[NIFL-ESL:10270] Re: Helping a struggling student

From: Dottie Shattuck (dottie@shattuck.net)
Date: Tue May 04 2004 - 14:08:08 EDT


Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov>
Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id i44I88m08121; Tue, 4 May 2004 14:08:08 -0400 (EDT)
Date: Tue, 4 May 2004 14:08:08 -0400 (EDT)
Message-Id: <011f01c43205$0afdffa0$6401a8c0@pp200>
Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov
Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov
Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov
Sender: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov
Precedence: bulk
From: "Dottie Shattuck" <dottie@shattuck.net>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-ESL:10270] Re: Helping a struggling student
X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1158
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Content-Type: text/plain;
Status: O
Content-Length: 1297
Lines: 31

Hilary --  I've taught Beginner level adult ESL for many years; most  had a
beginning CASAS on either Listening or Reading of less than 180.

My first question about your student:  Is she literate in her first language?  If
not, she will probably have more problems learning English than those who are
literate in L1.  [Generally, the lower the literacy in L1, the harder the new
language.]  Imagine learning to read/write for the first time in a foreign
language!!

You will have to give her more time & patience.  Reassure her that people learn at
different speeds & that she can take as long as she needs (repeating a class is no
shame -- to her or you).

She probably has very low confidence.  Try to find ways for her to show what she
knows without speaking every time -- pointing to the correct word or picture, for
example.

If you have another student who has high skills, lots of patience & is willing to
work w/the woman (the practice/review will be good for the other student), pair
them for some activities.  [Find out if any of your students are former teachers;
they usually can't resist the urge to help!]

Finally, ERIC Digests has a couple of articles that might help too.  Good luck!
 __
|     \
|__ / ottie Shattuck
Tri-District Adult Edu.
York County, SC
dottie@shattuck.net



This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Thu Dec 23 2004 - 09:46:46 EST