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jgrant85
Joined: 31 May 2009
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 Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:06 pm Post subject: Help! My Student Can't Learn ABCs |
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| I have one student in my elementary school English class that seems to be having a really difficult time remembering her ABCs and the sounds each letter makes. Her mother says she studies, but she can't remember when I ask her questions in class. Can anyone suggest a way to teach it where it might help her? |
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kinerry
Joined: 01 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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repetition is the only way
if it doesn't work after some time, there may be mental issues with the child |
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sigmundsmith
Joined: 22 Nov 2007
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lifeinkorea
Joined: 24 Jan 2009
Location: somewhere in China
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| Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 12:11 am Post subject: |
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Is she alone or is she in a group of friends. I found that motivation is sometimes a key factor. When they are alone, they don't initiate things as much. When they with their friends, you are more likely to get responses.
If she is alone, then match her up with someone or a couple students. |
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some waygug-in
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 5:20 pm Post subject: |
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Not sure what the student is having difficulty with, so this is only a guess...
The English letter names are different from the sounds those letters produce, so just singing the ABC song won't teach them much.
Try singing the song but instead of the letter names, sing the sounds:
ah, beu, keu, deu, euh, feu, geu...etc. then sing the sounds backwards
z,y,x,w etc.
Then, using an alphabet chart, randomly point to letters and have the students say the sounds. You can even try singing the song this way.
I hope this is helpful.
Also see; www.starfall.com |
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ESL Milk "Everyday
Joined: 12 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 3:58 am Post subject: |
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| kinerry wrote: |
repetition is the only way
if it doesn't work after some time, there may be mental issues with the child |
^^^I really hope this is sarcasm...
I don't know what level your student is at or what you're doing with them... but sometimes it actually helps more if you start teaching whole words instead of just individual letters/sounds.
In many ways, it's harder to memorize a list of symbols/sounds that have no relation to anything you know than a whole word with a picture that you can translate into something in your own language and be familiar with. Instead of teaching 'A', try teaching 'Apple'.
A lot of 'teachers' in Korea will tell you this is 100 percent wrong and you should be focusing on retarding their potential because 'our students are very poor'-- however lots of real teachers who work with immigrants in ESL programs in Western countries have had success with this. But be patient.
I managed to get a group of kindergarten kids who started with nothing to write their names in English (just copying them, of course)... and they appreciated the challenge so much that after that, they wanted to do more... it was one of the rare occasions in Korea that I actually felt like a real teacher.
Sometimes it's much better to think of the kids as opposed to listening to some dumb teacher too set in her ways to admit that your way works much better. |
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ddeubel
Joined: 20 Jul 2005
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| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 4:33 pm Post subject: |
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I really believe song / music goes a long way with young learners.
Several options I can offer. Loads of ideas HERE for teaching the alphabet.
Also try this tool. It shows each letter, pronounces and shows how it is printed.
Also, a good idea to have students make an ABC booklet. They draw the pictures for each letter and take ownership of the alphabet.
DD
http://eflclassroom.com |
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Rory_Calhoun27
Joined: 14 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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| it could be a learning disorder... I was always shocked at the difficulties some students were having in my classes and found talking to the regular teachers to be helpful. special ed in the schools doesnt seem at the same levels as in the West, but help may be available. |
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shostahoosier
Joined: 14 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 5:30 pm Post subject: |
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Agreed!
I have students that I've been told have "low abilities" but I've experienced that they just learn differently. Some of my "worst" students just need more stimulation and sometimes understand better than my best students.
Education here seems to be massive memorization which is hardly useful. My "smart" kids cant process anything or create something new. But the "retarded" ones come up with wild sentences and ideas!
If you only have 1 student that seems to not remember her ABCs EVER, it obviously isnt your teaching....maybe she just doesnt want to participate or learn. My kids LOVE singing the ABC song.
| ESL Milk "Everyday wrote: |
| kinerry wrote: |
repetition is the only way
if it doesn't work after some time, there may be mental issues with the child |
^^^I really hope this is sarcasm...
I don't know what level your student is at or what you're doing with them... but sometimes it actually helps more if you start teaching whole words instead of just individual letters/sounds.
In many ways, it's harder to memorize a list of symbols/sounds that have no relation to anything you know than a whole word with a picture that you can translate into something in your own language and be familiar with. Instead of teaching 'A', try teaching 'Apple'.
A lot of 'teachers' in Korea will tell you this is 100 percent wrong and you should be focusing on retarding their potential because 'our students are very poor'-- however lots of real teachers who work with immigrants in ESL programs in Western countries have had success with this. But be patient.
I managed to get a group of kindergarten kids who started with nothing to write their names in English (just copying them, of course)... and they appreciated the challenge so much that after that, they wanted to do more... it was one of the rare occasions in Korea that I actually felt like a real teacher.
Sometimes it's much better to think of the kids as opposed to listening to some dumb teacher too set in her ways to admit that your way works much better. |
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