My most rewarding jobs have been helping people learn to speak English. Whether you are new to our country and speak little or no English; or if you want to perfect your reading and writing skills; or if you just want to practice your conversational English - I am available to help.
Most of my previous students spoke practically no English when we began working together. But with patience and perseverance, not only have they moved on to be a part of the work force, but several have become citizens of our country.
It is not necessary for a tutor to speak a student's language. I did not know Farsi, Arabic, Russian or Turkish yet I was able to communicate with every one of my students. Sometimes it takes a long time but I found that creating a safe environment where the student can learn at his or her own pace without any pressure to go faster is the best way to teach. Adults may feel embarrassed that they are seeking this type of help but rest assured that you should be proud that you have taken this first step in your continuing education.
There are many tools available to help learn English. By discovering what method the student responds best to makes the one-on-one tutoring I offer an enjoyable learning session. The first thing I ever taught to students who did not speak any English was how to call for help using 9-1-1. We practiced over and over, using role-playing, until they could comfortably call by themselves. Luckily, no one ever needed to use this lesson but it made me feel better to have taught it.
Next it is important to teach them how to say and write their names, addresses and phone numbers in English. Teaching a mother how to use the bus service made it possible for her to take her child downtown to the doctor. Of course, I've had students who spoke very understandable English but who just needed help with idiomatic English; or wanted to know "Why in the world do you spell things that way?" I told her "I don't make the grammar rules; I only try to help you maneuver your way through them."
I look forward to being the person you have chosen to help you or a family member with learning English.
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