I am tutoring a Hispanic man who wants to be more comfortable speaking English...any suggestions?

Question

He likes homework assignments that require him to think. I'm running out of ideas of things to do with him. Does anyone have any suggestions? His goal is be able to carry on an English converstaion without stuttering or having to stop and think of the correct word to use. And suggestions would be appreciated!

He already has a GED and works as a real estate agent. He also sings and performs in front of an audience. He can communicate, just wants his conversational English to be better. He's a little beyond the flash card stage....

To read what he writes, you'd never know he's Hispanic. He knows the words, just wants to be more comfortable speaking them.

Answer 1

I've taught immigrants for many years and I found that there is NO substitute for the real thing. If you want to be a better driver, you practice driving if....you get my drift. You said he is in real estate and has no problems speaking in front of people. So, what I perceive the problem to be here, is that he is quite capable but he's a little insecure. I would suggest to him that he should actively seek out any opportunity for conversations wherever he can. Encourage him to make small-talk in a store, at the office, comment on the weather to strangers...give someone a compliment...These types of small conversations work wonders in encouraging people to expand their repertoire without the need (in the beginning) to stress out about REAL conversation, which they see as a scary proposition. He worries he might not have enough to say, he worries about grammar, he worries about adequate vocabulary, worries how others perceive his skills....in short, he stresses to much about the PERFECT conversation. Get him started on small conversations and if you have to, give him assignments ie. this week you have to talk to three people about the weather and report back to what he said/they said. Next week...and then together analyze what went right or wrong and how things could be said differently. One last important point to tell him: if he is nervous about his side of the conversation tell him that he should ask more questions and this way the other person is talking more and will provide further conversational/directional clues for him to follow. Good luck

Answer 2

Have you had him just to go out and interview or talk to people on the street, in a store, or something like that? This will force him to talk english and will help him learn the language. Also, maybe have him go into a hospital or nursing home and visit with people, again helping him learn the language and is doing something nice for people. If he can read english could he do a story time at a children's hospital?

Answer 3

Tell him to only watch Spanish TV for the local news. He must watch programs in English. My husband's Aunt learned to speak english fluently in 2 years this way and swears by it.

Answer 4

I have an idea why don't you just put simple english words on flash cards and go through them a million times until he can say them without doing the things you listed.E-mail me and tell me if it worked!!! ([e-mail])

Answer 5

crossword puzzles, requires thinking and increases vocab. Also have him watch a lot of American movies.

Answer 6

Have him watch Barney & Friends on TV. Maybe rent him a video of Barney.