Conversation Partner #2, A-R and friend, for third meeting on Tuesday, April 8, 9:00-11:00 pm
We meet at the Strozier Library late after I get a text while still in class. A-R shows up a little late but is very happy to be meeting. Within a few minutes as we are getting settled at the Starbucks in a quiet area, a few friends of his appear and greet us both. We all exchange a few words and they depart to other areas in the library. One friend remains with us but he says he will not interrupt us. I said it was OK with me if A-R wanted some native language support.
A-R is very quiet compared to his friends, and less confident speaking. I wish he did not rely on friends so much, because while it was a struggle, I thought we communicated fine one-on-one before. But this time his friend turned out to be quite helpful. He came with a notebook full of vocabulary they both were studying and a good Arabic-English dictionary on his phone. They were quite intent on studying and asked me many questions about word forms and grammar. I had to get my computer out to answer some.
The friend was not much better in English, but was better at forming questions and pronunciation than A-R. But I began asking A-R to repeat the question or word and encourage him to mimic his friend. Then I would answer him, and this seemed to encourage him a bit more, because we could practice asking "what is the meaning of…" and "how do you say…(spell)", etc. I had difficulty modifying my speech to offer good synonyms for some of the vocabulary and they added many to the notebook including words for extended family "aunt", "uncle", "grandmother"; and some contractions of "not" that were confusing.
Our conversation went well over an hour and they were both very grateful for the time. This was more like a tutoring session than a chat, and I was glad they both were able to focus on work for that length of time without seeming bored.
Showing posts with label conv. Show all posts
Showing posts with label conv. Show all posts
Monday, April 28, 2014
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Carlton CP #5
Conversation Partner #3, JO, for second meeting on Monday, April 7, 6:30-7:30pm.
I meet JO at the Atomic Coffee shop on Tennessee. My regular child tutoring was cancelled due to bad weather, so I emailed JO for a substitute meeting since we were having a hard time scheduling. He graciously obliged since the rain had stopped.
He told me about his current worries over being accepted into a Master of law program. I did not really understand this type of degree. He explained that he can already practice law in his country and has, but his interest is in international law. For this he needs the U.S. degree specialty and better English skills. He has applied to two colleges, FSU and a backup at the University ofAlabama. He is very nervous to hear from FSU soon where he has apparently made it to the final round. I ask him about how he chose these programs, and we chat about a few others in Florida or the South. He knew about the rankings and was very clear on his goals. I hope he gets good news.
JO is very mild mannered, has a gentle and respectful disposition, and it is hard for me to imagine him animated in a criminal courtroom setting. His English is more confident and he seems to speak faster than our first meeting a few weeks ago. He likes the CIES program, but will not be staying any longer. I enjoyed talking to him very much. He is a very serious man who seems passionate about serving as an advocate for justice in his country.
I meet JO at the Atomic Coffee shop on Tennessee. My regular child tutoring was cancelled due to bad weather, so I emailed JO for a substitute meeting since we were having a hard time scheduling. He graciously obliged since the rain had stopped.
He told me about his current worries over being accepted into a Master of law program. I did not really understand this type of degree. He explained that he can already practice law in his country and has, but his interest is in international law. For this he needs the U.S. degree specialty and better English skills. He has applied to two colleges, FSU and a backup at the University ofAlabama. He is very nervous to hear from FSU soon where he has apparently made it to the final round. I ask him about how he chose these programs, and we chat about a few others in Florida or the South. He knew about the rankings and was very clear on his goals. I hope he gets good news.
JO is very mild mannered, has a gentle and respectful disposition, and it is hard for me to imagine him animated in a criminal courtroom setting. His English is more confident and he seems to speak faster than our first meeting a few weeks ago. He likes the CIES program, but will not be staying any longer. I enjoyed talking to him very much. He is a very serious man who seems passionate about serving as an advocate for justice in his country.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Carlton CP #4
Conversation Partner #3, JO, for first meeting on Wednesday, March 19, 6:00-7:00pm.
I meet my new CP at the Strozier library outdoor tables eventually. We trade emails about the Starbucks but I wait inside and he waits outside, so we almost miss each other. The weather is nice for sitting out. We get used to each other talking about family and I show him a few pictures of my home. I learn that he is from Columbia. He seems to be a very serious student and is focused on speaking very deliberately. He is interested in the law, but not in being a lawyer. He wants to earn a Masters in law and assist in the criminal prosecutors office. He is worried like so many about the TOEFL Speaking test. He is looking at a program at University of Alabama that requires a high score, 26+, for this section. So he is smart to be practicing as much as possible.
I am hesitant to comment on the obvious topic of the drug war in Columbia, but we talk about the high rate of violent crime in both countries in general terms. He seems passionate about making a difference back home, and perhaps the American degree will lead to a J.D. in Columbia eventually. We also talked about spring break and he plans to travel out of Florida but was undecided.
JO spoke clearly and had good strategies for filling gaps that I could respond to with vocabulary suggestions, phrases: "it's like…", "how to say…". He also invited correction and paused politely when I was trying to explain a point. He is very friendly, calm and serious. We probably did not laugh, but I think we had a good first meeting that was useful to him.
I meet my new CP at the Strozier library outdoor tables eventually. We trade emails about the Starbucks but I wait inside and he waits outside, so we almost miss each other. The weather is nice for sitting out. We get used to each other talking about family and I show him a few pictures of my home. I learn that he is from Columbia. He seems to be a very serious student and is focused on speaking very deliberately. He is interested in the law, but not in being a lawyer. He wants to earn a Masters in law and assist in the criminal prosecutors office. He is worried like so many about the TOEFL Speaking test. He is looking at a program at University of Alabama that requires a high score, 26+, for this section. So he is smart to be practicing as much as possible.
I am hesitant to comment on the obvious topic of the drug war in Columbia, but we talk about the high rate of violent crime in both countries in general terms. He seems passionate about making a difference back home, and perhaps the American degree will lead to a J.D. in Columbia eventually. We also talked about spring break and he plans to travel out of Florida but was undecided.
JO spoke clearly and had good strategies for filling gaps that I could respond to with vocabulary suggestions, phrases: "it's like…", "how to say…". He also invited correction and paused politely when I was trying to explain a point. He is very friendly, calm and serious. We probably did not laugh, but I think we had a good first meeting that was useful to him.
Carlton CP #3
Conversation Partner #2, A-R, for second meeting on Monday, March 17, 5:00-6:00 pm
We meet at the Starbucks on Tennessee. A-R is prompt and that is good because I have another appointment at 6. We sit outside where it is a bit quieter. He seems much more confident today and we start out simply making small talk repeating a simple greeting, comment on weather, speak about friends and family. He is very young and since I am much older, he is interested in talking about my life and career. At first, I must ask him to repeat or restate almost every question. Sometimes I have to guess at the words he is saying until I can grasp the meaning. His pronunciation of the words he knows is often wrong, so we use spelling as a strategy sometimes. To be fair, we were still in a rather noisy environment, and I will seek out a quiet place next time.
He does not drive, so his experiences in Tallahassee have depended on others who do. He is looking forward to traveling to P.C. or Miami over spring break. Since the weather is still cool up here, I recommend the trip to Miami. I have also visited recently, so I had some tips I tried to convey about getting to South Beach. At least we could converse using simple directions and time, descriptions of places, and feelings: "love", "hate", "nice", "good", "bad", "warm", "cold", "beach", "crowd", etc. He was most interested when talking about the vacation.
The time went quickly and I think he appreciated the practice. Again, I did not do much in the way of grammar correction because of the feeling we were still getting acquainted, he needed more speaking practice, and because of the noisy environment.
We meet at the Starbucks on Tennessee. A-R is prompt and that is good because I have another appointment at 6. We sit outside where it is a bit quieter. He seems much more confident today and we start out simply making small talk repeating a simple greeting, comment on weather, speak about friends and family. He is very young and since I am much older, he is interested in talking about my life and career. At first, I must ask him to repeat or restate almost every question. Sometimes I have to guess at the words he is saying until I can grasp the meaning. His pronunciation of the words he knows is often wrong, so we use spelling as a strategy sometimes. To be fair, we were still in a rather noisy environment, and I will seek out a quiet place next time.
He does not drive, so his experiences in Tallahassee have depended on others who do. He is looking forward to traveling to P.C. or Miami over spring break. Since the weather is still cool up here, I recommend the trip to Miami. I have also visited recently, so I had some tips I tried to convey about getting to South Beach. At least we could converse using simple directions and time, descriptions of places, and feelings: "love", "hate", "nice", "good", "bad", "warm", "cold", "beach", "crowd", etc. He was most interested when talking about the vacation.
The time went quickly and I think he appreciated the practice. Again, I did not do much in the way of grammar correction because of the feeling we were still getting acquainted, he needed more speaking practice, and because of the noisy environment.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Carlton CP #2
Conversation Partner #2, A-R, for first meeting on Wednesday, March 12, 5:00-6:30 pm
We exchanged a bunch of text messages trying to get together and settle on me dropping by his apartment. When I arrive, there is confusion because there are 5 male Arabic (Kuwaiti?) students and 1 female (Brazilian?) guest in the apartment drinking coffee, and several have very similar names. Only one seems to be fairly strong in English. After a few minutes of introductions, it is clear my CP is asleep in another room and my texts were going to a friends phone. Everyone wanted to talk, though, and I was asked about a diverse group of topics while I awaited my CP to return to the living.
When he came out, we met formally and laughed about the confusion. Then we all sat down for some coffee and dates that were really good. The conversation was still with the group, but I tried to focus on A-R. He is a foundation student and was glad to have supportive friends around, but it kind of defeated the purpose. Because this was our first meeting, I did not insist on moving. By engaging everyone, he would still benefit and I would definitely get a culture lesson.
A-R was quiet at first, but others were willing to tell me about family in Kuwait, and one student made up a little story about being married with children to see how much I would believe. I was not sure who he was speaking about, but I made a joke about my mistake (from experience). We talked a lot about relationships and cultural differences they wanted explained. I was not prepared to address divorce rates, poverty, political leaders, nutrition and more in a few minutes.
Gradually, A-R was encouraged to question me but it was hard to understand his accent sometimes without help. The public setting could be embarrassing, too. I was trying to be only positive and encouraging. I asked him to meet me alone next time and we agreed on the Starbucks location (for more coffee) next week.
We exchanged a bunch of text messages trying to get together and settle on me dropping by his apartment. When I arrive, there is confusion because there are 5 male Arabic (Kuwaiti?) students and 1 female (Brazilian?) guest in the apartment drinking coffee, and several have very similar names. Only one seems to be fairly strong in English. After a few minutes of introductions, it is clear my CP is asleep in another room and my texts were going to a friends phone. Everyone wanted to talk, though, and I was asked about a diverse group of topics while I awaited my CP to return to the living.
When he came out, we met formally and laughed about the confusion. Then we all sat down for some coffee and dates that were really good. The conversation was still with the group, but I tried to focus on A-R. He is a foundation student and was glad to have supportive friends around, but it kind of defeated the purpose. Because this was our first meeting, I did not insist on moving. By engaging everyone, he would still benefit and I would definitely get a culture lesson.
A-R was quiet at first, but others were willing to tell me about family in Kuwait, and one student made up a little story about being married with children to see how much I would believe. I was not sure who he was speaking about, but I made a joke about my mistake (from experience). We talked a lot about relationships and cultural differences they wanted explained. I was not prepared to address divorce rates, poverty, political leaders, nutrition and more in a few minutes.
Gradually, A-R was encouraged to question me but it was hard to understand his accent sometimes without help. The public setting could be embarrassing, too. I was trying to be only positive and encouraging. I asked him to meet me alone next time and we agreed on the Starbucks location (for more coffee) next week.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Carlton CP #1
Conversation Partner #1, AA, for first meeting on Tuesday, March 11, 3:30-4:30pm.
I met my first conversation partner in the afternoon in the CIES lounge. He is in his second session and is in group 1. His conversational English was not very good grammatically, but I found him to be quite understandable in general. In our introductions it became clear he was a bit distraught over his placement evaluation. He told me he knew everything in his classes and hoped I could help him to be changed. I sought out a regular teacher for some information and Ryan sat with him a few minutes to hear his complaint. He explained that we have to trust the teachers and he should discuss his feelings with them. He said it was positive that he had mentioned his feelings to me and that he could discuss it with the director.
When we sat down together, I tried to get to know his interests a little bit, and avoid discussing his frustrations. We talked about his goals and they revolve around passing the TOEFL at a minimum level of 100, with a speaking requirement of 25. He said he could take the IELTS and score 5.0 instead, and that was easier. I am not very familiar with the correlation of these scores, but Wikipedia confirms his estimate that the IELTS target is much lower than 100 on TOEFL. These are not similar goals, so I may have noted incorrectly, or perhaps he is too focused on minimal efforts.
I had some materials from my tutoring lesson with other level one students in his classes, and I asked him to complete a short exercise reading and choosing between two word forms. He missed 5/16 grammatical pairs and only highlighted 2 unfamiliar words on the page. This was about the same as my other students in my estimation, so I was skeptical of his assertion that he was in the wrong classes.
I discovered that I would be observing his speaking class later. He thought this would be good for me to understand his feelings. When I attended this class, it became clear that his attitude is a major factor holding him back. I observed that he had brought no material to class, no pencil or paper. He ignored the no cell phone use rule the teacher repeated during class. He did not partner up for exercises and left his work behind at the end of class. During class, he was asked one direct question, "What is an information question?" and responded with what a yes/no question was. This was due to inattentiveness, and he was notably frustrated when he realized his mistake.
I do not know him well enough yet, but it seems I must focus some of my efforts on motivation. He is notably confident, and I do not want to be ignored when I am committing to helping him, either. So this will be a challenge for me. Any suggestions or comments are welcome, please.
I met my first conversation partner in the afternoon in the CIES lounge. He is in his second session and is in group 1. His conversational English was not very good grammatically, but I found him to be quite understandable in general. In our introductions it became clear he was a bit distraught over his placement evaluation. He told me he knew everything in his classes and hoped I could help him to be changed. I sought out a regular teacher for some information and Ryan sat with him a few minutes to hear his complaint. He explained that we have to trust the teachers and he should discuss his feelings with them. He said it was positive that he had mentioned his feelings to me and that he could discuss it with the director.
When we sat down together, I tried to get to know his interests a little bit, and avoid discussing his frustrations. We talked about his goals and they revolve around passing the TOEFL at a minimum level of 100, with a speaking requirement of 25. He said he could take the IELTS and score 5.0 instead, and that was easier. I am not very familiar with the correlation of these scores, but Wikipedia confirms his estimate that the IELTS target is much lower than 100 on TOEFL. These are not similar goals, so I may have noted incorrectly, or perhaps he is too focused on minimal efforts.
I had some materials from my tutoring lesson with other level one students in his classes, and I asked him to complete a short exercise reading and choosing between two word forms. He missed 5/16 grammatical pairs and only highlighted 2 unfamiliar words on the page. This was about the same as my other students in my estimation, so I was skeptical of his assertion that he was in the wrong classes.
I discovered that I would be observing his speaking class later. He thought this would be good for me to understand his feelings. When I attended this class, it became clear that his attitude is a major factor holding him back. I observed that he had brought no material to class, no pencil or paper. He ignored the no cell phone use rule the teacher repeated during class. He did not partner up for exercises and left his work behind at the end of class. During class, he was asked one direct question, "What is an information question?" and responded with what a yes/no question was. This was due to inattentiveness, and he was notably frustrated when he realized his mistake.
I do not know him well enough yet, but it seems I must focus some of my efforts on motivation. He is notably confident, and I do not want to be ignored when I am committing to helping him, either. So this will be a challenge for me. Any suggestions or comments are welcome, please.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)