[radio_flyer]

A man from Bangladesh helped me in May to clear the flower and veggie gardens.... He went back to Bangladesh but his wife is staying here with her daughter.

The daughter wrote me note asking me to teach her mom English. I have no idea where to start... Any suggestions as how to even begin teaching someone English? I am no teacher but surely I can teach this lovely lady some English......She is such a sweet lady.. She visits me weekly...I want to keep her for my mom.. but I am l0 years older than her.... lol....

[lynn P.]

It's very nice of you to help this lady. Are there English classes for immigrants in your area? Anyway you can start with basic greetings "Hello how are you?, fine thank you, what's your name", what are the names of objects, food, etc. You could even get flashcards with pictures -I have those for when my girls were young. Call around and see if there's a basic English class for immigrants. Best of luck.

[Perna]

Conversation! Just be friends with her and talk about what interests her/the two of you.

My cleaners is a mother, daughter, and cousin from Korea and the mother is in the same place. All three work in the store but the daughter and cousin are younger and have learned much better English from school and meeting with other people but the mother is afraid. We talk though each time I go in and I'm sure she is learning well from the interaction with others here in this country.

As shy as your friend's mother is, she still needs interaction. Get to know her so she trusts you and then maybe have a very tiny party with one or two of your friends? Maybe do something together?

[radio_flyer]

Thanks Lynn and Perna... Flash cards is a good idea... Maybe I can get a book or something to help...

I try talking to her as much as I can when she visits. Is sooo very hard... She is talking a mile a minute lol and I don't understand a word.. I just smile and nod my head.. Sorry to say this but it gives me a headache when I try communicating with her. That is why I think some kind of learning tool, something online, or a book with pictures to help me teach her....

My nerves are kind of frayed dealing with other stuff a round here... So I get a tad edgy trying to communicate with this delightful woman... She doesn't see that I get edgy, guess it is inside.. I don't want her to ever feel bad or see that I am edgy..

[radio_flyer]

Oh I forgot to mention that she is not shy. She is very out going. Her eyes smile when she talks.. I sometimes don't even hear what she is saying.. Guess i get overwhelmed trying to understand what she is saying...

I learned today that one can eat the flowers of squash. I always give her veggies from my garden and she wanted the squash flowers. She said veddy veddy good.. I shook my head and said "all for you" and smiled.. She also nabbed the tops of the radishes. She eats those too. shrugs shoulders... Told her she could have anything she wanted in the veggie garden.. The garden is small and all that is growing are tomatoes and cucumbers... Come to think of it that is all I planted except for the squash and radishes and hot peppers.. lol

I think she already trusts me. Her daughter said her mom enjoys visiting with me because I am very friendly and she likes coming here... She has been visiting since May...

[venusss]

Get a book to go by. You may as well want to look if there are some computer programs or DVDs for teaching English...

Try to get her THINKING in English... for some people it's hard being unable to express their feelings fully in a language... if she is not shy, this might not be as big problem. Speak, speak, speak is the key of mastering the language... even if one makes mistakes, they need to make it natural to them. Learn her words on the most important conversation subjects....

[(JD)]

Teach her our phonics. Once she knows how to sound out what she is "reading" it will connect to what she is "hearing" as well.

Yes, teach her basic conversational phrases that she can remember (I love you, Hello, How are you, I'm fine, I'm sick etc.) Then she can match those up with the phonics.

My older son learned phonics in preschool. By age 3 he was reading my college texts to me while I cooked supper! No, he didn't know all he was reading, but I did!

My other son was supposed to be learning phonics, but by the middle of 2nd grade, he hadn't progressed in his reading. I had a conference with his teacher, who insisted she was teaching phonics. In the heat of the argument I requested she show me materials and how she taught ... and it was "look say" not phonics! It turns out she was a 5th grade math teacher filling in so she had a job.

Use common words for phonic sounds and she'll learn faster. (Or you can use the singing alphabet like the children learn )

Once she knows the sounds, she can use a dictionary (online) and teach herself the words she wants to know.

Or you could both learn a little ASL (sign language) At least that's quieter.

[Hippie]

radioflyer,
You might want to go to the library and ask to speak to the reference librarian. Ask the reference librarian for materials for ESL (English as a Second Language). There is a curriculum just for that. My nephew teaches ESL.
I have to disagree about the phonics approach. Not knowing if the woman is an auditory or visual learner, it's difficult to generalize on the best way she'll learn. The ESL materials will cover all bases.
You're very sweet to want to help this lady feel more comfortable in her adopted environment. Good luck to you both!

[lynn P.]

Maybe one time she can come over and teach you an Indian dish -that way she's teaching you cooking and you're helping her learn what all the ingredients are in English. When I 1st got married I went to the Middle East, Turkey, then Greece for 3 months. I quickly learned half the Arabic language while I was there.

You are to be commended for helping this person, radio_flyer.

LOL @ me.. sorry I had to tell you guys this, its funny.

I read Byz's post as "You are to be condemned"

I was at it, thinking why condemned!!!

Then i read it again Phew.

Originally Posted by TheByzantine

You are to be commended for helping this person, radio_flyer.

On any hand, here are some good basic links:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2161088_teac...foreigner.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_4443399_teac...k-english.html

http://www.tefllogue.com/about-tefl/...-language.html

http://esl.about.com/od/esleflteache...t_enonpro2.htm

http://esl.about.com/

I'll keep looking!

[radio_flyer]

Twice a week, she comes by and we study together. Turned out she has been working very hard with her family members, so she can read. So I basically try to make sure she understands the meaning of the words she reads...

I did not realize until today how "detached" I have been. Seems I got a glimps of being present and it was not comfy asI guess I am not all that comfy in my own skin... We so often go about doing daily things without feeling or connected to what we are doing and well today I not only was present, but I also felt feelings. JUst added this because it is supost to be good, yet I am not all that sure it felt all that good.

Anyway, I am starting to get the "hang of it" I guess you might say, teaching this lady english. Odd how we sometimes in careless thinking, think those who don't know english aren't very smart. Well this lady is very bright and so eager to learn. She is teaching me her language and I am not all that eager to learn, but it seems she likes teaching me, so I will learn..

Am tired, but wanted to write about how things are going with the lady from Bangladesh. She brought me some food she made and yumm it was very good. Spicey too, Off to take a nap .. yawnsssssss and stretches

[Perna]

That sounds like fun! (Tasty too :-)

It is interesting to me to see how different things turn out than I imagine them.

[Rhiannonsmoon]

Way to go Flyer,

Get the computer program it's deadset easy

[englishteacher]

What a wonderful thing you are doing! Enjoy her friendship....the rest will come.