Trying something new
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@wtg said in Trying something new:
Unfortunately there is no course book. Makes it an interesting challenge!
Have you considering implementing one anyway?
It can be nice to have a book because it offers structure. Depending on the level of each, something that has short readings around a topic, with supplementary grammar and vocab exercises, might be nice because it would give you topics to talk about.I could make some recommendations for texts geared toward adult ESL learners if you're interested.
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The library has all kinds of resources for volunteers to use, but staff mostly point you to links, flash cards, the hand puppety model of the mouth used to teach pronunciation, and you're on your own. Part of the challenge is that they have ESL students at all levels and in quite a few languages. And the students' needs are all over the map. Some are professional people looking to improve and refine their already pretty advanced language skills. Others are looking for help in figuring out how to navigate things like setting up internet service or order food! And others are at a very basic level and are just trying to keep afloat. There's no one-size-fits-all road map to give the volunteer tutors. I'm sure I'll pick things up over time, but right now I'm short on practical knowledge and skills!
My Ukrainian student is very motivated and creative. She is using all the library resources and has enrolled in English 101 at a local community college. As far as tutoring, she is specifically looking for conversation and for someone to correct her pronunciation and grammar in real time.
She is quite fluent already, but seems to need help in navigating the real world in America. She asked if we could work on how to order food in a restaurant. She's not always sure about the options being offered really are. She says she has ordered food and then been totally surprised by what shows up on her plate! I figured we could pull up some menus from restaurants she goes to and then go from there.
She also mentioned that she was setting up internet service and had a hard time understanding what the sales person was offering her. One line? Two line? What's that?
I think we may end up role playing some of these everyday life scenarios.The Japanese student is very shy and more than a bit nervous. I think part of the reason she signed up for tutoring is that she was feeling pretty isolated. As you know, there's a pretty large Japanese community here and I'm guessing she could survive without learning much English, but that does limit her in a lot of ways, so she's braving it and trying to learn. I don't think she's attended any of the library's group ESL conversations because I suspect she doesn't want to feel stupid. It's much safer to be one-on-one with a tutor. My short-term plan was to use some of the easy English news resources like this one as a springboard for discussion:
https://breakingnewsenglish.com/
Recommendations for a text that I could use to teach someone like her would be great. Thank you!
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Here's an overview of the kinds of things the library offers.
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Yeah, it sounds like the Ukrainian student is probably better able to tell you what she wants and you'll have an easier time helping her.
The Japanese student may not know how to articulate what will help her the most, so that makes your job much harder.
I used to use this series, American Headway, when I taught adults in Japan. You might see if the library could you get a few different levels to see what would be best.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=american+headway&crid=3OHWA9G13WBEZ&sprefix=american+headway%2Caps%2C181&ref=nb_sb_noss_2But this actually isn't the series I was thinking of, and I can't remember the title, so let me poke around some more and see if I can find it...
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this book popped up while I was searching, I've never seen it before but the title caught my eye
https://www.amazon.com/No-Prep-Low-Prep-ESL-Speaking-Activities/dp/1514244640/
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@wtg well, I cannot for the life of me find the kinds of books I want to recommend to you.... All I'm finding are short stories for ESL learners (i.e., fiction), nothing like the short readings about a topic (nonfiction) like the ones I used to use in Japan. I had maybe 8 different books like that when I taught English to adults in Japan.... One of them I can picture the cover even, but I can't find them on Amazon or Amazon Japan. Hmm, if I figure it out, I'll post.
In the meantime, see if any of the links I posted would be helpful for you.
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Good for you. I worked with a guy from Egypt at the Brooklyn Public Library as part of their literacy volunteer program many years ago. I did not know when I signed up I'd be working with someone who was quite literate but needed ESL help.
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Probably you don't want this one...
https://www.amazon.com/English-Second-cking-Language-Effectively/dp/031214329X/@ShiroKuro said in Trying something new:
Probably you don't want this one...
https://www.amazon.com/English-Second-cking-Language-Effectively/dp/031214329X/Yea, I think we'll skip that one.
She mentioned that she is looking forward to a visit back to Japan later this year. She wants to buy some clothes, as she finds American styles a bit too revealing...that was one of the words she learned during our session....
