Early Steps to English Learning

by Nancy Gunther

Martha Quintana and I have only been working together for three weeks. Martha had a tutor a few years ago and I had another student earlier this summer. My previous student left the area and Martha moved some distance from town so she could no longer meet with her tutor. Now Martha has her own transportation and was ready to be matched up with a new tutor. Fate had us available for each other and we “clicked”at our very first meeting. We meet twice a week for an hour at the Grass Valley Library.

Martha has a husband and four children. Her youngest child, Liseth, is still in high school and her other children are grown and out of the house. Her husband and children have all learned English and have encouraged Martha to learn as well. Martha has worked at a local convalescent hospital for the last three years. She feels that if she learns English, she will be able to get a better job and will be able to communicate with the community in which she lives. It will make life easier for her and her family.

Martha came to her first lesson knowing quite a few English words but having no idea how to formulate sentences to make herself understood. She also has difficulty understanding spoken English. Martha is a very quick learner. She always arrives at the Library early and is well prepared. She exceeds expectations when it comes to homework. She asked for something she could work on at home besides the usual homework. So last week I gave her a box of flashcards to learn opposites like awake, asleep and loud, quiet. There were 30 picture/word flashcards. I told her to learn a few at a time. She returned this week knowing every flashcard in the box. I was so happy to see the effort she is putting in to learn English.

Today we scrapped most of the lesson I had planned when Martha told me she has an interview for a job with better hours at another convalescent hospital. She wanted to know how to ask certain questions during her interview like “What will my duties be?”, “What will I make per hour?”, “What will my daily schedule be?”, and “Where do I go on my first day?” We were excited as we worked on preparing her for her job interview. It truly is a privilege to work with Martha. Even though we have only been paired for three weeks, I can tell this collaboration will be a success.
 
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