Trying something new
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I signed up to volunteer as an ESL tutor at our library. The library has a really good ESL program, with all sorts of resources and classes available to people who want to learn or improve their English. Interestingly enough native speakers of Japanese and Korean top the list of students on the waiting list for tutors, with Ukrainians not far behind. Spanish speakers, too. And Polish.
I've never done any teaching so I thought I would start with a couple of students who already speak some English. I had my first meetings this week with my two students, one on Tuesday and one this morning. Sessions are once a week for an hour.
I have a Ukrainian student who is at an intermediate level and she and I hit it off immediately. She's very outgoing and motivated to improve her grammar and pronunciation. Really looking forward to working with her.
My other student is Japanese. A lot of Japanese companies have offices in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and they often transfer employees to work here for several years. My student's husband was transferred here about a year and a half ago. She is at a beginner level of English, though still and all she is doing pretty well. I think the going will be a bit slower and more challenging than with my Ukrainian lady but I think there's a lot we can a accomplish together.
One thing that has become evident to me already is that ESL tutoring is about more than just helping someone learn a language. It's about assisting them to adjust to living in a new country.
I'm trying to get up to speed learning about resources that the students and I can use during our sessions. I'm a rookie here so I'm definitely in "wing it" mode right now as I get my bearings.
It's gonna be interesting!
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I signed up to volunteer as an ESL tutor at our library. The library has a really good ESL program, with all sorts of resources and classes available to people who want to learn or improve their English. Interestingly enough native speakers of Japanese and Korean top the list of students on the waiting list for tutors, with Ukrainians not far behind. Spanish speakers, too. And Polish.
I've never done any teaching so I thought I would start with a couple of students who already speak some English. I had my first meetings this week with my two students, one on Tuesday and one this morning. Sessions are once a week for an hour.
I have a Ukrainian student who is at an intermediate level and she and I hit it off immediately. She's very outgoing and motivated to improve her grammar and pronunciation. Really looking forward to working with her.
My other student is Japanese. A lot of Japanese companies have offices in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and they often transfer employees to work here for several years. My student's husband was transferred here about a year and a half ago. She is at a beginner level of English, though still and all she is doing pretty well. I think the going will be a bit slower and more challenging than with my Ukrainian lady but I think there's a lot we can a accomplish together.
One thing that has become evident to me already is that ESL tutoring is about more than just helping someone learn a language. It's about assisting them to adjust to living in a new country.
I'm trying to get up to speed learning about resources that the students and I can use during our sessions. I'm a rookie here so I'm definitely in "wing it" mode right now as I get my bearings.
It's gonna be interesting!
@wtg said in Trying something new:
One thing that has become evident to me already is that ESL tutoring is about more than just helping someone learn a language. It's about assisting them to adjust to living in a new country.
Yep! They can learn generic "English" in any number of ways or from any number of resources, but what you are able to offer them will be all that English plus something else much more valuable.
