Job Discussion Forums

[Buraimi]

Hi everyone - I've just been asked to work with two eight-year-old Saudi children (one boy and one girl) who have just arrived in Canada. I have never had students younger than about 17; I teach part-time in a university EAP program.

I won't meet these kids until tomorrow, but I've been told that they're not absolute beginners and are managing quite well with the language. They studied English in Saudi and have an academic tutor at the school who helps with the Canadian curriculum.

Understandably, the children are taking expressions such as "freezing to death" and "write down your name" quite literally, i.e., down the page. It's been suggested that I help with the "subtleties of the language" (like idioms, presumably) and with what kids in grade 3 talk about. (I don't remember!)

To all of you young-learner experts out there: what would you do with these children in two or three hours a week?

Thanks so much!

[jojo_rock]

I have never taught english to 8 year olds so I don't have any material I can share with you. But the way to go is to make everything fun. Play games, use lots of colourful pictures and books, teach songs that have actions, make everything hands on.

Sorry I can't be much more help. Good luck!