![[VolunteerMatch - Where Volunteering Begins.]](http://www.volunteermatch.org/images/2.0/new_logo.gif){kind=logo}
LEARNING TIPS
JULY 2008 TUTOR LUNCHEON
- For those who have access to and are able to use a computer, integrate computer use into the lesson
- Taking pictures: my student had to leave pictures behind in Mexico. I gave a lesson around using a camera and taking pictures, using expressions such as “say cheese”, etc. Also descriptions of pictures; happy, laughing, sad.
- Meeting at local coffee shop helped build confidence in speaking English. Ordering food; speaking in sentences.
- Use e-mail and SKYPE (software program that allows users to make free telephone calls over the Internet) to communicate to reinforce English and for practice (informal form of homework)
- Make a pie, cake or sandwich with student as a lesson. Prior to the food preparation, teach vocabulary such as chop, slice, cut, roll, spread, sprinkle, the names of the ingredients, etc.
- Use Velcro with magazine pictures and/or drawings with matching vocabulary.
- Make student responsible for: time, location, regular participation. Let them know to contact you if they are unable to make it to a lesson.
- Books from Resource Library are useful!
- Some native language use is helpful to clarify or illustrate something.
- Tutor Coffees with Judi Kreinick helpful.
- My student wanted something to work with on her own with, so I found a work book in Spanish on amazon.com that teaches English grammar.
- Be practical. If your student is bored or troubled, ask directly what the problem is-solution may be very simple; scheduling or transportation.
- Start each meeting on a personal level. I tell something or make comments she can respond to.
- Brief review of last session. Refreshes the student’s memory, eases back into learning.
- Learn facts about student’s life or background. Build exercises or conversation around them, not “from the book”.
- If they attend Hennessy ESL classes or other language classes, suggest they tell you what they are studying so that your lessons can reinforce the learning.
- Simple kitchen cooking or preparation to teach simple words and ingredients.
- If student is working at a job, ask them to share something that happened there.
- Start with a familiar topic.
- Ask them to talk about their children.
- Be direct in questioning, practical.
- Help student be prepared for tutoring session: Quiet space, no distractions, etc.
- Discuss things student “sees around town”: planes (fire), traffic signs, road signs, “click it or ticket”, measurements/preparation for recipes, newspaper articles with pictures.
- Begin and end with something student does well.
- Have student take deep breath before transitioning from day’s events to tutoring session.
- Repeat back to student for confirmation; reinforces student confidence.
- Physical movement to reinforce language. (Total Physical Response)
- Stay flexible with lesson to accommodate student’s needs.
- Keep lesson itself short to facilitate communication about things that may come up that were unplanned.
- Set up a telephone time and call student; use English only.
- Teach verbs and colors by asking student to go around the room doing things: stand up, go to kitchen, come back, pick up glass, put glass on the table. Ask questions: what color is something, point out different colors, etc.
- Keep an open mind when it comes to lesson plan structure.
- Try to build in the unexpected; first part of each lesson—what does the student need today?
- Write a story about student’s family.