provide him many chances to listen to English pop songs. Thus, he began to feel a bit burdened upon finding out that he had to do some translating. But of course, everything is at peace now thanks to Allyson’s timely modifying of her original plan, and Hyun-Soo is having a great time in his club.

2. Do you find this club helpful for your English skills?

 Hyun-Soo believes that he has gained some confidence after singing several pop songs in English. He even goes to say that singing in English helped him improve his conversation skills as well.

3. Do you have anything to say to students who are interested in joining the Pop song club?

 Hyun-Soo says that he would probably joke about the whole translating thing at first, only to assure the students by telling them how interesting and fun the club actually is.

Reporter: Hun LEE