Hi Karin:

One thing I have learned about complaints about a third party: always find out what really happened. No matter who is involved--students, tutors, other staff members--I have learned to ask the accused person about what happened if I didn't witness it myself.

For example, one time someone told me that they heard a tutor who was working with really beginning readers teaching about adverbs. "Adverbs!?" I thought, "This guy is crazy." I asked the tutor why he was teaching beginners about adverbs when it was not appropriate for their level. It turned out that he was reading a Tana Reiff book about a student going back to school. The student in the book learns about adverbs in her class. The tutor was talking about adverbs because the student he was tutoring  asked what the word meant. I was totally off-base and he was doing just fine.

So...I would ask the tutor to tell you what is going on in the group. Teaching biology is not related to everyday life, but in my experience, students like learning about history, science, current events, etc. They want to know what "educated people" know. I think biology lessons could be great. In regard to the level of materials, I hope your tutors know how to support students with assisted reading techniques that allow them to use materials that would be "too hard" for students to use on their own. That's a good way to teach. Also, I would ask the tutor if she said those things that were reported.

Finally, is this person educable? Do you want to work with her at all? If you decide that the tutor is not doing a good job but you want to help  her, I would give her a choice. I would say something like this:

"I know you have a lot of experience teaching. Our students need a different approach though. I am sure your experience as a teacher can be useful here, but I think you need to adapt them. I am not sure you want to  start learning new things about teaching at this point. I am not saying our way is the only way, or even the right way, but it's the choice we have made. You need to be more in sync with us. Think about it and let me know. If you want to make a shift, I would be happy to work with you. If not, this isn't going to work out."

Of course that is very generous and you might not have the time. If you dont have the time, you have to tell her that her approach--although it may be just fine--is not compatible with your program's educational philosophy. 

Good luck
Bruce Carmel
Turning Point
NYC 


--- On Mon, 6/16/08, robinschwarz1 at aol.com <robinschwarz1 at aol.com> wrote:


> From: robinschwarz1 at aol.com <robinschwarz1 at aol.com>

> Subject: [EnglishLanguage 2635] Re: Problem Tutor How to Handle It

> To: englishlanguage at nifl.gov

> Date: Monday, June 16, 2008, 5:50 AM

> Karin-- I agree that you need to do whatever necessary to

> protect the student. I sincerely doubt that anything you

> tell this tutor is going to change her mind about what and

> how these ESL students need to learn, unless you get a

> sense that she is dismayed by her lack of success.

> Sometimes data-- in the form of anonymous student

> comments/feedback--can help move people to different

> behavior, but not always.

> 

> In any case, you have clear evidence of the need to vet

> tutors before exposing learners to them.? l suggest either

> setting up mock case studies for the tutor to react to so

> you can get an idea of how they would be, or point-blank

> asking them how they think they can help a learner who

> needs to learn English for such and so purpose and whose

> English is still very limited.? If you ask that question,

> you should get quite a discussion about what the teacher

> believes will help or what the student ought to be

> taught--and you will have a much better idea of who should

> be sent home and who should stay!? ( or as one good friend

> who advises programs nationwide says,? Have those

> volunteers file papers and sort books!).? 

> 

> It may also be possible to get at these beliefs by having

> an orientation session with a group of tutors, new and

> experienced, where the views could be aired as well. I

> would also suggest putting your program's values about

> teaching learners at the level they need, respecting the

> learner's needs etc right out front at the first

> encounter and asking the tutor to interpret that- again

> with mock case studies, for example.?? 

> 

> ?Just some late night thoughts on a topic this list well

> knows is very, very dear to my heart....prevention of

> learner abuse...!!

> 

> Robin Lovrien Schwarz, Consultant in Adult ESOL and

> Learning Difficulties 

> 

> 

>  

> 

> 

>  

> 

> -----Original Message-----

> From: Project CARE <ProjectCARE at morton.edu>

> To: The Adult English Language Learners Discussion List

> <englishlanguage at nifl.gov>

> Sent: Sat, 14 Jun 2008 3:52 pm

> Subject: [EnglishLanguage 2630]  Problem Tutor How to

> Handle It

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> I have a tutor who is a former high school teacher. She is

> retired now. She has 

> been with our tutoring program for three years.

> 

> There have been multiple complaints about this tutor on

> behalf of his/her 

> students. The most recent example has been brought to my

> attention in the past 

> couple days. It is the most extreme yet!

> 

> According to the student, this tutor uses negative

> reinforcement..ie do you 

> really want to learn? Uses inappropriate materials...ie not

> related to everyday 

> life (she was a biology teacher, so she teachers biology to

> students), or 

> material too hard for the student. She makes the student

> feel bad about his/her 

> level of English knowledge, making them feel frustrated and

> ineffectual. Luckily 

> the student told me about this. I am going to talk to the

> student more about the 

> situation. Obviously the student doesn't want to

> continue.

> 

> Do I formally  dismiss this tutor? Or, do I just say that I

> dont' have any 

> students for the tutor at this point and that his/her

> current student is too 

> busy now with his/her new schedule, With the intention of

> never giving this 

> tutor another student in the future? I am leaning toward

> the latter right now.

> 

> Which course of action do I take and what is most effective

> for everyone 

> involved. I don't want to make the student feel bad or

> have the tutor call 

> him/her asking what happened? The tutor is very two-faced.

> Plus, they live in 

> the same community, so I don't want them to run into

> each other again and have a 

> bad experience. I want to protect my student, who I will

> try to find another 

> tutor.

> 

> Thanks in advance! Any techniques for how to handle this

> inappropriate tutor 

> and/or breaking up the tutor/student pair will be very

> helpful.

> 

> Karin Johnsey

> 

> Project CARE

> Morton College

> Cicero, IL 

> 708-656-8000 x383

> 

> -----Original Message-----

> From: englishlanguage-bounces at nifl.gov on behalf of

> Jlbogdan

> Sent: Thu 6/12/2008 4:15 PM

> To: The Adult English Language Learners Discussion List

> Subject: [EnglishLanguage 2627] Re: Best Listening,

> Bilingual, Online Test,& 

> Video Site

>  

> Hi Kate,

> If you are at school and that comes up it means that your

> network IT is blocking 

> you from reaching the site.  You could request from IT that

> they allow access to 

> the site.  They should check it out and get back to you

> with a yes--and allow 

> the site to come in or no--and usually explain why they

> won't.

> If you can't get then you can try from home.  

> Hope it helps.

> Joyce

> 

> 

> ----- Original Message ----

> From: Kate <Kate at guadalupe.k12.ut.us>

> To: The Adult English Language Learners Discussion List

> <englishlanguage at nifl.gov>

> Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 1:57:15 PM

> Subject: [EnglishLanguage 2626] Re: Best Listening,

> Bilingual, Online Test, & 

> Video Site

> 

> 

> Hi, Steph-

>  

> If I tried to go on the Internet using the wireless access,

> but I got the "Page 

> cannot be displayed" page, does that mean there's

> something wrong?  Or is it 

> just that I was in a place where I could not get a signal?

>  

> Kate Diggins

> Director of Adult Education

>  

> GuadalupeSchools

> 340 S. Goshen St.

> Salt Lake City, UT

> 84104

>  

> work:  801.531.6100 (ext.1107)

> cell:  801.440.7519

>  

> www.guadalupe-schools.org

> 

> ________________________________

> 

> From:englishlanguage-bounces at nifl.gov

> [mailto:englishlanguage-bounces at nifl.gov] 

> On Behalf Of LaFerlazzo at aol.com

> Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 5:49 AM

> To: englishlanguage at nifl.gov

> Subject: [EnglishLanguage 2602] Re: Best Listening,

> Bilingual, Online Test,& 

> Video Site

>  

>   

> Hi, Everybody,

>  

> Here are a few more "The Best..." lists:

>  

> The Best Online Video Sites For Learning English

> http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/06/03/the-best-online-video-sites-for-learning-english/

>  

> The Best Listening Sites For English Language Learners

> (http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/05/28/the-best-listening-sites-for-english-language-learners/)

>  

> The Best Multilingual & Bilingual Sites For Learning

> English

> (http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/05/25/the-best-multilingual-bilingual-sites-for-learning-english/)

>  

> The Best Ways To Create Online Tests

> (http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/05/22/the-best-ways-to-create-online-tests/)

>  

> Part Seventeen Of The Best Ways To Create Online Content

> Easily & Quickly

> (http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/05/26/part-seventeen-of-the-best-ways-to-create-online-content-easily-quickly/)

>  

> Larry Ferlazzo

> LutherBurbank High School

> Sacramento, CA

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> ________________________________

> 

> Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking

> with Tyler Florence" on 

> AOL Food.

> 

> 

>       

> 

> 

> 

>  

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> ----------------------------------------------------

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