[nobe-l] tutoring ESL clients

[Ashley Bramlett]

Hi all,

Well, I have a potential opportunity to tutor clients in communication skills who know some english but have accents.

I know this is meant for teachers here but figured you all either may tutor as a job or supplement to teaching and have some experience in this realm.
I really want to help people improve their english skills, but am not sure I can do it with the language barrier. I know I rely on oral communication a lot in the absence of seeing all body gestures. I’m concerned the lack of understanding them will hinder our progress unless we can find ways to communicate such as more hand over hand and them pointing to labeled pictures I might make up.

Here is the little I know. The clients know English. Their needs are in improving vocabulary in sentences, improving pronounciation skills, and other communication tasks.
I’d tutor for at least an hour if I go forward. I’m going to learn more when I do an orientation with the volunteer coordinator.
I told the coordinator about my low vision and she has not really said anything about it but treated me like a regular volunteer. She just told me their needs and requested a time to do my orientation.
I’m sure I can ask about any curriculum matterials they have in that meeting and hopefully figure out my accomodations. I’m fairly sure one accomodation will be bringing my laptop equipped with jaws
to do some activities. I might be able to use their cds for listening exercises if they have the teaching cds I need. I know that when learning spanish in high school, we had many listening exercises on cd so I’m sure their some for teaching english.

So, have any of you taught ESL with emphasis on oral communication?
If so, what adaptations did you make?

Some questions on resources.
Are there accessible ESL books out there including those on grammar? If so, where?
Are there particular cds or cd series you can recommend to teach vocabulary via conversation or songs?
Are there websites with premade activities to do with them?
Are there websites I can use to create teaching materials such as flashcards, matching lists, and worksheets?

I thought I might use word on the pc to create these but I think a website with premade templates would be better.
I have low vision but do use jaws as well as braille and ocasionally large print.
So please try to recommend accessible websites or even youtube videos would work.

I’m most concerned about understanding them enough to see what their needs are and help them; I know thick accents can be hard for me. I also am concerned about accessing materials as I’m fairly sure they have books and worksheets made up already; they run esl classes at this nonprofit so I am sure they have some resources.
If I need an accessible book, do you think contacting
the publisher for an accessible copy will get it to me?

Thanks.

Ashley