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C76 · Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2004 11:00 pm Post subject: Alphabet Drills?

Hi All,

Can you tell me how much time you would spend reviewing the alphabet with a student before moving on to phonics and words?

I've been working with a student for several weeks. She still cannot say the alphabet in its entirety by herself. I've used plain flash-cards, and now cards with pics.

A part of me is very worried. Embarassed

I've tried to integrate a few words into our lessons--but that's seemed to detract from her ability to learn her ABCs.

My student is an adult. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Lynn · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 696 Location: in between

I've had the same problem with Hispanic students in New York. Because of the school ciriculum, I had to move on. It turned out okay for some students, and I would just review the alphabet once a week.

waxwing · Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 719 Location: China

I speak from a position of gross inexperience (never having taught zero beginners or whatever we call them nowadays..), but ..

Did you ever try singing it to her? Very Happy

On that subject, I can still vividly remember singing
"A, B, C, D, E, F, G ..
H, I, J, K, L-M-N-O-P
"
but I've forgotten the rest of the tune Laughing

lajzar · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 647 Location: Saitama-ken, Japan

Just a thought...

Assuming this student's first language uses the same alphabet, making them learn the names of the letters in English is probably the least important part of learning English.

C76 · Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 2:13 am Post subject:

Thanks for your suggestions!

And yes, waxwing, I've tried singing the Alphabet Song to her. Laughing

I've actually decided to move on. If not literally during our lessons...At least mentally, on my part. Wink

I figure it's not realistic to be heartbroken over her alphabet-related problems.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

It would help if you gave us a profile of the student

1. What is her first language ?
2. Is she literate in that language ?
3. What other languages does she know ? Do these languages use an alphabet similar to the English alphabet ?

As it is we are in the dark. And if she already knows the alphabet is it important at this stage to know the names of the letters in English ?

Deborah · Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 19

I'm reminded of a very high-level group I had once in the Netherlands - we spent most of our time on advanced grammar - but every week we had an Alphabet Review Moment, because they NEVER could get through all twenty-six letters with correct English pronunciation. Obviously, it was a bit of a joke for us; and just as obviously, not really vital for useage either, as they'd managed to muddle their way to very sophisticated levels without it!

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I can recollect the panic that came over a group of Upper Intermediate German students when they realised that they did not know how to say things like "BMW" or "VW" in English.

There is need to know the names of the letters - but for beginners ?

lajzar · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 647 Location: Saitama-ken, Japan

C76 · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2004 7:17 pm Post subject:

@ lazjar:

scot,

my student is Vietnamese. From what I gather, she's completely literate in that language. I don't think she knows any other languages. For now I'm trying to integrate some realia into our lessons, and teach her some phonics.