Last night I experienced my first ESL tutoring session! My conversation partners are an Egyptian couple who are now living in Tallahassee near their son, who is engaged and studying at FSU.
I didn't expect them to be beginners; their limited ability to communicate showed me what it really means to be a beginner. Being my first tutoring session with English speakers at their level, I was very grateful for the objects around me, and the picture books! They are my trusty companions :)
After the session, I think I went hoarse a little. Okay, that's an exaggeration. I didn't lose my voice, but I think I need to let them TALK MORE next time, which is what I wanted all along! They are shy about speaking. They pause a lot. They go silent. They stumble through meaning, andI need to figure out a way to let them shine more...I asked them to 'repeat after me' and 'repeat what you said' several times. It worked to get them talking.
I speak the same language they do: Arabic, and that helped very minimally. Culturally, I can relate to thir expressions. They really enjoyed the session and were very grateful for my services. This was a fulfilling experience, and I look forward to my next session!
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As you can see, student-centered activities are the way to go. Just make sure to provide them with the vocabulary and linguistic support they need. You're doing great!
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