Our goal for this ELE section is to support YOU, the COAR volunteer, by making available practical language learning tools that can be used during your weekly visits. We have tried to make these activities fun, interactional, and something you can do with one person in the family as well as the entire family.

Things to remember

• It is OK that your client will not immediately understand your English. Language learning takes time and multiple input sources. Thus it is important to note that while you can aid their learning through encouragement, practice opportunities and help them gain access to greater resources for continuing their learning, you are not responsible to teach them the entire English language.
• Do things you yourself are comfortable with…have fun…some weeks are going to be better than others…laugh and smile…relaxed minds will hold on to new information better and more efficiently than those that are tense.
• Be a learner yourself and learn not only of their culture, but their language as well. Reciprocity goes far.

Practicalities

• Speak slowly & clearly
  
• Have lots (and lots) of patience
• Use photographs, pictures, or the actual objects you are speaking about as often as possible-especially when introducing new vocabulary
• Don’t be afraid to repeat information the next time you visit…think of how long a baby absorbs a language before they start speaking (1 ½ years!) and even then it is still choppy for many years.
• Engage your client by asking what they want to learn. You might be surprised to find that they are interested in topics you hadn’t anticipated.
• Keep in mind that some of your clients may not have the same level of study skills you have. Incorporate HOW TO STUDY and practice new language learned in your visits so that your client can continue practicing between your visits.