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chrissytooth · Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 43

I currently tutor a woman who is a very advanced English speaker because she has been speaking the language for ten years. She recently asked me if I could tutor her 12-year-old daughter in English as well. Her daughter is practically a native speaker, having spoken English since she was two.

I am TEFL certified, but I am not certified to teach English as a first language. I suppose I am as qualified as anyone else to tutor a 12-year-old in English, but I'm not sure if I'll know what to do. Most of my tutoring experience is as an ESL teacher.

My question is, how difficult would it be to move from tutoring ESL students to tutoring a young native speaker? I have no idea what a 12-year-old native speaker would even need to learn. Her mother asked that I create my own lesson plans as a supplement to the girl's school work rather than just helping her with her school work. So my second question is, how would I even figure out where to start?

Thanks for the help!

killthebuddha · Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 3:37 am Post subject:

Beef up your grammar by teaching her all the intricacies of it, and include sentence diagramming (make a 100-word sentence your aim). Most importantly, find out what she really likes. (If she wants to be a doctor, you'll have to learn anatomy, etc.) Whatever that is, dig up all the material for it that you can find, from documentaries to published papers. Find free online lectures at MIT (and Berkeley, Princeton and others) for any subject. Latin and Greek roots are very helpful. Crosswords (New York Times) and verbal word games that you can play on the fly (William F. Buckley insisted on these with his fellow trans-oceanic voyagers). Get her to write a play, or a movie script, then have her direct and star in the performance of it. (She can keep a diary, but only if you're allowed to read it.) And teach her the Socratic method--debate with her the merits of any and every claim, from the dress she likes to global warming. (Get her to really think about her words.) Google, Google, Google. And keep raising the sophistication of her reading material. If you do these things within the framework of her interests, she'll never know that she's Eliza Doolittle, or that you're Rex Harrison. Have her explain her homework to you, and throw in the ACT and SAT for fun (after the appropriate prep work, of course). Children like tests, because they get something and it's always a surprise. What an opportunity. I envy you, and if I can send along any of the material just let me know. Oh, and don't forget poetry.

chrissytooth · Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 43

Kram · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 152 Location: In a chair

Check out some online state/national English curriculum. I�d presume reading and writing would be a major component.

Find out what kind of books 12-year-old girls like to read.

Do you have a love of literature? If so, you can teach her.

artemisia · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 875 Location: the world

If it were me, I'd treat this much the same as I have with any class or individual I've ever had where I've tailored course material around the needs of the participant(s).
I'd want to meet her initially to find out what she's interested in, what she studies at school (see specific examples of schoolwork, projects, books etc.) and how you might be able to expand on and develop that and what she's open to - that might include reading, writing, research projects on special interests and so on.
If you think you could just have a first meeting without necessarily committing yourself to teaching her (if you think it's not going to work out) then you could do that and ask her if she likes reading and what exactly.

Are you at all familiar with young people's literature? For example the Australian writer - John Marsden and his Tomorrow series? These books are pretty popular with teens but she might have already read them. I'd also consider other activities, too - not necessarily specifically English language ones. Eg; if she's interested in say, Art, you could do projects, visit museums together. Often a great way of expanding one's language ability is learning about something specific in the target language. The fact that she's been speaking English since she was two doesn't mean she'll have a wide vocabulary - it depends on what she's been exposed to. Meeting her will give you a chance to assess that. Certainly developing her knowledge of idiomatic phrases she'll encounter in reading would be good.
If you decide to proceed, I think you'd also need to check with the mother just how much of a free hand you really have. You might find, when it comes down to it, she really has some pre-conceived ideas of what you should be doing in English classes with the daughter. If you find it's a total focus on schoolwork then you'd really have to build your lessons around that (and see plenty of examples of the schoolwork). If she goes to an international school where the language of instruction is English, then maybe you could also cross-reference with projects in other subjects like Social Studies.

killthebuddha

sparks · Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 632

Keep in mind that the girl is only 12 years old. What might you talk to a niece or nephew of the same age if you were to spend a day with them. Of course having her read books or articles (which you can easily find online) about a variety of topics (music, art, pop-culture) could be the basis of your lessons. What about science? animal kingdoms, outerspace, etc. all of this info is online with lesson plans. You may have to read a bit yourself, but it shouldn't be too much to get your head around.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Insubordination · Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 394 Location: Sydney

Choose/order a novel appropriate for her age and gender which is commonly studied in schools. Get chapter by chapter lesson plans online (metaphors, quizzes, writing tasks, vocab). Teachers have already done all the hard work for you.

I taught a cool novel called 'Hatchet' to 14 year olds (more of a boys' novel) and got all the lesson plans here:

http://www.mce.k12tn.net/survival/hatchet/hatchet.htm

I'm not saying you should choose that book, but I just want you to get an idea of what's out there free.

You could also study text types (expositions, procedures, journals, reports, discussions, poetry) and get her to write about the life cycle of a silkworm or 'how to'. Seriously, you'll find everything you need online.

Trifaro · Joined: 10 Nov 2010 Posts: 152

The Socratic method is easy - all you have to do is ask Why?

Basically, ask a question and have the person explain their answer, pick it apart and then ask Why again. Keep that going for awhile.

Good Luck!

jr1965 · Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Posts: 175

chrissytooth · Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 43

Thanks for all the comments! You all have given me so much encouragement that I agreed to at least meet the daughter and find out what she likes. Thanks for being so helpful.

Killthebuddha, yes, could you please send me some materials? I'll give you my email in a PM.

I'll find out what she likes and then come back here if I need more guidance.