More Helpful Tips for Our Tutors
"Spell It"
(by Pamela Egan, a basic literacy tutor in Linden): After reviewing about a dozen books on spelling, I found two that are concise and simple(r) to understand. They are: "Spelling Made Simple," by Steven V. Ross. Edited by Stonesong Press/ Doubleday. c 1990 (first copyright 1957! The best is the oldest!) ISBN 0-385-26642-1 and "Vocabulary and Spelling in 20 Minutes a Day," by Judith N. Myers. Learning Express/ Random House. c1996. ISBN 1-575685-041-2 Find them in the library under 428.1 and 428.2. (The worst books for this subject have "for Dummies" or "for Idiots" in the title -- too complicated!!)
The books are for my use. I create a unique lesson of one or two pages only, using the best from both books, since I have learned that my students freak when seeing a lot of paper. The "Vocabulary" book is geared toward those taking a civil service test, but the spelling part is very good. Incredibly, one of its "rules" was incorrect, repeating the rule above it -- a copy editor's mistake. (I corrected it in pencil in the library copy.) The rules are foreign to me as I learned spelling by osmosis (memorization) at a young age. And there seem as many exceptions as there are rules. I hope these recommendations help!
Begin With Baby Steps: Practice reading children's books with your learner so that they can read the same books to their children. Such books focus on simple vocabulary and pronunciation.
Being able to read to their own children is high on the list of reasons for many students to improve their literacy skills. "I want my son to be proud of me," says one ESL learner
Read the Tabloids!!: Yes that's right, with your student, read those trashy rags you see at the supermarket checkout line. But they don't have real news, you say. They have headlines like "Woman Gives Birth to Two-Headed Space Alien". You can't be serious, you say.
Yes, all of the above is true, but the tabloids also contain:
• English written at the 4th or 5th grade level.
• "Wierd" news, people, and events that are often so outrageous they are laughable- a good thing when you are trying to relax a nervous student
• Heroic acts performed by "ordinary" people who perhaps look much like you or your student
• Puzzles and work games
• Practical advice in dealing with daily problems
So next time you're in a checkout line, slip on a pair of dark glasses and pick up a copy of The National Enquirer, The National Examiner, The Star, or The Sun (they're all published by the same company). It's not American Literature, but it just might help you connect with your LVA students in a whole new way.
The Phone: One of our tutors calls her learner twice a week to practice "telephone" English. Since many students are nervous about talking on the phone, it's great practice. "When I first started calling my student, she would get on and barely say anything, but now I have a hard time getting off the phone with her."
New Materials: Finally something to help with verbs! Great new book Series … English for Everyday Activities by Lawrence J. Zwier. It's like the picture dictionaries, but for verbs. There are plenty of common verbs with examples of how to use them. The series comes with a workbook and audiotapes. Ask about it at your local library or give us a ring and check out our copy.
