[NIFL-ESL:10277] working with the elderly

From: Susan Strand (Susan.Strand@lvsg.org)
Date: Wed May 05 2004 - 15:02:04 EDT


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From: "Susan Strand" <Susan.Strand@lvsg.org>
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Subject: [NIFL-ESL:10277] working with the elderly
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Hello.

I am working with 3 groups of beginning level seniors (69-75 years old).
They are wonderful to work with and always arrive at class with great
enthusiasm. My concern is that they do not seem to have interest in many
topics,  perhaps because they do not get out and about much as well as they
are living in residential housing for seniors where they have many of their
needs met.
Does anyone have any suggestions on topics or experience with curriculum
designed with senior students in mind?

Thanks,
Susan


-----Original Message-----
From: nifl-esl@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-esl@nifl.gov]On Behalf Of Hillary
Frazey
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2004 9:34 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [NIFL-ESL:10264] Helping a struggling student

Hello,

I have been reading this list for a long time, but this is my first post.

I am teaching a multilevel ESL class in an Even Start Family Literacy
program.  I have 14 mothers ranging in CASAS scores from 199 to 240.  I
started working with the class about a month ago and we are slowly but
surely finding our way together.

My concern is with the mom who has the greatest need for ESL.  We just
completed another round of testing which confirmed my feeling that
everyone in the class is making progress....except for this mom, whose
score went down (to 197).  Aside from the test scores (which I try to use
as a guide and not a "be all end all"), she is also struggling in class.
Her attendance is fairly good and she tries very hard and wants to learn.
But she doesn't understand much of anything that goes on in class unless
another student translates for her (she is a native Spanish speaker along
with about 2/3 of the class).

I am wondering how I can best help her.  I have structured the class so
that I can spend time working with her one-on-one.  How would it be best
to spend this time?  Should I focus on vocabulary, using flashcards
perhaps?  Or maybe try TPR (which I haven't done, any tips would be
appreciated)?  Should I try some bilingual materials and encourage her to
translate or have other students help her translate?  Or should I just
give her more time?  I feel like my current approach is working for the
rest of the class but not for her and I wonder what I could do
differently.

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

Take care,
Hillary
hillary@qmail.com




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