I could use some advice on EASL teaching materials.

[Redstone]

Mrs R and I have volunteered to help two sisters from Brazil learn English, because Mrs R remembers what it was like to move to America with little ability to speak English...they both clean houses and waitress for a living now, and they're not going to get any better jobs without a better command of English.

So, I figure that there must be at least several DUers who teach or have taught an English as a Second Language course. I want to do this right, with textbooks / workbooks and a set curriculum, instead of just running out and learning Portuguese myself, then winging it.

And no, I'm not going to tell them to just go to the free EASL night classes in town. I've always wanted to be a teacher (but not badly enough to actually go to college), so I'm pretty excited about this.

Thanks in advance.

Redstone

[bridgit]

1. tools would seem helpful...

http://www.rosettastone.com/en/?a=b

[Redstone]

3. Looks good, thanks. I hope it's not too expensive; they don't show pricing. I'll call them.

Redstone

[Whoa_Nelly]

4. If you eBay, check for that Rosetta CDs there, too

Have seen a lot of the Rosetta on eBay, and for really good prices.

[Whoa_Nelly]

2. Some cross-language software could be helpful

Here's a site with a bunch of things to check out..some look good.
http://www.tesol.net/teslsoft.html

Another site:
http://www.esl.net/

Google ESL software, and you'll find a lot out there!


Best apporoach I've used in the past is to focus first on nouns/everyday objects, and everyday necessary language re: days of week, months, names, and concepts using opposites such as hot/cold, high/low, etc. So much seems to fill in with the learner asking for more input, and the teacher learning how to convey that information.

WTG, and good luck Mr. and Mrs. R.! :hi:

[Redstone]

5. Hey, I just ordered some of that stuff. Can't lose at those prices, and they have a version

specifically for Brazilian Portuguese!

Redstone

[supernova]

6. A few things

(I haven't taught ESL ina while, but this is what I remember:

- You need to get some idea of what level proficiency they are now. Can they communicate effectively for their job (Do they understand all instructions and report back, for instance.)? Have appropriate interactions with customers? Do they speak fairly well, but have trouble understanding food lables and bank statements? Determining where they are will give ou a rough idea of what kinds of materials you need.

- I used the whole language approach. It seems to work best to get people up and running fairly quickly. That is, we worked with modules that had certain situations and learned all the vocab and syntax that goes with a particular situation. (Again, work situations. How to communicate with the doctor and understand what the the doc/RN/PA says to you. We did some grammar drills, but we also did role playing the the language that you use. For instance, leaving a message at the doctor's office that you need an appt. (It's a real gas listening to people try to leave telephone messages!) :P :D

- If they are fairly fluent, matierals for Business English might be appropriate. (Again, it depends in their level of knowledge. )



Have fun! You're students will love you forever and be the hardest working students you've ever had the good fortune to know. :D

[Redstone]

7. Their English is VERY limited. I should correct one thing: They don't actually wait tables

at the restaurant where they work; they set up and bus tables, pour water, that sort of thing. I think I'll start with the most basic level, and if they ace it right away, we'll go on from there. One of the packages is less than $100 per level for all the stuff, and if I end up not using the beginning level, I'll just donate it to the town library.

And I think that's why they clean houses; you don't need to know a lot of English to do that, you just know what to do.

That "whole language" approach seems to be the way most of the software / book packages work, so it must be the way to go.

Thanks for the advice.

Redstone