Method for Creating a Language Experience Story

1. Ask the student to tell you a story. 2. Listen and ask for clarification. 3. Ask the student to retell part of the story. 4. Write what the student says leaving space between the lines. 5. Read the story aloud to the student. 6. Read the story again. 8. Ask the student if he/she would like to add or change anything. 9. Ask the student to read each sentence after you read it. 10. Review the story at the next lesson. 

You or the student copies the story to be used for homework and future lessons.

 

Teaching Language Expression

Speaking and Writing

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Developmental StagesFluency: Overcoming intimidation and

reluctance to speak or write

Coherence: Making what is said or written relevant and meaningful

Correctness: Making what is said or written grammatically and pragmatically correct

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Teaching students at the fluency level.Encourage and praise any attempt to use

the new language

Ignore incorrect grammar such as verb endings, plurals or word order in order to help the student develop confidence

Accept “baby” content at this beginning stage

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Start with basic one-word vocabularyNounsListsVerbs

Then create short simple sentences combining a noun with a verb.

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The Coherence LevelMeaningful communication is more

important than correctness.Speaking is often done in short phrases or

partial sentences.Writing is often in phrases, sentence

fragments or run-on sentences. Punctuation may be incorrect or absent.

Language produced includes detail and follows a coherent train of thought at an adult level.

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Teaching students at the coherence levelAdd adjectives to describe nouns

Teach basic sentence construction, using three to five word combinations that contain a subject and verb and express a complete thought.

Have the student choose a noun to use as a subject in a sentence.

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The Correctness LevelThe goal is to speak and write using correct

English including idioms and the pragmatics (social use of language) of the new culture.

This stage begins when the student speaks and writes fluently and coherently most of the time.

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Teaching students at the correctness levelEngage your student in regular informal

conversation.Use a formal English grammar textbook.Assign regular writing homework.Teach your student to organize his or her

writing.

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Life Survival Skill

Nutrition

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Why Nutrition?Growing concern about high rate of diabetesLatinos are genetically at greater risk

(1.7 times more likely than non-Hispanic whites)

Lifestyle change

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Should I teach nutrition?If it’s relevant to your student.If your student has diabetes in the family, it

may be of great interest.We get our health information from radio, tv

and print, ways which may not be available for our students.

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One-fifth of Latinos in the U.S. have little or no access to nutritious food each year. One reason is that about half of those eligible for food stamps are not applying for them. A recent report blames “a lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate information” and confusion about eligibility as to why such a low rate apply. 

Nutrition Tasks:Comparison

ShoppingPlanning Healthy

MenusDiabetes Awareness

Click icon to add clip art

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Task #2Given the USDA recommendations for a

healthy diet, student will plan meals for one day for his/her family (or for self) and will make up to 6 statements explaining the choices. Beginning students may use pictures to create the meals and label them with appropriate vocabulary words.

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Components of a Lesson Plan 

• Conversations 

• Vocabulary 

• Pronunciation 

• Formal English Skills 

• Life Survival Skills 

• Reading and Writing 

• Homework

Getting Started

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Resources You will be contacted by a mentor after you

meet with your student to offer help if needed.

You have the email addresses and phone numbers of the trainers.

You have contact information for Genie and Gisela at the Literacy Office.

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First Month ObjectivesEstablish a rapport between you and your

student.Set up procedures for informing you of

absences and language for letting you know if he/she doesn’t understand something you have said.

Informally, further assess your student’s goals and skills.

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Begin to teach Life Survival English Skills Objective #1 (and don’t forget to send completed form to Literacy Program Office when your student has completed the assessment tasks).

Choose appropriate teaching materials for your student.

 

What if:You’re not sure which of the teaching

materials would be best to use with your student.

Your student has changed jobs and you need help in arranging a new time to meet.

You arrive at your meeting spot for class and your student hasn’t shown and hasn’t cancelled.

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Your student is having trouble finding a way to practice English at home and you need some ideas.

Your student would like to become a citizen and you’re not sure how to help.

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