I hope you are all doing great. Today I �m having a question for you as well and it �s concerning old students. This week I came into a new class where I found 4 women that were in their 60s (my guess). I have been talking to the teacher of the class who has taught them for 4 years and she told me she is getting crazy with them since they just dont seem to learn at all. Since the women are in that age; not all of them know how to read and write very well in the first place and now they often mix letters and get confused. The teacher has been trying to tell them how to differ the letters but her method just didnt seem to work.
Another thing I noticed while watching the class is that they don �t really seem to be learning by reading the words in (short) texts; but merely by trying a mix of reading and memorizing of how the teacher had pronounced the word. I don �t know if I explained the situation well enough; it seems a bit complicated; since I have never seen such cases before myself I must admit. Now I am trying to find ways how to teach these students and help them how to learn to differ the letters  and really read the words and not simply repeat what they hear (and also that the words stay in their heads somehow). And I have no idea how to accomplish that whatsoever. If anybody has ANY ideas or adivce I would be more than happy to hear it :) Thanks a lot <3

Hugs

Sara

Hi Sara,

I have one group of adults who are in their late 50 �s and 60 �s and I help them learn by showing them flashcards or playing simple, easy games.

I just adapt sometimes what I would be teaching kids and that seems to help them a lot.

I do understand that it �s not easy but perservere as it �s also a wonderful age group to teach.

Mine are semi-retired or retired so I don �t push them to do much homework...just enough to remember a few words that we are learning in the classroom....as my group really just want to have English Conversation...I don �t have to push reading or writing too much with them.

Some things work and some things don �t but they are making good, steady progress and I do allow for problems with memory. That �s probably the most frustrating part for them and for me but I don �t let it get me down.

All the very best,

Fiona.

 

Hmm by differing the letters I mean the alphabet yes, for example like differing between b and d. Sounds a bit like a dyslexic problem too; but I guess it is also an age question as they didnt learn how to read and write when they were young. With conversation in general they dont have a big problem really. It is more about the reading. And I must admit they I dont really have any experience with that kinds of problems as I never studied at a university to be a teacher to learn how to deal with problems like this :s. So please any advice is too helpful for me :) Thanks a million :)

Hugs

Sara