i just spent my first afternoon with the somali mothers to whom i will be teaching english every wednesday until who knows when. it's a long story how i stumbled upon this opportunity. but let's just say they need help and i'm happy to provide it.... except, yikes! how does one go about teaching reading, writing and speaking of english to people who speak no english? i should mention for those who don't know it already, i don't speak mai mai (their language) either! so this will be quite an intersting process and i certainly will be learning just as much (if not more) from them as they will be learning from me.
i have a few (very few) thoughts on how i think i might approach this task. but i realize that my friends and family are all highly intelligent people with brilliant ideas and lots of unique experiences. i'd be open to any and all constructive suggestions anyone might have as to how i could help these women learn english. post any thoughts here. seriously, dudes. ideas. i need them.
8 comments:
Well, there have to be techniques for this, because that's what you do when you take one of those "language immersion" classes.
Help! They Don't Speak English Starter Kit: http://www.escort.org/products/yahelpkit.html
I've had success using children's literature to both increase vocabulary and provide talking points. Charlotte's Web has been good for this. Newspapers are good for talking points as well.
Also, along with conversation, assign simple compositions for writing & re-writing.
But do be prepared to talk about any- and every-thing.
Izzy
who has done this once or twice and never bothered with a pre-fab curriculum
thanks, guys, for your suggestions. fuzzy, i peripherally checked out the website and i definitely think there's some things there to give me direction. izzy, i think the children's books will definitely be usable but the newspaper and written assignments? not so much. these ladies don't speak english, nor have they ever had any experience with any written language. perhaps down the road i can utilize these techniques, but right now i'm pretty much sticking to having them practice fine motor skills (drawing circles) and conversatinal english (how are you, i am fine, nice to meet you, etc). thanks for the suggestions, keep 'em comin'!
I suppose that coming into SUCH a different culture and world, that it wouldn't be insulting or anything if you absolutely went to the elementary basics--oversized notepads (the ones with the line in the middle for capitals and lower cases) for writing and picture books to put a visual to the sound they are hearing you say. If you are only with them once a week, I can imagine that this will be a slow process, but such an amazing learning experience for you! Are there books out there for learning mai mai so you can go into class with a bit of background in translation. This of course coming from someone who has no idea what she is saying. How many women are in the class?
katie,
you're my hero. and one in general.
p
Okay, perhaps this is really off the wall, but this makes me think of "The Miracle Worker". It seems you most pressing problem would to to identify the words your students need to aquire. I found a link to a PDF document concerning Basic Global English, which actually has a list of those words, perhaps this will be helpful, at least giving you something you can look at to determine a starting place.
www1.ku-eichstaett.de/SLF/EngluVglSW/ELiX/bge.pdf
Ok, here's another website (http://iteslj.org/) for "Teaching English as a Second Language." It has some lesson plans, classroom handouts, etc. so might be useful. You could also take a class in Teaching English as a Second Language and get certified to teach anywhere in the world. Hmm. Now there's a thought...
Also, Erica is definitely onto something with her suggestion that you use workbooks to help the women put words and sounds and pictures together. They're certainly useful for teaching little kids to read and write, no?
Hey Katie,
I haven't heard from you and Chris in so long but I actually just stumbled upon your blog via Paula's. This sounds like such a great project and I will definately be praying with you. Interestingly enough I am starting this week working with the Somali population here in Columbus (Ohio) with their TB problems. However, God was watching out for me and I have two fully fluent Somali/ English speaking women that I am working with. If you are desperate for translating stuff send it over and I'll see what I can do (cencula525@yahoo.com). Also if you pick up on anything let me know because I'm sure I will need it. God bless, Lindsey
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